Lunar New Year Message from Chris Patten, HK Governor in 1994

1994年香港總督彭定康農曆新年賀辭

The new year holiday is an important time for all of us. It is a time to pause and to catch a breath before we plunge into another year.

The new year is one of those all too rare opportunities to stand back from our careers, from school, college or university work or from the demands, and they are substantial, of running a home. A time to put every day concerns in perspective. A time to think about the things that matter most in life – the health, the welfare and the happiness of our family and of our friends.

The start of a new year is above all a time for families. From the many friends Lavender, Alice and I have made since coming to live in this community, I know that the family spirit is nowhere stronger than in Hong Kong. People come together to renew ties and to draw strength from each other and from the traditions and values which are the bedrock of Hong Kong's economic and social success.

The past year has been a year of steady, solid achievement for Hong Kong. The economy has expanded by about 5.5%, the 19th successive year of economic growth. And behind the dry statistics of economic success of the realities of rising living standards and greater opportunities for the whole community. Family incomes have risen. And our services to the community have also been improved as economic progress has made additional resources available to the government.

Let me give you a few examples of what this means in practice. During the past year we have been able to:

• Build an additional 66,000 new homes for families on the housing waiting list;
• We’ve been able to commission an additional 3,350 beds in our hospitals and infirmaries; and
• We have recruited an additional 4,000 teachers to work in our primary and secondary schools.

These are just a few of the ways in which we are improving our services to the public. These are real achievements. They contribute directly to the quality of life of Hong Kong's families. No wonder one of the world's most important business magazines recently voted Hong Kong one of the best places in the world, not just to do business but to live and bring up a family.

In Hong Kong, we believe very firmly that the quality of life can and should go on getting better for everyone. The community insists that problems should be faced squarely and overcome through enterprise and hard work. Hong Kong has a faith in progress and an optimism about the future which many other communities have quite simply lost.

This optimism, this confidence go beyond economic well-being. They have an impact on every aspect of our way of life. I think the best example in the past year of this determination to bring about improvements has been in the field of law and order, an issue which I know is high on everyone's list of priorities.

I know of no other major cities in the world in which the crime figures are falling in the law and order situation improving. I think the explanation for this remarkable achievement, because this is what is happening in Hong Kong, life in the community's respect for traditional values, its emphasis on the family and the proper education of its children. We rightly attach a high value to making our city safe in our society law-abiding. We rely heavily on our excellent police force to do so. But we all of us have a personal contribution to make to ensure that Hong Kong will remain one of the world's safest and most law-abiding cities.

Hong Kong is a very special place. Those of you who have lived here all your lives know this better than I do. It is a good place to work and a good place to raise a family. We are working hard to ensure that Hong Kong's special qualities are preserved. That our way of life is secured for the future.

As parents we spend a good deal of our time thinking about how to secure the best possible future for our children. We worry about the education and their prospects for finding worthwhile and rewarding careers. We can be proud of the way in which Hong Kong is able to offer its young rewarding careers, in fact a wider choice of career is the most cities in the world's advanced economies can offer.

Hong Kong office is young people a bright future because we are at the centre of the astonishing economic transformation of Asia. I am confident Hong Kong will remain one of the world's great trading and service centres not only in the year of the Dog but well into the next century.

Many of you will be listening to me from the warmth of family gatherings. Lavender, Kate, Laura, Alice and I wish all of you a successful, a prosperous and above all a very happy new year.

Kung Hei Fat Choy.

春節假期對我們每個人來說，都是重要的日子。我們正好藉此佳節稍事休息，舒展一下，然後才全心全意投入新一年的工作。

農曆年假給予在職人士、莘莘學子和家庭主婦一個難能可貴的機會，讓他們把一切工作、學習和必須打理的家務暫時拋諸腦後，讓他們回顧過去，展望將來，以及想一想我們生命中至為重要的事情，包括家人和朋友的健康、幸福和快樂。

新年伊始，是家家戶戶共敘天倫的美好時刻。我和內子以及小女雅思自來港至今，結識了不少朋友。我從他們那裏知道，香港人濃厚的家庭觀念，是沒有其他地方的人可以比擬的。藉此佳節，大家聚首一堂，互相問好，加深聯繫，彼此勉勵，發揮傳統和價值觀的力量。這些傳統和價值觀，正是本港的經濟和社會難以取得驕人成績的基石。

香港在過去一年裏取得穩定和實質的成就。年內，本港的經濟增長了大約百分之五點五，是達致經濟增長的連續第十九個年頭。在各項顯示本港經濟成就的枯燥乏味統計數字背後，本港市民的生活水平實際上是不斷提高，整個社會則獲得更多的機會，家庭入息亦有所增加。另外，隨着經濟進步，政府可以動用額外的資源，去改善為市民提供的服務。讓我舉出數個例子，說明實際的情況。去年，我們已經： 

