Letter from David Ford to Civil Servants of Hong Kong on 16 June 1989

Letter from David Ford to Civil Servants of Hong Kong on 16 June 1989
布政司霍德1989年6月16日致全體公務員的信

Translated by Chinese Language Authority, Civil Service Branch, written by David Ford
霍德撰寫、銓敍科中文公事管理局譯

(In June 2018, a Facebook page Rufixation posted this letter, which was found in a former government department office. With authorization, we have typed the full text in English and Chinese for people to refer upon in the future.)
（2018年6月，Facebook專頁荒凝止息張貼這封在前政府部門辦公室找到的信件。經授權，我們將英文及中譯本打出，以供日後有需要人士參考引錄。）

Dear Colleague,

At this time, we in the civil service share with the community as a whole a profound feeling of shock and grief at the recent bloodshed in Peking. I am sure that you, like most people in Hong Kong, are watching with the concern the way in which the situation in China develops. We must all hope that the moves to modernize and liberalize China will be given fresh impetus in the years ahead.

Despite their anger the people of Hong Kong have reacted to recent events in China with tremendous dignity and restraint. This is particularly so in the case of the civil service and my purpose in writing to you is to thank you all for your dedication and responsibility in these troubled times. You have continued to provide the community with a standard of service of a level of which you can be proud, while at the same time demonstrating solidarity with the rest of the people of Hong Kong. Your loyalty to Hong Kong and all it stands for is highly appreciated.

The tragedy of recent weeks makes the role of the civil service even more important to the future of Hong Kong. There may be difficult times ahead, but we have faced difficult times before. No matter what the problems, Hong Kong has shown an ability to adapt and bounce back unequalled anywhere. I have no doubt that we shall do so again.

It would be pointless to suggest that what has happened has not had a major effect on confidence in the future of Hong Kong. I know that you must be deeply concerned. But this makes it all the more necessary for us, as civil servants, to work towards ensuring a stable, and prosperous Hong Kong both up to and beyond 1997. One thing that has emerged from this present situation is a unity of purpose in Hong Kong. We cannot go back, we can only go forward, plan ahead and build for the future. In going forward our duty and commitment is to Hong Kong and its people.

I realise of course that in difficult times it is the civil service that is in the front line, that it is that civil service who may bear the brunt of the community's concerns, and that it is the civil service to which many people time for leadership, guidance and help. I have set that confidence in the future of Hong Kong has been seriously affected; what has not been affected is the confidence in the civil service; its sense of duty and dedication and its commitment to serve the people of Hong Kong.

Yours sincerely,

David Ford

Chief Secretary

中譯本

香港布政司署

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

HONG KONG

各位同事：

　　在這個時刻，政府公務員亦與全港市民一樣，對於近日在北京所發生的流血事件，深深感到震驚和哀傷。相信各位也像本港大部分市民一樣，正密切注意中國國內局勢的發展。我們大家都希望促進中國現代化和開放的發展，在未來數年會有新的動力。

　　雖然香港人對中國最近發生的事件，感到憤怒，但卻極能保持自重和克制。公務員的表現，更是如此。各位在這個令人不安的時期，依然緊守崗位，全心全意地工作，實在值得讚揚。我這封信，就是要向各位致謝。各位不但繼續為市民提供一貫的優良服務，同事亦不忘與市民緊密團結在一起。各位一直為香港忠誠服務，我們對此深為感激。

　　最近幾個星期所發生的慘劇，使公務員在香港前途方面所擔當的角色更形重要。前路可能是困難重重，但我們以往也經歷過艱苦的時刻。無論是甚麼困難，香港都能夠順應時勢，迅速復原。這方面的表現，確是舉世無雙的。我深信我們可以順利地再次渡過難關。

　　倘若說最近發生的事件，並沒有重大影響港人對香港前途的信心，實在是沒有意思的。我知道各位一定對此深表關注。不過，對我們公務員來說，就更需要努力工作，確保香港在一九九七年前後，能夠保持穩定繁榮。現時的情況使香港全體市民有堅定一致的目標。我們不能後退，只能向前邁進，為將來制定計劃，進行建設。在向前邁進時，我們須盡忠職守，竭力為香港和全體市民服務。

　　我清楚了解到困難時刻來臨時，站在前線的就是公務員。你們首當其衝，要承擔市民的擔憂；而很多市民亦希望公務員會給他們提供領導、指引和幫助。我剛才說，港人對香港前途的信心受到嚴重影響；但他們對公務員的信心卻未有動搖。他們深信公務員仍會竭盡本分，盡心盡力為香港市民服務。

布政司　霍德

一九八九年六月十六日