外贸业务谈判进程:Shipment 交货(2)

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：我刚想起来，还有一种可能性可确保即期交货。
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：交货港把汕头改为香港怎么样？
李：恐怕我们不能同意。我们是在广州这里同你们做成的买卖，而你们订的货是在汕头生产的。我想指出我们接受的所有订货是从汕头或黄埔港发货。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：事情是这样的，从汕头到大阪每个月只有一、二次船运，而从香港起运的船则相当频繁。如果从香港交货。如果从香港交货，我们收到货物的时间便会早得多。
李：我明白了。你想通过香港把货从汕头运到大阪，在香港转船。是不是要我们这么去做呢？

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，就是这样，因为我们想要商品尽可能早点上市销售。
李：可能是个好主意。但就我所知，在香港转船期间，货物有被盗和损坏的风险。从汕头改为黄埔交货怎么样？这两个地方你可以选择一个作为交货港，对我们来说都一样。从黄埔启航的船要比汕头多。

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：对我来说倒也可以，但是我得想一想，明天给你肯定答复。如果我选择黄埔港，你们可能在三月底以前交货吗？
李：我们尽力而为。不管怎样，请你放心交货不会迟于四月上半个月。