• 為輪候公共房屋的家庭增建六萬六千個住宅單位；
• 我們已經在醫院和療養院增至三千三百五十張病床；
• 我們已增聘四千名小學和中學教師。

這些只是我們改善公共服務的數項工作。這些實際成果，直接提高了本港家庭的生活質素，難怪一份國際上相當權威的商業雜誌，最近把香港選為世界上最好的地方之一，不僅是做生意的好地方，也是安居立戶的好地方。

在香港，我們堅信每個人的生活質素，是可以為應該不斷改善的。香港人處事，一向堅持要正視問題，主張以積極進取和勤奮努力的精神來排除萬難。香港人抱着力求上進的信念和對未來樂觀的態度，而這些特質，使很多其他地區的人都已經失去的。

這種樂觀的態度和信念，不只令我們在經濟上不斷進步，而且還影響着我們的生活方式的每方面。過去一年，顯示本港堅決改善生活質素的最佳例子，就是在治安方面。而我知道，治安是每位香港市民都極為關注的問題。

據我所知，全球再沒有其他大城市可以像香港一樣，罪案數字下降，治安有所改善。事實已經證明，香港取得這樣驕人的成就，是因為市民重視傳統價值觀，注重家庭觀念，以及悉心教導子女。我們致力令到香港成為太平的城市，市民奉公守法，是十分正確的。我們有賴優秀的警隊，為本港維護法紀，但我們每個人也有本身的責任，確保香港繼續是世界上最太平而市民又最奉公守法的城市之一。

香港是個非常特別的地方。土生土長的香港市民，必定比我更體會這點。香港是個安居立戶的好地方。所以，我們正致力確保香港的特質得以保存，市民的生活方式可以延續下去。

身為父母，我們花很多時間為子女計劃最美好的前途。我們擔心子女的教育問題，以及日後能否找到有意義、有合理回報的工作，香港可以為年輕一代提供理想的就業機會，而且比世界先進國家大多數城市所提供的選擇更多，這一點足以令我們引以為傲。

由於香港是令人刮目相看的亞洲經濟轉型的樞紐，因此令我們的青年人，有一片光明的前景。我深信香港在狗年會繼續保持世界上主要貿易和服務中心之一的地位，並會延續之下一世紀。

你們很多人都是在閤家歡聚、樂也融融的氣氛下收看這個特備節目。我和內子，以及小女潔思、麗思和雅思，謹祝大家新年進步、萬事如意、新春大吉。

恭喜發財。

Lunar New Year Message from Chris Patten, HK Governor in 1997

1997年香港總督彭定康農曆新年賀辭

新的一年又來臨了。對香港每個家庭以至整體社會來說，這個新年都具有特殊的意義，原因我們都很清楚——這是今年夏天香港主權移交前的最後一個新年。每個人的心情難免百感交集，而又無比興奮。對我和內子，以及我們的小女兒來說，這種百感交集的感覺尤為強烈，因為今年六月底，我們便要告別香港；過去五年來，這個地方一直是我們的家。

遺憾的是，在我出任總督期間，我們兩個較年長的女兒潔思和麗思，沒有與我們一起在香港生活。不過她們也曾趁着假期，來港稍作逗留，並親眼看過香港這個城市，是何等的與別不同。然而就像你們當中許多人一樣，我們沒有把兩個女兒留在身邊，而是讓她們在萬里外獨自生活求學，畢業後又在那兒開展她們的事業。我不得不承認，我和內子無時無刻不惦念這兩個孩子。

不過，我們最小的女兒，跟我和內子一樣，非常享受在香港的生活。她在這裡接受優良的教育，又結識了不少知己好友。一旦要離開這個她一直視作家鄉的地方，我相信她必定非常難過和傷感。
離開香港，我們一定會時常懷念這裡的許多摯友，我深盼我們的友誼天長地久。新春伊始，這確實是我真心的願望。

回顧過去的幾個月，我們看到香港又再取得非凡的成就。

香港是全球經濟最蓬勃的地區之一，表現也最突出。根據美國智囊團的評估，香港是全球最自由的經濟體系。我們既能保持相當高的經濟增長率，又把通脹率降低，實在令人欣慰。

我們的失業人數亦告下降。當然，我們不願意見到任何人失業，但最低限度，我們現已再次創造更多的就業機會。過往幾個月，我們的儲備——即香港整個社會存放於銀行的款項，增幅甚至高於以前。

強大的經濟實力，使我們能夠履行這個充滿愛心的社會期望政府承擔的責任，例如更妥善地照顧高齡和殘疾人士，處境不幸的人，以及社會上成就和經濟條件均不如其他大部分港人的一群。

照顧這些人，是我們應做的事；此外，我認為，與全港市民一起討論長遠房屋策略，也是我們應做的事，因為每個家庭心目中至為重要的事情，除了子女的健康和教育外，就是擁有一個舒適的居所。房屋問題確是每個人的切身問題。

