新加坡周三罕见地召集可能与印尼引发雾霾的林火有联系的10家在新加坡注册企业的最高管理层与3位部长开会。
In a rare move, Singapore on Wednesday summoned top executives from 10 locally registered companies potentially linked to haze-causing fires in Indonesia to a meeting with three ministers.
这些高管全都同意充分配合这个城市国家对这场区域环境危机的调查，这场危机导致本月早些时候新加坡的空气污染指数达到“非常不健康”水平。
The executives all agreed to cooperate fully in an investigation by the city state into the regional environmental crisis that has caused air quality to dip to “very unhealthy” levels earlier this month.
新加坡副总理颜金勇、国务资政尚穆根，以及永续发展与环境部长傅海燕说明了政府对企业的期望，包括政府计划收紧针对污染者的法律。
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Senior Minister K Shanmugam and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu laid out expectations by the government, including its plan to strengthen laws targeting polluters.
出席会议的公司包括丰益国际、金光集团、春金集团、布米达马农业、第一资源、金希望种植、印多福农业资源、大马种植、亚太资源国际，以及亚太资源国际（中国）。
The companies at the meeting were Bumitama Agri, First Resources, Golden Agri-Resources, Indofood Agri Resources, Kencana Agri, TSH Resources, Wilmar International, Sinar Mas Group, Asia Pulp & Paper Company and Asia Pulp & Paper Company (China).
这场闭门会议据报道持续了不到半小时。会后，负责国家安全统筹的尚穆根对媒体表示，他告诉这些公司，新加坡期望它们充分合作，政府“决心就这个问题采取行动”，并正在予以全力关注。
Speaking to the media after the closed-door meeting, which reportedly lasted under half an hour, Shanmugam, coordinating minister for national security, said he had told the firms that Singapore expected full cooperation, and was “determined to act” on the issue and was giving it full attention.
他说：“我告诉他们……我们将寻求一切可用的法律和监管途径，我们将动用我们拥有的一切权力，在应追究责任的地方确定责任，并将追究责任人的责任。”
“I told them … that we will pursue all available legal and regulatory avenues, and we will use all the powers we have to establish responsibility where there is responsibility, and we will hold those responsible to account,” he said.
“我非常直接地说明了我们对这些公司的期望。我们告诉他们，此举的目的不是寻找替罪羊。”尚穆根说，这些公司表示将充分合作。
“I was very direct about what we expected of these companies. We told them the intention of this exercise is not to find scapegoats.”The firms had said that they would cooperate fully, Shanmugam said.
新加坡国家环境局上周五表示，已向这10家公司发出通知，要求它们提供文件以及它们在印尼拥有的土地特许权的详细信息、它们的灭火和防火措施，以及它们与其他相关公司的关系。
The National Environment Agency last Friday said it sent notices seeking documents and details of land concessions in Indonesia owned by the 10 firms, their firefighting and blaze prevention measures, and their relationship to other relevant companies.
律政部同日表示，一个由在跨境调查方面具备专长的律师事务所、审计师和调查公司组成的专家小组将支持政府的调查工作。
The law ministry said on the same day that a panel of experts including law firms, auditors and investigative companies with expertise in cross-border inquiries would support the government’s investigation efforts.
当被问及是否担心企业为逃避审查和可能的处罚而选择离开新加坡时，尚穆根表示，新加坡将为国民做“正确的事”。
Asked if there were concerns regarding firms choosing to leave Singapore to avoid scrutiny and possible action against them, Shanmugam said Singapore would do “what is right” for its citizens.
他说：“我们目前正在进行事实调查，如果企业参与了不当行为，并且因为调查而希望离开新加坡，那么我认为，为新加坡人做正确的事就意味着接受这一后果。”
“We are now on a fact-finding mission, and if companies have been involved in wrongdoing, and as a result of the investigation, they wish to leave Singapore, then I think doing right by Singaporeans means accepting that consequence,” he said.
尚穆根周三表示，该专家小组将在未来两天内公布，预计下周将在议会提出立法，“让我们在这一领域拥有更多权力”。
Shanmugam on Wednesday said the panel would be announced within the next two days, with legislation expected to be moved in parliament next week to “give ourselves more powers in this area”.
周二，傅海燕表示，新加坡正寻求加强现有立法，并在必要时引入新法律，以应对应对雾霾负责的公司。
On Tuesday, Fu said Singapore was looking to strengthen existing legislation and introduce new laws where necessary to deal with companies responsible for the haze.
她说：“目标是填补执法漏洞，加强企业问责，并增强我们调查和采取果断行动的能力，打击那些对跨境雾霾负有责任的人。”
“The objective is to address enforcement gaps, strengthen corporate accountability and enhance our ability to investigate and take decisive action against those responsible for transboundary haze,” she said.
新加坡国立大学商学院治理与永续发展研究所所长卢耀群表示，这次会议是“最强信号”，表明新加坡认真对待从源头解决这一问题。
Lawrence Loh, director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore Business School, said the meeting was the “strongest signal” that Singapore was serious about tackling the problem at its source.
他说：“通过焚烧清理森林的问题必须从根源上解决——即使这些公司没有发起这些行为，它们也必须采取果断措施防止其发生。”
“Forest clearance through burning has to be addressed at the root cause – even if the companies do not initiate the actions, they have to take definitive steps to prevent the happening,” he said.
新加坡国立大学政治学副教授庄嘉颖表示，虽然这次会议传达了局势的严重性，但其实际效果仍有待观察。
Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at NUS, said that while the meeting served to convey the gravity of the situation, its actual effect remained to be seen.
他说：“人们会关注是否会有有意义的处罚，但在恢复、预防、缓解和应对方面，惩罚并不那么重要。”
“People will be watching to see if there are meaningful penalties meted out, but punishment is less important in recovery, prevention, mitigation and response,” he said.
“归根结底，重要的是结果。即使对这些公司处以罚款，如果它们继续助长未来对新加坡造成负面影响的雾霾事件，那么立场就只是立场而已。”此次会议召开之际，新加坡与印度尼西亚之间的关系近几周来日益紧张。雅加达最近表示，将以国内需求上升为由，削减对这个城市国家的天然气供应。
“Ultimately, what matters are results. Even if there are costs imposed on these firms, if they continue to contribute to future haze episodes that negatively affect Singapore, then the position is just a position.”The meeting was held amid rising tensions between Singapore and Indonesia in recent weeks. Jakarta recently said it would cut gas supplies to the city state, citing rising domestic demand.
周三，两国宣布正在研究成立一个雾霾工作组，以便共享信息，并有可能从与森林火灾有关的公司追回资产。
On Wednesday, both countries announced they were looking into setting up a haze task force that would enable information sharing and potentially recover assets from companies linked to the forest fires.