The corrupt twin cities: It's about time that someone sees through the smoke screen and speaks out

香港與澳門，是一對如假包換的難兄難弟。許多人認為澳門的一國兩制比香港成功，起碼沒有明顯的管治問題，這只是一個美麗的誤會，澳門藏污納垢，風光的背後，醜惡比香港猶有過之。

澳門博彩業一枝獨大，由於涉及龐大利益，因此龍蛇混雜，引發不少亂象，尤其是澳門政府在審批土地方面黑箱作業，官商勾結，更是出現許多見不得光的交易。事實上，隨着澳門賭業不斷擴張，賭場遍地開花，問題也愈來愈多，除了淪為貪官洗錢天堂，而且貪腐成風，臭不可聞。

一損俱損，澳門腐爛不堪，香港更是烏煙瘴氣。前特首曾蔭權爵士「貪遍省港澳，歎盡海陸空」，與富豪勾勾搭搭，將官商勾結發揮到極致，而下屬則有樣學樣，前政務司司長許仕仁涉及貪腐被起訴，前廉政專員湯顯明貪威識食，令香港好不容易建立的廉政和法治形象毀於一旦。

法之不行，自上犯之，香港和澳門的問題，根子都在中央政府。尤其是國務院港澳辦前任負責人態度曖昧，敷衍塞責，從來沒有就港澳政策公開講過一句話，甚至其身不正，包庇貪腐，上下其手，成為所有亂象的根源。

Hong Kong and Macau are truly birds of a feather.  Many people think the "one country, two systems" in Macau is more successful than that in Hong Kong because, at least, the former does not have an obvious governance problem.  But this is just a rosy misunderstanding.  Macau is actually a place that hides dirt and conceals corruption.  Behind its impressive achievements, Macau is even uglier than Hong Kong.

The gaming industry monopolizes Macau.  As the profits involved are humongous, the enclave is filled with all sorts of scoundrels engendering chaos.  In particular, the Macanese government operates in a black box when selling lands.  The collusion between the government and the business sector gives rise to numerous under-the-table deals.  The expansion of the gambling industry entails an explosion in the number of both casinos and their accompanying problems.  Being reduced to a paradise for corrupt government officials, Macau has become an infamous city for money laundering. 

As the infestation spreads, Hong Kong is even messier than its neighbour.  The former Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, has reaped favours and largess in all possible means in the Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macau neighbourhood.  Cozying up to the rich, he was the poster boy of government-business collusion.  His subordinates did not fail to copy him.  Raphael Hui, the former Chief Secretary for Administration, is being prosecuted for accepting bribes.   Timothy Tong, the former Commissioner of ICAC, squandered money on liquor and sumptuous banquets. These corrupt officials and their actions ruined Hong Kong's hard-earned image of integrity and rule of law, a reputation that took years to build.

Lawlessness is a top-down syndrome. The problems of Hong Kong and Macau originate from the central authorities.  In particular, the attitude of the former head of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office was so equivocal and perfunctory that he had never said a word in public on the policy about the two cities.  He even covered up corruption and conspired to defraud.  This is the root of all the chaos.

重要生字

birds of a feather：難兄難弟

operate in a black box：黑箱作業

under-the-table deal：見不得光的交易

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