Google in China

節錄至信報 7 月 10 日。

扭粒糖　跌間廠

若果谷歌豁出去，切切實實退出中國，至少樂得一個自由捍衞者的美名，對他開發其他新興市場未嘗不是一個正面宣傳，跌個橙，至少執番個桔。豈料上月底，谷歌最終還是向中國政府申請續牌，承諾遵守中國法律，並接受監管。兜個大圈，演場大戲，卻走回原點，損兵折將，又把賺回來的名聲一次過擲回垃圾桶，令人想起一句，「又要威，又要戴頭盔」。

但細路曳曳，大庭廣眾地發癲，扭阿媽計買糖食，唔拉返屋企打餐懵，都起碼跪地主，唔俾食一餐半餐飯。呢啲係中國人教仔方法。洋人又係唔明。

If Google had taken a big leap and had withdrawn from China, it could at least earn the name of being a liberty defender which might serve it well in developing other emerging markets. Losing a big orange, you nevertheless pick up a small mandarin in return. However, at the end of last month, Google finally applied to the Chinese government for a renewal of its license, promising to follow China’s laws and to accept regulation. After making a big fuss, Google returned to square one, throwing all the goodwill gained to the garbage bin.

If a naughty child throws a tantrum and makes a big scene in public so as to force his mother to buy him candies, well, he’s only asking for trouble. He would probably be dragged back to the house, beaten severely, forced to knee in front of the land god, and won’t be given any dinner. Foreigners would never understand the way the Chinese use to teach the children.