星期一, 1月 19, 2009

一「字」錯滿盤皆落索?──《家庭(居)暴力條例》的一場鬧劇

《家庭暴力條例》的出現,是為了保護在親密關係中受暴力對待的成員,以民事補救的方式,向法院申請強制令,保障其人身安全,「親密關係」是條例的核心。受虐者或許會因為種種理由而不將刑事條例用於親密關係中的施暴者,《家庭暴力條例》的功能,則在於從民事途徑讓受虐者受到更大的保護,免令親密關係中的成員受到傷害。

現時的《家庭暴力條例》修訂案,其實是經過去屆立法會及政府一年多時間討論得出的共識,除了將同性同居者納入受保護範圍,條例亦包括離婚、分居、同居、領養等關係。「家庭」在條例中包含的意義,早已遠超狹義的婚姻關係(離婚後還算是家庭嗎?);保守派認為,將同性同居者納入條例,「會令社會誤會同性同居者亦屬家庭關係的一種,衝擊家庭價值」,令人疑惑:為甚麼相關指控不指向離婚夫婦和異性同居者?如果黃成智和保守派沒有大張旗鼓地反對,又有甚麼人會因為這條條例的修訂而「誤會」呢?

錯誤的戰場

保守派阻止以「家庭」之名,保護同性同居者的另一理由,是「可能會引起日後同性戀者的司法覆核」,以至可能會「為同性婚姻大開綠燈」。但這一連串既沒有先例、亦沒法理依據的「可能」,為何竟可作為阻撓同志及其他一併受條例修訂保護的人士免於暴力的理據?與其說這是為了保衞家庭價值,倒不如說,這是保守派有策略地與同志運動角力的動員。回看過去幾年,同志和保守兩派在不少議題上多番角力:性傾向歧視立法、肛交合法年齡、淫審條例等,算是明刀明槍的交鋒;但今次所用的策略,則有如○五年阻止同志在「七‧一」遊行前帶頭──「七‧一」遊行是否成功對其並不重要,重要的是要showmuscle,讓社會不要「誤會」人人都支持同志。

戰術也許無所謂對錯,然而,這又是一個合適的戰場嗎?若細心閱讀雙方立場,可發現支持和反對修訂者的立場,分歧其實遠比想像中小:既沒有人否認社會上有同性同居者面對暴力對待的客觀事實,也沒有人反對將同性同居者納入法例的保護之內。然而一個「庭」字,最後竟被上綱上綫成為了「家庭價值」、「婚姻關係」的代表、彷彿成了寸步不可讓的矛盾所在,卻以受虐者的人身安全為磨心,這難道不荒謬嗎?

負擔不起的責任

「家庭」也好、「家居」也好、「家庭及同居」也好,無論最後條例用的是甚麼名稱,請議員們都三思:大家都心知肚明,條例的修訂重點在「保護受虐者免於暴力」,而非在於「家庭」價值的意識形態爭拗;如果捨本逐末而令法例無法盡早通過,未來一旦發生類似天水圍的慘劇(倒楣的事總會在最巧合的時間出現──還記得政府在泰國包機事件的教訓嗎?),始作俑的議員和黨派,你又是否有勇氣,去承擔那你其實承擔不起的政治和道德責任?

還記得安息日掐麥穗的聖經故事嗎?耶穌在某個安息日經過一塊麥田,他的門徒掐了一些麥穗來吃而招法利賽人批評:「為甚麼你們做安息日不准做的事?」耶穌這樣回答:「你們若明白『我喜愛憐恤、不喜愛祭祀』這話的意思,就不會將無罪的當作有罪的了。因為人子是安息日的主。」

莫要執着於字面上的律法和規條,而忘記了宗教的仁愛與憐憫。願與各位共勉之。

(刊於 1月19日星島日報)

星期六, 1月 17, 2009

鏹水彈,擲向誰?

