谷歌(Google)试图通过将中国本地搜索引擎"外包"到没有审查制度的香港，以摆脱在中国实行自我审查的恶名，这是解决难题的一种颇具创意的方法。但故事决不会就此结束，而且从中国官员初期的愤怒反应来判断，最严厉的决定尚未做出。
将搜索请求转至香港有其优点：如果中国当局希望过滤返回到内地的搜索结果，不向自己的人民公开信息，他们就必须自己来干"脏活"。如果说信息透明是对抗权力滥用的一剂良药，那么这种方式虽然不起眼，但能让中国人民对自身自由受到的限制有一个更清楚的认识。
谷歌早就应该采取行动。无论导致其改变在华立场的最后一根稻草是什么――是那一系列广为人知、来自中国的网络攻击，是对审查形势能有所改善的幻想的破灭，抑或只是由于投入巨资却鲜有回报而产生的厌倦感――这种进展都值得欢迎。正如谷歌的部分退出战略所显示的那样，它一开始以为自己能够从内部促成中国互联网的开放，是错误的。
在对谷歌施行任何新的严厉制裁之前（无论是严格限制或屏蔽香港网站的搜索结果，还是将谷歌彻底赶出中国），中国政府应该三思。中国受益于与世界其它地区的开放网络连接。现在，任何限制网络接入的重大举措，都可能产生更长远的影响。网络搜索是互联网世界的一项重要功能，同时，尽管谷歌用户数量相对较少，但却向受教育程度较高的人群倾斜，这一事实显示了中国网民多么重视改善获取信息的途径。
倘若中国政府贸然行动，外国政府必须表现出一种比以往更为强烈的意愿，团结一致，采取更强硬的立场来支持开放网络。经济和政治现实都意味着中国自身不太可能让步。但其压制性立场为其他政权树立了一种不可靠的领导榜样。开放网络在世界许多地区都受到攻击。外交与经济压力在其它地区或许会更加有效。若要阻止这个世界陷入加强互联网限制的歧途，现在就必须划定底线。
译者/何黎
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001031915
Google's attempt to escape the stigma of self-censorship in China by "off-shoring" its local search engine to censor-free Hong Kong is a creative way to deal with a difficult problem. But it was never likely to be the end of the story, and judging by early angry reactions from Chinese officials, the toughest decisions are still to come.
Sending search queries to Hong Kong has the merit of forcing the Chinese authorities to do their own dirty work if they want to filter the results coming back to the mainland and keep information from their own people. If transparency is one antidote to the abuse of power, then this is one small way in which Chinese citizens will get a clearer idea of the limits on their freedom.
For Google, the move is long overdue. Whatever the final straw that led to its change of position over China � whether it was the well-publicised cyberattacks from inside the country, disillusionment that the censorship situation has not improved, or just weariness at investing large amounts with little to show for it � it is a welcome development. As its partial retreat now shows, Google was wrong to assume at the outset that it could open up the Chinese internet by working from the inside.
China should now think twice before imposing any tough new sanctions on the company, whether that means severely limiting or blocking results from Hong Kong or even forcing the company out of the country entirely. China benefits from open network links to the rest of the world. Any big step now in the direction of restricting access could have longer-term repercussions. Web search is an important utility in the online world, and the fact that Google's audience, though relatively small, is skewed towards the better-educated is a sign of the importance that China's online population places on better access to information.
If China does act precipitously, foreign governments must show a much greater willingness than they have in the past to unite in taking a stronger stand in support of open networks. The economic and political realities mean that China itself is unlikely to give ground. But its repressive stance has set a dubious leadership for regimes elsewhere, with the open internet under attack in many parts of the world. Diplomatic and economic pressure may have more effect elsewhere. If the global drift towards a more restrictive internet is to be halted, now is the time to draw a line in the sand.
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