展望新的一年，充滿考驗和挑戰。我相信，我們有足夠的信心面對這些挑戰。世界上沒有多少地方，能夠在十數年間取得一倍的經濟增長；世界上沒有多少地方，能夠像我們一樣，擁有如此優秀的公務員隊伍。

世界上也沒有多少地方，社會環境像香港這麼穩定。何以見得呢？香港的罪案數字持續下降，目前的罪案率，實際上較八十年代初期還要低。

由此可見，香港確是一個成就卓越，人人得以安居樂業的地方。我衷心希望香港繼續欣欣向榮，寫下更輝煌的一頁，成為一個可與子孫永享繁榮的地方。當你們在下一個農曆新年，回顧今年的成績時，盼望大家能夠看到另一個碩果豐收的年度。

今年夏天，我將會帶着依依不捨的心情，離開香港。正如我剛才所說，我會深深懷念這個美好的地方，這個了不起的城市。當董先生成為特別行政區首長時，我深信他必定全心全力，保持香港的繁榮安定。

在此，我恭祝各位安坐家中的觀眾——新春快樂！

Another New Year. A very special one this, for every family in Hong Kong and for Hong Kong as a whole. We know the reason for that - this is the last new year before the transfer of sovereignty this summer. So, it's a poignant and exciting time for everybody. Particularly poignant for me and my wife and our youngest daughter, because we'll be leaving Hong Kong, which has been our home for five years, at the end of June.

Unfortunately we haven't had our two elder girls, Kate and Laura, with us while I've been Governor. They've come on holidays. They've seen what a very special place Hong Kong is. But like so many of you, I've had children away from Hong Kong finishing their education, and starting their careers, and I'd be telling you a terrible untruth if I didn't admit that we've missed them a great deal from time to time.

But our youngest daughter, like my wife and myself, has greatly enjoyed living in Hong Kong. She's had a wonderful education. She's made marvellous friends, and I think it's going to be particularly difficult for her when she leaves the place which she regards as home.

When we leave we'll be looking back on many friendships made, and I hope that the friends we've made will be friends for life. I'd certainly like to think that, at a New Year.

I suppose when we look back in Hong Kong over the last months, we see once again a story of extraordinary success.

The Hong Kong economy is one of the best ..... best performing in the world. We're the freest economy in the world, according to American think-tanks. We've been very happy to see our growth rate staying pretty high, and we've seen inflation come down.

We've seen unemployment figures fall. Any unemployment is too much, but at least we're creating more jobs again. And we've seen our reserves - the amount of money that we've got as a community in the bank - we've seen our reserves increasing even more over the last months.

That economic strength has enabled us to do what a caring community like this wants to see the Government doing. Making better provision for the elderly, for the disabled, for the disadvantaged, for all those who don't have as successful and prosperous a time in society as the majority.

It's right to take care of them, and it's right also - I think - for us to have started to involve the community in a discussion of our long-term housing strategy, because the most important thing in every family's life, apart from the health and education of their children, is to have a decent roof over their heads. So housing matters to everyone.

Well, we look forward from this New Year to the challenging year ahead. I think we can do so with quite a bit of confidence. There aren't many places around the world where you could say that the economy had doubled in strength over the last dozen or so years. There aren't many places around the world, with such a fine civil service as we've got.

There aren't many places around the world where you can point to as great social stability as there is in Hong Kong. And what's one of the signs of that? Well, the fact that here in Hong Kong our crime has been falling and is now actually lower than it was in the early 1980's.

So Hong Kong is a successful and decent place for everyone to live in. I very much hope that it will continue to be even more successful, that it will continue to be a splendid place in which you can bring up your family, and that when you look back at the next Chinese New Year, when you look back on this year, you'll be able to see another one which has been very successful.

I'll leave Hong Kong this summer, with - as I said - a good deal of nostalgia, a good deal of feeling for one of the finest places in the world, one of the greatest cities in the world, and I'm sure that Mr Tung - when he becomes Chief Executive of the SAR - will be committed to doing all he can to keep things that way.

So, to all of you watching at home - Sun Chun Fai Lok.

[Historical Files] Her Majesty's Visit to Hong Kong (Speeches by Sir MacLehose, Sir YK and QEII), 4 May 1975

Her Majesty's Visit to Hong Kong (Speeches by Sir MacLehose, Sir YK and QEII), 4 May 1975

Speeches made in The City Hall, Central

(from TVB 新聞掏寶)

港督演詞 Speech by Sir MacLehose

Your Excellency, (inaudible), 

This is the first (inaudible) has come here. We, the people of Hong Kong, are proud and encouraged that Your Majesty should be paying us this visit now. It is a moment of real historical significance. The predominant immersion at this moment is a further wish that Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness will enjoy your short stay amongst us, that you will be able to see the way we live, and also some of the ways we enjoy ourselves. And above all, the sort of people we are, and the sort of community we are. We dare to hope that having seen a little of this, you will like it.

To supplement what can be seen in such a short time, we have prepared an exhibition. We hope this will all serve the interests to a very wide public. For the visit of Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness, it is a good time to remove misconceptions and to remind ourselves and others what Hong Kong has done, what it now is and what it could be. 

Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness, on behalf of Hong Kong, I extend a very sincere, a very loyal welcome.

女皇陛下、親王殿下、三軍司令麾下、各位嘉賓：

陛下已在位女皇之尊，今日蒞臨香港，實為本港開埠以來未有之盛事。對此深具歷史意義之時刻，全港市民，得瞻風采之餘，咸感鼓舞，深以為榮。

香港市民今日恭逢盛會，謹以興奮之心情，敬祝陛下及殿下在訪港期間，舒泰康祥，歡享良辰美景，更藉此一睹吾人之起居方式，生活情趣，尤其本地之風土人情，即使一鱗半爪，諒亦為陛下所樂見。

陛下訪港時間短暫，難免有走馬看花之感，吾人特舉辦一介紹性之展覽會，務使陛下對香港一般情形，能睹全豹，並藉此良機一新視聽，促使本港市民以及全球人士回顧香港之成就，檢討目前之情況，期待未來之發展。

最後，本人謹代表全港市民對陛下及殿下敬致萬二分之熱烈歡迎。

***

簡悅强爵士演詞（以粵語發表）

女皇陛下、親王殿下、督憲閣下、三軍司令麾下、各位嘉賓：

本人謹以極愉快之心情代表本港居民熱烈歡迎女王陛下及親王殿下蒞臨，此乃本港歷史上之莫大慶典。全體居民深感歡欣與慶幸。

皇室對本港居民一向關懷備至，全港居民對此衷心感謝，深以為榮。前此親王殿下來港，其風采至今港人景仰猶深。歷年來，安妮公主、瑪嘉烈公主及雅麗珊郡主先後光臨，迄今港人尚留下不可磨滅之愉快回憶。

香港之繁榮有賴於海洋貫通各地。今日係天后寶誕，而天后乃漁民及海員所奉祀之仁慈女神，相傳其惠澤港人者，至深且厚。女皇陛下今日蒞臨，適逢其會，寶誕慶典，相得益彰。香港居民謹向女皇陛下再致萬二分熱烈歡迎。並祝在港期景，享受良辰美景，政躬康泰。

***

英女皇演詞 Speech by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Your Excellency, Sir Yuet-keung Kan, 

Prince Philip and I thank you for your welcome. 

He has visited Hong Kong before, as have other members of my family. And I have heard about much about it from them. I also keep in touch with your affairs through state papers, so although this may be my first visit, I do not feel a stranger. 

But seeing is believing, and I am delighted with what I have seen and look forward very much to the next three days. I am particularly glad of this initial moment of ceremony because it gives me an opportunity to greet you all, the people of Hong Kong.

The circumstances that have produced modern Hong Kong are unique, and I cannot be any other community quite like it. Your reputation stands high in the world. Few other communities have had greater problems to deal with, or have confronted them with greater vigour, or have survived and improved the life of their members against greater odds.

Hong Kong is famous for this, as it is for the vivid colour and movement of its densely packed life for the beauty of its scenery. I can assure you that it is a real pleasure and an excitement for Prince Philip and me to be here.

督憲閣下、簡悅强爵士：

本人與親王此次蒞臨，荷蒙熱烈歡迎，深表感謝。

親王以及其他皇室人員前曾數度訪港，有關香港之風采文物，莫不津津樂道，故對香港情況經已耳熟能詳，復自卷宗文牘之中，頻見報導，故今日雖屬初次訪港，亦如履遊舊地。

世人有云「百聞不如一見」，今日所見所聞，無不令人興奮欣悅，深信此行三日之遊，必多賞心樂事，本人更樂於借重茲簡單隆重之儀式向在座諸君及全港市民致意。

香港獨居特殊環境及因素，驚港人歷年奮鬥乃發展為一現代名城，其過程可謂舉世無倆。港人所遭遇的困難愈甚，即其鬥志益堅，百折不撓，力爭上游，於罕見之逆境中，不苟安於圖存，尋且自力更生，銳意進取，其經濟乃日臻繁榮，民生乃日趨改善，香港之在今日得以蜚聲國際，馳譽世界者，其來有自，至於其生活則多彩多姿，燦爛輝煌，其精神則蓬勃活躍，自强不息，其景色則山明水秀，風光綺麗，美譽天下，今日本人與親王得償素願，誠屬人生樂事，自覺歡欣無限，願藉此恭祝全港市民幸福愉快。

***

工商晚報 1975年5月5日
歡宴女皇菜譜
【本報訊】 歡宴英女皇之菜譜，順列如下：
一、雲腿拼鮮帶子
二、蟹黃扒官燕
三、紅燒大鮑翅
四、當紅脆皮雞
五、翡翠麒麟斑
六、鮮蝦荷葉飯
七、乾燒伊府麵
八、蓮子杏仁茶
九、香酥椰絲堆
十、蓮茸蟠龍菓