兩枚從天而降的鏹水彈,落在人來人往的西洋菜南街,傷了46名無辜途人,連特首也要來旺角巡視10分鐘。事發之後,大眾紛紛猜測原因,該區區議員許德亮就認為這「或多或少與噪音問題有關」,指「街上影音店長期大聲播放電影音樂、團體機構大聲宣傳,加上數以萬計人流喧嘩、巨型電視屏幕的光污染,令居民不勝煩擾」,而改善的方法,包括了限制行人專用區使用時間、限制使用擴音器等,簡而言之──加強管制。如果翻查油尖旺區議會的記錄,更能發現沒多久之前,還有區議員認為行人專用區違背了「讓行人可以輕鬆漫步,減少空氣讁染」的「原意」,建議乾脆把行人專用區取消,讓車來車往的景象重新進駐西洋菜街;近日區議會更通過了在西洋菜南街行人專用區裝置4支監視鏡頭,名副其實 big brother is watching you。

也許這正符合了我城最常用的管理邏輯:透過加強管制,將一些似是無秩序、「未申請」的東西清理,而噪音、衛生、安全,這些問題由官民間的衝突變成「人民內部矛盾」,使問題更為難纏。政治無比正確的理由竟成了許多民間活動、民間創意的催命符。

街道管理與小區主義

且讓我們反思何謂街道。從議員的話可見一斑,街道的意義幾乎等同「快」和「移動」,而一切在街道中逗留,又或是妨礙移動的一切,皆應該被管理,或掃除。我想起Jane Jacobs 在《美國大城市生與死》中將充滿人味的多元街道景象稱為「街道芭蕾(Street ballet)」,漂亮的名字寓意街道不單是為了移動,更是人民的公共生活場所。回想香港,從前街道可以有各類小販,以廉價售賣著多元化的食物和貨物,養活自己也帶動經濟;示威遊行集會,讓市民在鬧市中聽到不同訴求;又或者各種街頭表演,將藝術帶到平日不進劇院的人的跟前;還有性工作者們,也在街上make a living。即使你不喜歡他/她們,也不能否定這些活動,豐富了街道的意義,成為了我城的一道風景。

諷刺的是,最積極地消滅這種多元的使用空間方法者,不是政府,反而往往是由區議員們為首助長的「小區主義」。那一萬幾千選民是區議員的衣食父母,噪音衛生都變成天大的事──當然不是說居民的生活環境不重要,但也不應成為摧毁其他同樣重要的事的唯一理由。而且除了管制和消滅,是否還有更多可以做的事?就如領男在12月15日《明報》世紀版的文章〈油尖旺街頭升斗悲歌〉所述的故事,區議員似乎沒有把調解社區間的紛爭當為己任,反而將問題變成「你死我活」的衝突、以對「違規」食肆趕盡殺絕作為政績。如果區議員不能發揮其有別於政府的功能,促進市民間的互相理解、互相忍讓的話,這不是辜負了向你投下信任一票的選民麼?

退一萬步,假如那兩枚鏹水彈真的因為居民受不了噪音而被擲下,第一個要思考的問題亦該是噪音從何而來,而非將罪名都放到行人身上。難道無休止的汽車聲和廢氣就比行人易於容忍?無日無之亮覑的巨大熒光幕和廣播,不是比偶爾為之的街頭論壇和表演者更滋擾嗎?人流之所以高度集中,是否正正因為我城的公共空間奇缺?要減低噪音、疏導人流,是否應該反過來想想如何在滿街電器店和汽車的鬧市之中,多騰出一點自由的空間讓予行人?這些問題,不單政府要思考,也該是有心有理想的地區工作者念茲在茲的問題。

(刊於 2009年1月17日 明報)

星期三, 1月 07, 2009

Gone full cycle

SCMP 6/1/08

Long-distance biking may be arduous, but for riders the joys outweigh the pain, writes Katie Lau

Fred Lam Fai is miles away as he clicks through photos of his 3,000km cycling trip on his laptop. An avid photographer, the 29-year-old has captured the clear blue skies of Tibet, the mountain meadows of Yunnan and the serenity of Chiang Mai's ancient temples.

Lam often returns to those images from the trek last summer that he says is "the greatest thing I've ever done". This afternoon, however, the chief campaigner of charity Roundtable Community is sifting through his photos for a talk he's giving about the joys of long-distance biking - one of several travel lectures organised by the group.

"These rides reveal scenery at whatever pace that feels comfortable and you can stop whenever you want and take pictures. I can see how a lake shines from different angles as I go along," Lam says.

"Many Hongkongers are often too busy to savour a place. When you cycle, you can access places seldom visited by others and immerse yourself in a place."

More hardy types are beginning to share Lam's view, according to the 1,000-member Hong Kong Cycling Tour Association (hkcta.org.hk) and the 300-member Cycling Club. Both groups were formed in the 80s to spread the joys of pedal power, help beginners prepare for long-haul trips and organise runs across Asia and the mainland.

