吴霭仪要我去参加法庭传译与翻译问题的研讨会。会前，我有机会读到好几份法庭的中英文裁决和判词，深深体会到法治真的是文明社会的支柱，而法庭更是捍卫人的尊严的圣殿。这些裁决和判词，不论是中文本还是英文本，有好多地方都情理纷陈，教人感动。一年前八仙岭山火烧死两位老师三位学生的惨剧，死因裁判法庭的聆讯裁决洋洋二十九页，十分周全，十分仔细，充份表现法律对死者的哀悼、对生者的关怀。死因裁判官辛达诚的《裁决》，最后一段话尤其感人：“ To the families of the deceased I wish to say this. You have suffered a human tragedy that is beyond the comprehension of most people. Nothing can restore to you what you have lost. You have the deepest sympathy of all in Hong Kong. Because of the circumstances of the death of the members of your families your grief has become public.The inquest is now concluded. During the hearing you sought from me a means of leaving the court building so as to enable you to avoid the attention of the media. I am unable to offer this to you. There is no such facility available. You have the right now to be left in peace to grieve in private. I cannot do anything to give you the privacy to which you are entitled. I can only ask that you be treated with respect and dignity that persons who have suffered such tragedy ought to have.”
九七到了，香港所有的法律条文和法庭文牍都会尽量做出中文文本。这项工作虽然繁重，虽然艰钜，却是非常值得的。法律的尊严和法治的精神，都必须深入民间，深入有井有水的中国人的地方。裁判官辛达诚的这段话，法庭的中文译本我看了也很感动：“对死者家属，我有如下的话要说。你们所经历的切肤之痛，实非多数人所能体会。你们蒙受的损失，天下无一物可以补偿。对於你们的不幸，全港市民均寄予无限同情。由於你们的家人死於特殊环境，你们内心的哀痛不得不公开。死因聆讯现已完毕。聆讯期间你们曾要求我作出安排，让你们在离开法院大楼时可以避开记者的注意。这里缺乏有关设备，你们的要求我无法照办。现在聆讯既已完毕，你们终於可以不受骚扰，在私底下哀念亲人，这是你们应有的权利。我无法让你们得到你们应有的私隐权利，但你们已横遭惨变，实不应再受任何不敬及有损尊严的对待。这是我唯一的要求。”
中文迻译这样的文情并茂的《裁决》并不太因难，最头痛是翻译法律上的术语和条文。我非常钦佩律政署法律草拟专员严元浩一组人和法庭的各位翻译官传译官，他们的工作意义重大，影响深远。重要的是用中文传播香港的一套法治精神。Indecent assault 该译成“猥亵侵犯”还是“非礼”，presumption 说“推定”准不准确，那都可以慢慢斟酌，步步改善。