華僑日報 1975年5月5日

英女皇伉儷訪港
香港電台中文台現場報導及評述之各項節目
五月五日 星期一
參觀摩士公園游泳池之情形
上午十時三十五分
報導員：朱培慶
大會堂午宴之情形
下午一時
報導員：趙潤桓
主持紅磡新火車總站紀念牌匾揭幕儀式，參觀「香港之進展」展覽會之情形
下午二時四十五分
報導員：吳錫輝、朱培慶、黃法之
「女皇盃」賽馬情形
下午九時十分
報導員：歐陽義德及本台全體賽馬評述員
各新聞報告節目中另有女皇伉儷訪港秩序之各項綜合報導

RHK 香港電台

[Historical Files] Governor Chris Patten's Inaugural Speech, 9 July 1992

Governor Chris Patten's Inaugural Speech, 9 July 1992

Sir David, Baroness Dunn, ladies and gentlemen,

I am very grateful to the Chief Secretary and to Baroness Dunn for their kind and eloquent words. It was a particular and an attractive pleasure to hear Baroness Dunn twice. [laughter] Sir David and Baroness Dunn are two of Hong Kong's most eminent servants. I greatly look forward to working with them, and to their wise counsel.

I am greatly honoured today to assume the responsibility of the Governorship of Hong Kong - one of the world's greatest cities.

Hong Kong has been made great not by the accidents of geography but by its most formidable assets, the enterprise, the energy, the vitality and industry of its people, living, working and prospering within a framework of sound administration and the rule of law.

You, the people of Hong Kong, have created here at the heart of Asia a wonder of the world, one of the most spectacular examples of the virtues of free economy known to man.

Now the people of Hong Kong face a further task, I am privileged to share it with you for the next five years. Our task for the future is as momentous as your achievements in the past. It is a task that will require all the qualities you have already shown - resilience, determination, drive - only in still greater measure. It is a task which, when we accomplish it successfully - as we are going to do - will provide a shining example to the world of partnership and co-operation between peoples and nations for the good of all.

What we have to do in the closing years of this tumultuous century is to turn from earnest hope to firm reality, that historic and far-sighted concept - "One Country, Two Systems".

When we have achieved that, we will have fulfilled the promise enshrined in the Joint Declaration, a stable and prosperous Hong Kong whose future - founded in that Declaration - is secure; a Hong Kong that cherishes and maintains its present lifestyle; a capitalist heart beating the centre of Asia, pumping prosperity ever more widely.

That achievement will be good for the people of today's Hong Kong; good for the people of Hong Kong of tomorrow; good for China; good for Britain; good for the close relationship between our two ancient civilizations; and it will - as the new century unfolds - be good for the world.

As you know, as Sir David mentioned in his own remarks, I don't come today as a stranger to the territory. I have visited Hong Kong both as a backbench Member of Parliament and as a Minister. But I have never lived here, and nor has my family - my wife, Lavender, my daughters Laura, Alice and Kate (who is not here today but reported to be somewhere between Uruguay and Paraguay). They will join me in expressing our enthusiasm at the prospect of making our home in Hong Kong and getting to know the people who live here.

I am, of course, very much aware of the considerable achievement of my predecessor. Lord Wilson has been a friend for many years. He was an excellent Governor of Hong Kong, marvellously supported by Lady Wilson. I know that they are held in high regard and much affection. Throughout his distinguished career as diplomat and then Governor, Lord Wilson has done as much as any man to strengthen the bonds between Britain and China to the benefit of Hong Kong; to try to ensure that our nations understand one another better; and above all to serve you, the people of this territory. He has been an exemplary career of public service.

For my own part, I pledged myself to devote all my energy to representing the interest of the people of Hong Kong as strongly and as wisely as I can.

I will stand up for Hong Kong as you would wish me to do, courteously and firmly.

I said a moment ago that we must turn "One Country, Two Systems" from aspiration to reality. But let us begin with this question. What are the hallmarks of Hong Kong's system?

The bedrock, the bedrock of your way of life is the rule of law that guarantees fair and equitable treatment for everyone. It governs all your dealings, personal and financial. You have an independent Judiciary in which every individual can have confidence. Because no one is above the law. No politician, no business leader, no citizen, no Governor. Because no one is above the law, the law serves everyone.

People of Hong Kong enjoy the freedom to go about your business without constant interference from the Government. You enjoy freedom of worship and freedom of speech.

You have as well a Government in which there is democratic participation by the people of Hong Kong at every level, a Government supported by a fine public service.

Flourishing in this environment, Hong Kong is the best example in the post-war world of an open market economy. It is open in two senses: open to all the many talents of those who work in it and open to the world with which it trades with such spectacular success.

They are the distinctive qualities of our system. The Joint Declaration guarantees that they will all be preserved for the future. Looking to that future, I would like to make five brief points this afternoon.