"Back then bicycle touring was the most practical way of exploring the mainland because public transport was still rather underdeveloped," says Yan Kinn-wai, a long-time member of the Cycling Club and a tourer.

However, the bicycle-hostile rail network in Hong Kong has put a damper on club activities over the past two decades, says the 48-year-old building consultant.

"Our club isn't as active as before because we got tired of the many unpleasant experiences trying to bring our bicycles on trains," Yan says.

"Bicycle trips are mostly undertaken by veteran club members who can look after themselves and don't mind the hassle of carting their bicycles across the border."

Nevertheless, improved roads on the mainland have made bicycle touring there more popular with Hongkongers in recent years, Yan says.

Although Lam had backpacked across India and Nepal, he was a touring neophyte when a conversation with a Lhasa-based Hongkonger inspired him to set off on his cycling trip from Tibet to Thailand.

He soon found himself faltering on the steep slopes of the Himalayas. "It felt like climbing up the stairs for eight straight hours," he says.

Thankfully he had few problems adjusting to the high altitude.

"I felt OK - I just felt a bit exhausted and had to push the bike for a while to the top of a mountain."

Lam learned it's a challenge to eat well and stay healthy on the road. The physical demands, often spartan accommodation and unpredictable weather make long-distance cyclists vulnerable to ailments such as diarrhoea and flu.

But the spectacular scenery along the way makes such hardships worthwhile, Lam says, pointing to a mountain vista on his laptop.

"You forget how difficult it was getting there when you see something so beautiful."

Like Lam, social work student Chan Ka-chun was a touring novice when he joined four mainlanders he had met online on a 2,300km ride from Chengdu to Lhasa in the summer of 2007.

"I thought to myself, Why not? I am only young once," says Chan, 22, who will be sharing his touring adventures alongside Lam.

He was eager to enjoy the exhilaration and freedom that mainland and foreign cyclists described but found realities on the road tested his mettle to the fullest. A severe bout of flu almost caused him to give up the trip two-thirds along the way to Lhasa.

"I had to get a car to [the nearest town] and stayed there for a week. I was in terrible shape, but didn't want to be a quitter," he says.

Chan recovered, caught up with his friends and they made the last leg to Lhasa together.

The ordeal didn't put him off long-distance bike trips: last August he saddled up for a solo run from Beijing to Xilinhot in Inner Mongolia.

Road conditions can be terrible and signs misleading, but cycling on the mainland "isn't as dangerous as it's made out to be" although it's important to stay alert, Chan says.

Such experiences can be life lessons in resilience, Lam says. "I used to get excited easily about different projects, but seldom stuck it out to the end," he says.

"You can build up physical stamina, but you have to be strong-willed to carry on against the odds on the road."

Veteran tourer Fong Pak-mau agrees. "Your willpower makes or breaks your trip," says the 43-year-old garage owner, who completed a 14-month odyssey through 17 countries just over a decade ago. "There are many unpleasant situations and you must hold yourself together emotionally. For example, you might be lonely, surrounded by filth and want to go home."

Although many cyclists like to tour in a group, Fong prefers travelling solo, recalling how he completed a globetrotting tour on his own after two friends dropped out for different reasons.

"Everyone has a different cycling rhythm," he says. "It limits possibilities when you have to wait for someone who's trailing behind. Many conflicts occur when it happens."

Fong shared such insights with Leung Chi-fai, 19, and Chan Man-him, 18, just before they set off on a 14,000km ride across the mainland a year ago to raise awareness about climate change and the importance of green living.

But while the marathon ride could be a strain, the pair say it also strengthened their friendship.

"We'd fight from time to time, but compromises were made and we were determined to go through everything together from start to finish," says Leung, an environmental campaigner.

Encounters with locals often create the most enduring memories.

"I was stranded in Xinjiang and running out of water in insanely hot weather. It was 50 degrees," Leung says. "Then this driver came by and gave us water. He saved our lives."

Lam recalls how a man carried his bicycle across a river in Tibet. "I thought he wanted money, but I was wrong," he says. "I gave him chocolate sticks instead, but he only took one and shared it with me."

Getting a marathon bike ride started may be the hardest part of the journey, Leung says. "Many people can do what they set their mind to, but they often beat themselves up in the process. It's important to dare to dream."

Roundtable Travel Series, Jan 20, 7.30pm-9.30pm, Room 1102, Freeman Bookshop, Mong Kok City Centre, 74-84 Sai Yeung Choi St, Mong Kok, HK$20. Inquiries: 9810 9330