China responds to Singapore's Chinese bus driver arrests

 BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday called on Singapore to properly deal with the case of Chinese bus drivers arrested following a strike.

Foreign Ministry¹ spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks at a daily news briefing when asked to comment on the arrest of four Chinese bus drivers employed by Singapore's public transport company on suspicion of instigating² an "illegal strike."

China calls on the Singaporean side to take Chinese workers' specific conditions and legitimate³ appeals into full consideration, discreetly⁴ and properly handle the case, and substantially protect the lawful⁵ rights of the arrested Chinese workers, Hong said.

The spokesman said the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese Embassy in Singapore have paid great attention to the case and maintained close contact with the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Manpower and the police authorities of Singapore.

According to news reports, four Chinese bus drivers who worked for the state-linked transport group SMRT Buses Ltd were arrested by police on Wednesday and Thursday on suspicion of instigating an "illegal strike."

They were taken to court on Thursday, one day after Chinese drivers at SMRT ended a two-day work stoppage aimed at securing better pay.

Some 171 Chinese bus drivers asked for sick leave together on Monday in protest at being paid nearly a quarter less than Malaysian bus drivers who work for the same transport company.

Hong said the Chinese embassy sent a consular⁶ official to attend the first court hearing.

He added that the Foreign Ministry and the embassy will continue to closely follow the situation and maintain contact with the Singaporean side so as to seek a proper solution of the case.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 instigating   

v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Distant but clear Longyin instigating the eardrums of every person. 遥远却清晰的龙吟鼓动着每一个人的耳膜。 来自互联网
• The leader was charged with instigating the workers to put down tools. 那位领导人被指控煽动工人罢工。 来自互联网

3 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

4 discreetly   

ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地

参考例句：

• He had only known the perennial widow, the discreetly expensive Frenchwoman. 他只知道她是个永远那么年轻的寡妇，一个很会讲排场的法国女人。
• Sensing that Lilian wanted to be alone with Celia, Andrew discreetly disappeared. 安德鲁觉得莉莲想同西莉亚单独谈些什么，有意避开了。

5 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

6 consular   

a.领事的

参考例句：

• He has rounded out twenty years in the consular service. 他在领事馆工作已整整20年了。
• Consular invoices are declarations made at the consulate of the importing country. 领事发票是进口国领事馆签发的一种申报书。