First, we can best secure our future tomorrow by our success today. That is true of our economy and it is true of our Government. The strongest safeguard for our governing institutions will be the effectiveness, vigour and the good sense with which they operate. All of us who participate in the running of Hong Kong have serious work to do. I look forward to co-operating with those who share my aim - to do everything we can to improve and strengthen the Government of Hong Kong in the unique circumstances in which history has placed us. Those circumstances require a spirit of mature co-operation in the business of Government. 

To govern - as [inaudible] said* - is to choose and choice is invariably difficult. Good political leadership involves facing up to hard decisions, taking them, setting out clearly what has to be done when all the talking is over, and winning consent for the course that has to be pursued.

That is why I wish, while preserving the authority and the dignity of my office, to make my Governorship as open and assessable as possible. But the ultimate responsibility of leadership rests with me, in what is and in what will remain an executive-led Government.

Secondly, our personal and collective ambitions and prospects are inevitably linked to the success of the economy in which we work. Hong Kong knows better than anywhere that it cannot rest on laurels won in the past. We have to strive continuously to maintain and improve our competitiveness for tomorrow's world, certain of only one thing - that our competitors will certainly do the same. We cannot stand still. We must continue to build for the future. That is why the new airport and all the infrastructure projects associated with it are so important. That is why the Prime Ministers of both Britain and China have expressed their personal commitment to this exciting work. It is a great undertaking worthy of the great city and territory that it will serve.

When the airport and the new airport, and the bridges and the railways, and the land reclamation and the roads, when they are all completed, we know that the whole project will act as a dynamo for further wealth creation, not just in Hong Kong but in Guangdong and more widely in Southern China whose flourishing economic links with the territory are to the benefit of us all. The airport will confirm our place at the crossroads of the Asian economy.

To retain our economic strength, we also have to attend to more parochial but important concerns. We have, for example, to continue to battle against inflation, hard-fought though that battle is bound to be. When the public express anxiety about the rate of inflation, they are wholly right to do so. Inflation is a cunning enemy, an enemy that we ignore at our peril.

Thirdly, it is essential that we remain a low tax economy in which public spending is kept under prudent control. But it is also right that we should be free to use some of the wealth we generate as a community to help those of our fellow citizens who fall by the wayside. And in addition to make our society even more civilized, I know how much this community cares about the education of our children, about the care of the elderly, about housing, about the disabled, and about the environment in which we live. I intend that the Government should attach to these issues the priority they undoubtedly deserve. I look forward to saying more about them in my speech to the Legislative Council in October.

Fourthly, I know as well how much concern ha been expressed in the community about law and order. Hong Kong, it is true, is a safer city than most. Yet that is little comfort to the families and businesses who have been the victims of violent crime. The Government will be relentless in the fight against crime. We should be especially tough against violent crime. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force do a magnificent job. They can count on my staunch support as they go about their sometimes dangerous work. Co-operating closely with the Chinese authorities, we shall work round the clock to beat crime in this city.

My fifth task is perhaps the most vital and challenging of all.

I have heard it said that the relationship between Britain and China, and therefore the position of Hong Kong is still bedevilled by misunderstandings and by a lack of trust.

I will do all I can to remove misunderstandings, and to build up trust. But I make this point with some emphasis, trust is a two-way street. Good co-operation with China is my sincere aim and my profound wish. It is vital for the next five years, vital for the future of Hong Kong.

Let me finally make this clear.

As Hong Kong's Governor I have no secret agenda. You are with me already. My only agenda is the one I have laid before you today. It is clear. It is public. And so it will remain. If you want to know what I believe, if you want to know what I think, if you want to know what I intend to do, read what I say and listen to what I say.

I have no doubt that - God willing (which I say with an emphasis in front of the bishop and the cardinal) - through our own hard work, our own calm judgment, and sturdy determination, we shall carry through this historic task to a conclusion that will rank above all others among this territory's many achievements.

In the next five years and for 50 years and more beyond, the eyes of the world will be on Hong Kong. I am sure that we shall be worthy of our destiny, a symbol of confidence and co-operation for the rest of humanity.

*: The quote is said to be from Pierre Mendès-France, not "Choisseur"

粵語譯文來源：https://www.facebook.com/VCRBase/videos/462128487677566/?v=462128487677566
彭定康督憲致辭全文
粵語譯文來源：https://www.facebook.com/VCRBase/videos/462128487677566/?v=462128487677566

首席按察司楊鐵樑爵士、霍德爵士、鄧蓮如勳爵、各位嘉賓：

我非常感謝布政司同鄧蓮如勳爵語重心長嘅說話。（英有，中略）佢哋兩位都係香港嘅俊彥，一直竭誠為香港服務。我熱切期待同佢哋共事，聽取佢哋明智嘅意見。

香港係世界上最偉大嘅城市之一，今日出任香港總督一職，對我嚟講實在係一項殊榮。香港能夠成為偉大嘅城市，並非因地利而幸至，而係因為珍貴無比嘅資產。喺呢個健全行政架構同法治社會裡面，香港市民生活、工作同共享繁榮。佢哋積極進取嘅精神、充沛嘅活力同幹勁、不斷嘅努力，就係香港彌足珍貴嘅資產。

