政壇：睇社論學英文：東北發展若爛尾 香港蹉跎到何時
東北發展計劃受阻於立法會，眼看勢成僵局，周五再議依然不樂觀。好端端一個房屋發展計劃，前後磨了十多年，臨門一腳隨時被踢飛，市民難免要問一句：香港到底怎麼了？其實，整件事要害在於，一個民生議題變成了政治議題。
今天社會泛政治化，大眾小眾利益交纏，大事小事拗餐飽，小眾騎劫大眾不少見。東北發展計劃已經政治化，有實際利益所在的當地訴求，與政客出面抽水，為爭取利益聯手抗爭。爭來爭去，只是不知全港市民福祉往哪裏擺。
眾所周知，香港房屋問題的要害在於近憂，即短期供應不足，而遠期供應如遠水不能救近火。當務之急是時間換供應，而社會上發生的爭拗，恰恰是蹉跎時光，無法時間換供應。齊心協力應對住屋問題，是政府與民間不可迴避的當務之急。
If the NENT development fails within sight of success, how much more time will be wasted?
The proposed development of the Northeast New Territories (NENT) is blocked at the Legislative Council and it will soon reach a deadlock. The issue will be discussed again on Friday but no one is optimistic about the result. Having been dragged on for 10 years, the perfectly adequate plan now falls at the last hurdle. People cannot help but ask: what on earth is happening to Hong Kong？ In fact, the crux of the issue is that this livelihood problem has been turned into a political problem.
Our society is so pan-politicized that the interests of the majority and the minority are always at loggerheads. While the public argues over everything, it is also not rare to see the minority hijacking the majority. The NENT development has already been politicized. Local villagers with vested interest join hands with politicians to reap benefits. Amidst the chaos, where is the interest of Hong Kong people placed？
As is known to all, the city's housing problem is most serious in the short term. A slow remedy like supplying residential flats many years down the road cannot address the current emergency. The top priority now is to trade time for supply, but the disputes in the community are contrarily wasting time. Making concerted efforts to tackle the housing problem is a matter of vital importance which neither the government nor the people can shun.
重要生字
fail within sight of success 爛尾
deadlock 僵局
a slow remedy cannot address the current emergency 遠水不能救近火
