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2025可是退休的好日子?

Is 2025 the Year for Retirement?

數字上,2025是一個非常巧妙和工整的數字,它是0+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9 的平方,也是以上所有數字三次方的總和。2025年1月25日,六星連珠,也是能得一見的奇景。我在想:2025看來是一個退休的好日子。

我在世界民意研究學會當了兩年會長,剛剛卸任,算是為香港和世界做了一點事,可退吧。不過,我又想:既然承諾了編寫一本全球通用的民研教科書,似乎還是退不了。

回望香港,我在民研領域工作了超過三分一個世紀,經歷先盛後衰,看著群龍散落,也感唏噓。「應否繼續堅持?」似乎不只是一個問題,而是一個感嘆。民研離開大學,在紛亂中得到無數市民的支持,是厚愛,也是責任。

三年前,友人勸我離開,要到什麼地方都可以。我同意,四海之內皆兄弟,此心安處是吾家。不過,我在「百分百香港」的舞台上說過:天地有理,人間有情。人生不僅要問理應如何,而是要問感覺怎樣?就這樣,我留了下來。

留下來,不是為了抗爭,而是為了堅持。少年的我著迷天文,領悟了先賢對真理的執着。宇宙的定律,不會因人而改。地心論、日心論、無神論、以至一切理論,可以一時受制於權柄,但真相從來不會因時制宜或因人而異。甘地說過,在歷史的長河裡,暴政必亡,真理必勝。

當下,去者已去,留者願留,各有抱負,各顯千秋。去者何妨落地生根,留者也要安身立命,不蔓不枝。曾經希望,在有生之年可以在宇宙穹蒼之下點指繁星。不過,現在科學昌明,一切星空奇景,都可以足不出戶便盡收眼簾。宇宙浩瀚無邊,人人渺小,人人要懂謙卑。

但願這個謙卑的執着,可以感染世人,可以令人民的聲音得到聆聽。世界民研的會章,開宗明義寫道:「民情民意是社會發展的原動力,專業民意研究可讓人民的聲音得以彰顯。」我就任會長兩年,首次把這個道理演繹成為「自由權利、專業素質和人文精神三結合」的發展綱領。作為學會接近八十年來的首個華人會長,我已盡量把我們的香港精神,結合民研世界的發展,讓香港繼續與世界接軌,保持中西文化的交匯。

在過去兩年的任期,環球同事和友好都不時問我關於香港的情況。我通常說:還可以。言下之意,是香港雖然倒退,但民研仍然運作。放眼四方,比香港更差的地方實在不少。更何況,為了避免利益衝突,我不會以會長身份啟動討論,博取同情。如果情況真是這麼壞,我會避席,或者辭職。兩年過去,我順利卸任,順勢轉向香港民研的發展。

新年伊始,民研已經蓄勢待發,重新起步。為的,已經不是三十年前的憧憬,而是怎樣回饋香港市民不離不棄的支持,和以另類方法把香港精神變成國際文化的一部份,更深更廣地服務全世界。

Numerically, 2025 is a squarely neat number. It is the sum of 0+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9 squared, and it is also the sum of the cubes of all these numbers. Incidentally, on 25 of January 2025, there will be a rare conjunction of six planets. These make me think: May be 2025 is a good year to retire.

I have just stepped down from my two-year presidency of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR), so I have at least done something for Hong Kong and the world, maybe I can retire. But then I thought, “I have also promised to write a global textbook on public opinion research, seems that I cannot quit.

Looking back at Hong Kong, I have been working in the field of public opinion research for more than one-third of a century. I have witnessed a boom then a bust, and it is saddening to see the dissipation of talents. “Should I stay on?” Seems that it is not a question but an exclamation. When we left the university amidst social chaos, we had the support of countless citizens. Generosity brings responsibility.

Three years ago, I was advised to leave, and I could choose anywhere. I agreed, that everywhere can be my home. But as I said on the stage of “100% Hong Kong”, we have heavenly truth and universal love, so we do not just ask how things are, but also what we feel. I stayed.

I stayed not to fight, but to persevere. As a teenager, I was fascinated by astronomy, and I realized the persistence of the sages to the truth. The laws of the universe will not be changed by anyone. Geocentricity, heliocentrism, atheism, and all other theories may be restricted by the authorities at times, but the truth will never change. Mahatma Gandhi has taught us, “All through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall.”

Now that those who have gone have gone, those who stayed have stayed. Those not here should start building new homes, while those staying behind should live a new way of life without losing the basic principles. I once hoped that I could gaze the stars far away from civilization. Now, with the advancement of technology, I can see everything without leaving home. Under the boundless universe, humankind is so small. We must learn to be humble.

I hope this humble perseverance can move the world a bit, and make people’s voices heard. The Constitution of WAPOR starts with these words, “Public opinion is a critical force in shaping and transforming society. Properly conducted and disseminated survey research provides the public with a tool to measure opinions and attitudes in order to allow its voices to be heard.” After my two-year Presidency, I have managed to pin down three core values for WAPOR’s mission: Liberty, Quality and Humanity.  Being the first Chinese President of WAPOR in nearly 80 years, I have tried my best to integrate our Hong Kong Spirit with the global development of WAPOR. I hope Hong Kong will continue to be connected with the world, and continues to be a cultural hub between the East and the West.

Over the past two years, I have been repeatedly asked by my international colleagues and how Hong Kong is doing. I usually say, “Still okay.” I actually mean to say that although Hong Kong has been moving backward, we are still functioning. If we look around, there are many places worse than Hong Kong. What is more, in order to avoid any conflict of interest, I would not initiate any discussion on Hong Kong’s problems from my leadership position. In case the is really that bad, I would either abstain myself from the discussion, or simply resign. None has happened. I have stepped down smoothly, and turned my attention to our local development.

At the beginning of this new year, our research team is getting ready for a new start. Perhaps not so much to actualize what we had envisaged 30 years ago, but to find a way to thank Hong Kong people for their unfailing support. We want to integrate HongKong with HumanKind, so that everybody benefits and everyone wins.

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