各位香港市民，你哋喺亞洲嘅心臟地區創造咗一個奇蹟，將自由經濟嘅種種優點盡顯無遺，成就卓越，堪稱典範。

目前，香港市民要面對另一項艱鉅嘅工作。我感到十分榮幸，能夠喺未來五年與各位一齊承擔呢項重任。呢項關係未來嘅工作，與各位喺過去取得嘅各項成就同樣重要。香港市民一向善用應變，而且意志堅決、幹勁衝天，呢項工作有賴各位將上述優點進一步發揮。我哋將會悉力以赴，定會完成呢項工作，為世界樹立最佳榜樣，說明各國人民同政府為咗大家嘅利益，應該和衷共濟，鼎力合作。

喺呢個風起雲湧嘅世紀接近結束嘅數年內，我哋需要做嘅，係將一國兩制呢個歷史意義重大而且深具遠見嘅構思付諸實行，使熱切嘅冀望成為不可推翻嘅事實。

當我哋達到呢個目標嘅時候，就得以履行《聯合聲明》嘅承諾，即係香港得以繼續享有安定繁榮，而香港以《聯合聲明》作為根據嘅前途亦會穩定。香港市民所珍惜嘅現有生活方式亦得以維持不變。作為亞洲區樞紐嘅香港，將會保持資本主義制度，並且將繁榮傳播開去。

呢項成就不但會對會對今日嘅香港人有利，而且對明日嘅香港人、中英兩國，以及對促進呢兩個文明古國嘅緊密關係都有裨益。而且隨住新世紀嘅展開，呢項成就對整個世界亦有益處。

正如你哋所知，而頭先霍德爵士都有提過嘞，我今日唔係第一次踏足香港。我曾經先後以英國國會後座議員同部長嘅身分訪問香港。不過我同家人都從未喺呢度生活過㗎。諗到日後喺香港居住，有機會認識呢度嘅人，我同內子林穎彤、小女麗思、雅思，同今日無跟我哋一齊嚟香港嘅潔思，都感到非常興奮。

上任總督成就卓越，政績彪炳，呢點我十分清楚。衛奕信勳爵係我多年朋友，佢係一位傑出嘅香港總督，而衛奕信勳爵夫人一直給予佢全力支持。我知道佢哋係深受市民尊崇同愛戴嘅。衛奕信勳爵喺擔任外交職位及其後出任總督期間，表現出色，佢致力鞏固中英兩國嘅關係，以促進香港利益，加深中英兩國了解。呢個為本港市民盡心服務。佢喺上述各方面所作出嘅貢獻，無人能出其右。佢實在係公職人員嘅典範。

至於我本人，我誓必竭盡所能，堅強而明智咁奮力代表香港人嘅利益。

我定會禮貌而堅定咁挺身維護香港，唔會辜負大家嘅期望。

我剛才講過，我哋必須將一國兩制呢個冀望變為事實，但我哋首先要問——香港嘅體制究竟有乜嘢特色？

香港現時嘅方式，係建基喺法治之上嘅。法治保證人人得到公正同平等嘅待遇，亦都係規管大家一切人際同財務交往嘅。香港擁有獨立嘅司法部，值得每一個人信賴。由於無一個人能夠凌駕喺法律之上，因此法律係為每一個人服務嘅。

香港人擁有自由去做自己嘅事，唔會處處受到政府干預。你哋都享有信仰自由同言論自由。

此外，香港政府讓香港人喺每個階層嘅事務都有民主參與，並由一群優秀嘅公職人員輔助。

香港喺咁樣環境下茁壯成長、欣欣向榮，係戰後實施開放市場經濟嘅最佳例子。開放嘅意義可以從兩方面嚟講嘅，就係對喺香港工作嘅多方面人才開放，以及對香港從中取得驕人成績嘅世界貿易開放。

呢啲都係香港體制嘅特色。《聯合聲明》保證呢啲特色日後將會全部保留。展望未來，我想喺今日簡略提出以下五點：

第一，我哋可以用今日嘅成就作為未來嘅最佳保證。呢一點對香港嘅經濟如是，對香港政府亦都如是。我哋嘅管治機構亦可以用現時運作嘅效率、幹勁同睿智，作為日後最強而有力嘅保證。因此，我哋所有參與香港嘅人都身負重任。我本人嘅目標係喺歷史所造成嘅獨特環境之下，竭盡所能，改善同鞏固香港政府。我更渴望與抱持同一目標嘅人士衷誠合作，喺上述環境之下，我哋必須以明智、慎重嘅合作精神嚟處理政府事務。施行管治就係要作出選擇，而選擇往往係十分困難嘅。英明嘅政治領袖要面對難以決定嘅問題，並且作出決定。喺一切討論成為過去之後，就有清楚訂定必須進行嘅工作，並為所需採取嘅路向爭取認同。因此，我希望喺維護香港總督嘅威信同尊嚴嘅同時，能夠盡量開明同聽取各方面嘅意見。不過，喺現時以至日後仍然會係行政主導嘅政府裡面，最終嘅領導責任仍然係由我肩負嘅。

