S: It has just occurred to me that there is still another possibility to ensure a prompt delivery of the goods.
L: And that is?
史：我剛想起來，還有一種可能性可確保即期交貨。
李：什么可能性？
S: How about making HongKong the port of shipment instead of Swatow?
L: I'm afraid we can't agree to that. We concluded the business with you here in Canton, and the goods you ordered are manufactured in Swatow. We wish to point out that all orders accepted by us are shipped from Swatow or Whampoa. HongKong is out of the question.
史：交貨港把汕頭改為香港怎么樣？
李：恐怕我們不能同意。我們是在廣州這里同你們做成的買賣，而你們訂的貨是在汕頭生產的。我想指出我們接受的所有訂貨是從汕頭或黃埔港發貨。香港不可能。
S: It is like this. There are only one or two sailings a month from Swatow to Osaka, while sailings from HongKong are quite frequent. If shipment were effected from HongKong, we could receive the goods much earlier.
L: I see. You want to have your goods shipped from Swatow to Osaka via HongKong, where they can be transshipped. Is that what you want us to do.
史：事情是這樣的，從汕頭到大阪每個月只有一、二次船運，而從香港起運的船則相當頻繁。如果從香港交貨。如果從香港交貨，我們收到貨物的時間便會早得多。
李：我明白了。你想通過香港把貨從汕頭運到大阪，在香港轉船。是不是要我們這么去做呢？
S: Yes, exactly, because I want these goods on our market at the earliest possible date.
L: Your idea may be good, but as far as I know, there are risks of pilferage or damage to the goods during transshipment in HongKong. How about shipping them from Whampoa instead of Swatow? You may choose either one as port of shipment. It makes no difference to us. There are more sailings from Whampoa than from Swatow.
史：是，就是這樣，因為我們想要商品盡可能早點上市銷售。
李：可能是個好主意。但就我所知，在香港轉船期間，貨物有被盜和損壞的風險。從汕頭改為黃埔交貨怎么樣？這兩個地方你可以選擇一個作為交貨港，對我們來說都一樣。從黃埔啟航的船要比汕頭多。
S: It sounds all right to me, but I will have to think about it. I'll give you a definite answer tomorrow. If I choose Whampoa, will it be possible for you to ship the goods by the end of March?
L: We'll try our best. Anyway, we assure you that shipment will be made not later than the first half of April.
史：對我來說倒也可以，但是我得想一想，明天給你肯定答復。如果我選擇黃埔港，你們可能在三月底以前交貨嗎？
李：我們盡力而為。不管怎樣，請你放心交貨不會遲于四月上半個月。
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