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■在中國，海葬和樹葬等綠色殯葬漸為人所接受。圖為一位參加海葬的逝者親屬將鮮花撒向大海。
今年清明節，大批孝子賢孫帶備祭品供奉先人，多個墳場人頭湧湧。清明祭祖的意義，在於慎終追遠。尊敬先人貴乎內心，表達子孫後輩對先人的追思，更重於物質上的供奉。
近年綠色殯葬在華人社會方興未艾，逐漸為更多人接受。本港地少人多，人口日趨老化，面對骨灰龕短缺的問題，當局除了增加供應外，更應加強教育和宣傳，引導社會移風易俗。
近年內地多個省市區包括廣東省，相繼建設永久樹葬區，定期或不定期免費為民眾提供骨灰樹葬服務，並選擇風景秀麗、交通便利的海濱地區建立海葬紀念設施，為親屬提供緬懷追思場所。香港土地資源匱乏，當局應大力推動、鼓勵市民採用各種綠色殯葬方式，既不會減低對先人的敬意，更有助推動環保，節約土地資源，造福後人。 （文匯報社評 6-4-2015)
A "green" Ching Ming for our ancestors
During the Ching Ming Festival this year, thousands of filial descendants, carrying with them sacrificial offerings, crowded the cemeteries to venerate their ancestors. Visiting ancestors on Ching Ming is a way of paying respect. It is more important to remember and respect the deceased than to offer material sacrifices.
Natural burials are flourishing and gaining greater acceptance in Chinese communities. With its limited land but large aging population, Hong Kong is facing the problem of a shortage of niches. Apart from increasing the supply of niches, the authorities may educate the public to adopt alternatives to traditional burial practices.
In some mainland provinces and prefectures such as Guangdong, there are already permanent tree burial sites where regular or irregular ash-based tree burial services are provided to citizens for free. Likewise, certain picturesque and convenient seaside areas have been chosen to build sea burial and memorial sites, providing places for families to lament. Lacking land resources as Hong Kong is, the authorities may encourage local residents to consider trying green burial services. It does not undermine our respect for ancestors; it protects the environment, saves land and benefits future generations. （6-4-2015)
Learning Point
清明節是中國傳統節日，有傳統的祭祖習俗，譯文中有與祭祖和殯葬有關的英文詞彙，讀者可以注意一下。
Exercise
1. 孝子賢孫
2. 祭祖
3. 祭品
4. 墳場
5. 骨灰龕
6. 綠色殯葬
7. 樹葬
8. 海葬
Answers
1. filial descendants
2. venerate ancestors
3. (sacrificial) offerings/ sacrifices
4. cemetery
5. niches
6. green/ natural burials
7. tree burial
8. sea burial
■English translation and Learning Point by Tung-ming [ tungming23@gmail.com ]
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