2007年VOA标准英语-Thailand Approves Proposed Amendments to Foreig

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
09 January 2007

Thailand's military-installed government has decided¹ to reduce the ability of foreigners to control Thai companies. The decision, whose details have yet to be finalized², followed warnings by foreign businessmen that it could have a severe negative impact on the economy. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, the immediate³ effect was to send the Thai stock market tumbling.

 
A Thai investor⁴ monitors stock prices at a private stock trading floor in Bangkok, 20 Dec. 2006 
Share prices on the Thai stock market fell 2.7 percent after the decision on foreign ownership of companies was announced.

Investors⁵ were already jittery⁶ after the interim⁷ government suddenly introduced controls on foreign capital last month. In that case, the stock market tumbled 15 percent. A military coup⁸ in September, and a series of bombings in Bangkok on New Year's Eve, have added to a general sense of insecurity.

The details of the new rules are still to be worked out, but initial word is that foreign investors will be allowed to hold no more than 50 percent of the voting rights in Thai companies. Foreign businessmen had warned the government against such a move, and were highly critical of it.

Foreign ownership in Thailand has always been limited in principle, but investors have typically gotten around the rules - with government consent - by giving a nominal⁹ majority of shares to Thai citizens, while retaining majority voting power for themselves. The new rules seek to close that loophole.

Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakul told reporters that investors holding more than a 50 percent stake in a company, or more than half the voting rights, would have up to two years to reduce their holdings.

Gary Woolacott, president of the Australian-Thai Chamber¹⁰ of Commerce, says foreign investors will now be expected to seek alternatives to Thailand, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, major rivals for foreign investment funds.

"The worry is foreign investors will find that Thailand becomes a marginal opportunity for investment," he said. "I have heard already of one Australian company that is delaying its plans to invest in Thailand. I suspect other companies will be similarly having to consider whether they come to Thailand."

 
Surayud Chulanont speaks during a news conference after the weekly cabinet meeting at government house in Bangkok, 9 Jan 2007
Military-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told reporters the Council of State, the government's panel of legal advisers¹¹, would now work on the details of the law, "to ensure precision and transparency." He said it would be some time before the law took effect.

Analysts¹² say the change appears to stem from the controversial sale last year by then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of his family's shares in the telecommunications company Shin Corp.

Singapore's Temasek Holdings, which paid $3.8 billion for Shin Corp., was able to take control with nominee-owned companies of the type now being outlawed¹³.

The Thaksin family paid no tax on its windfall profit from the sale, and the deal was highly unpopular with the public. The September coup was aimed primarily at Mr. Thaksin, and the military leadership has vowed¹⁴ to investigate alleged¹⁵ corruption¹⁶ by him and his cronies.

An examination of the Shin-Temasek deal, it is believed, led the government to look into foreign ownership of companies in general.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

5 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

6 jittery   

adj. 神经过敏的, 战战兢兢的

参考例句：

• However, nothing happened though he continued to feel jittery. 可是，自从拉上这辆车，并没有出什么错儿，虽然他心中嘀嘀咕咕的不安。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The thirty-six Enterprise divebombers were being squandered in a jittery shot from the hip. 这三十六架“企业号”上的俯冲轰炸机正被孤注一掷。

7 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

8 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

9 nominal   

adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的

参考例句：

• The king was only the nominal head of the state. 国王只是这个国家名义上的元首。
• The charge of the box lunch was nominal.午餐盒饭收费很少。

10 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

11 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

13 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。

14 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

15 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

16 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。