有錢任性 沙特新國王發210億鎊紅包

The new monarch of Saudi Arabia has handed out billions of pounds to the country's citizens to celebrate his coronation.
日前，沙特阿拉伯的新國王爲慶祝登基，向沙特民衆發放了上百億英鎊的紅包。

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud made the remarkably generous gesture, estimated to total almost £21 billion, to mark taking the throne in the oil-rich country.
新國王薩勒曼·本·阿卜杜勒·阿齊茲慷慨地向民衆發放了總額約爲210億英鎊的紅包，以紀念成爲石油大國的新國王。

In a message on Twitter - that has now been shared more than 350,000 times - the King wrote: 'Dear people: You deserve more and whatever I do will not be able to give you what you deserve.'
薩勒曼在推特上寫道：“親愛的臣民，你們值得獲得更多。無論我發多少鈔票，都無法匹配你們的價值。”這條推文目前的轉發量已超過35萬次。

The massive handout includes a two-month wage payout for all state employees, as well as soldiers, students and pensioners.
高達210億的大紅包包括爲國家公務員、軍人、退休的公務員以及領取政府獎學金深造的學生髮放的相當於兩個月工資的獎勵。

Delighted Saudis are said to be splashing out on new smart phones, luxury watches and exotic holidays to celebrate.
沙特的民衆非常開心，紛紛表示要將這些錢用來買新手機、買名牌手錶、去海外旅遊休假等。

Some men are also reported to be setting aside the money especially to allow them to marry their first, second or third wives.
一些男性表示準備把這筆錢留作娶老婆用，有老婆的就留作娶第二、第三任老婆用。

There will also be generous grants to various professional associations, as well as literary and sports clubs.
另外，一些專業人士協會、文藝經濟體育俱樂部還有圖書館等也都可得到撥款獎勵。

John Sfakianakis, Middle East director of the Ashmore group, an investment company, told the New York Times: 'It is party time for Saudi Arabia right now.'
安石投資公司的中東部負責人約翰·斯法基安納基斯說：“對沙特阿拉伯的民衆來說，現在是狂歡時間。”

Several private companies have also reportedly followed the King's lead and handed out bonuses to their own employees.
報道稱沙特的一些私人企業也效仿新國王的舉動，給員工們發放了紅包獎勵。

King Salman, 79, came to the throne last month after his half-brother Abdullah died aged 90 after losing his battle with pneumonia.
上個月同父異母的兄弟—90歲的阿布杜拉因肺炎去世後，79歲的薩勒曼成爲了新國王。

It has long been a common tactic for a new monarch to win over the hearts and mind of the people with generosity when they first come to power.
爲贏得民心在掌權後向民衆發放紅包是沙特新國王慣用的策略。

The tactic appears to be working, with reports that companies have taken out billboards across the country saying they 'pledge allegiance' to their new ruler.
這策略看起來也相當湊效，有報道稱一些公司已在全國範圍內登出的廣告上宣稱他們願意爲新國王效忠。

King Abdullah announced a 15 per cent raise in government salaries after taking the throne in 2005, and also handed out a one-month salary bonus in 2011 after returning from medical treatment abroad.
前任國王阿布杜拉在2005年掌權後宣佈將政府工作人員的工資提高15%，2011年從國外結束治療後又給民衆發放了相當於1個月工資的紅包。

But experts have warned that the tradition will be unsustainable in the future, as falling oil prices around the world has an impact on Saudi Arabia's wealthy reserves.
但是專家警告這項傳統在將來可能不會延續下去，因爲全球油價持續下跌，已經對沙特阿拉伯的財富儲備產生了影響。