第二，我哋個人及共同嘅抱負同前途，與我哋工作於其中嘅經濟體系所取得嘅成就必然係息息相關嘅。香港比任何地方更清楚知道，唔可以滿足於以往所取得嘅成就。我哋必須繼續努力，維持並提高我哋嘅競爭力，以應付明日世界挑戰。而且，可以肯定一點就係，我哋嘅競爭對手亦都會係咁做。我哋唔可以停滯不前，我哋必須要繼續為未來努力建設。因此，新機場及所有關連嘅基建工程都非常重要。呢一點亦係英國首相同中國總理親自對呢項令人振奮嘅工程作出承擔嘅一個原因。呢項龐大嘅計劃確實切合香港呢個偉大城市嘅需要。我哋知道當新機場、新港口、大橋、鐵路、填海工程同道路工程相繼完成之後，呢整套計劃將會成為一股動力，進一步創造財富，不單惠及香港，甚至遠達廣東及華南地區。而我哋大家亦可分享到中港兩地經濟活動蓬勃發展嘅成果。新機場嘅落成啟用，將奠定香港處於亞洲經濟中樞嘅重要地位。要保持香港嘅經濟實力，我哋仲需要處理香港本身嘅一啲重要事項。舉例嚟講，我哋要繼續打擊通脹，儘管嗰一場必定會係一場硬仗。市民對通脹率表示憂慮係大有道理嘅。通脹係一個狡詐多端嘅敵人。我哋若掉以輕心，就會自食其果。

第三，我哋必須維持低稅率經濟，並確保公共支出受到審慎控制。呢點係至為重要嘅。但我哋應該可以運用社會共同創造嘅部分財富，去幫助嗰啲需要援手嘅市民，使我哋嘅社會更加美好。我知道香港市民十分關心子女嘅教育、老人嘅照顧、房屋、弱能人士，以及生活嘅環境等等。我認為政府應優先處理呢啲問題。我期待喺十月嘅立法局會議席上詳細討論呢啲問題。

第四，我知道本港市民對治安問題甚表關注。香港與大部分城市相比，無疑係較為安全，不過對暴力罪行嘅受害家庭同商業機構嚟講，呢個事實並不能令佢哋感到絲毫安慰。政府會鍥而不捨打擊罪案，更會特別強硬對付暴力罪行。皇家香港警務處人員嘅表現極為出色。佢哋執行任務時有時會遇到危險，但佢哋嘅工作必定得到我全力支持。我哋會同中國當局緊密合作，日以繼夜撲滅罪行。

我嘅第五項任務大概係至為重要同最具挑戰性嘅。我曾經聽聞過中英兩國嘅關係仍然因為種種誤會同互不信任而出現問題，以至香港嘅處境亦受到影響。我定會竭盡所能，消除誤會，建立彼此間嘅信任。不過信任係雙方面嘅。與中方衷誠合作，係我摯誠嘅目標，深切嘅願望。喺未來五年，呢點係不可或缺嘅，對香港嘅將來亦極為重要。

最後我要清楚咁話畀大家知，身為香港總督，我並無乜嘢隱秘嘅任務。我嘅任務已經喺今日講咗畀大家知㗎嘞，不但清楚明確，而且係公開嘅。而家係咁，將來都係咁。我深信，假若得到上天垂顧，憑住努力工作、冷靜判斷同堅定決心，我哋必定能完成呢項具有歷史意義嘅任務，而所取得嘅成果會較諸香港以往嘅各項成就更為卓越。喺未來五年，以至五十年，及更長嘅日子裡面，香港將會成為全球目光嘅焦點。我確信我哋唔會辜負上天嘅旨意，一定會完成任務，定會成為全人類信心同合作嘅標誌。

[Historical Files] Lord Wilson's Inauguration Speech on 9 Apr 1987; David Akers-Jones & Sze-yuen Chung's Welcoming Speeches

Lord Wilson's Inauguration Speech on 9 Apr 1987; David Akers-Jones & Sze-yuen Chung's Welcoming Speeches

Lord Wilson, 18 June 2019, London
at an event by UK Friends of HKU.

華僑日報 1987年4月10日

衛奕信爵士就任港督致辭稱

政制檢討需審慎 免影響穩定發展

強調如需任何改變當循序漸進從事

深信聯合聲明實施必繼續穩步進展

確保香港輝煌成就讓大眾分享成果

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

（特訊）新任港督衛奕信爵士昨日下午抵港，隨即在大會堂宣誓就任第二十七任香港總督。港督在典禮上支持是表示：本年內會檢討行政立法、區議會及市政局與新界市政局的角色、功能及組織。如有需要作任何改變時會審慎循序漸進從事，避免影響香港的穩定發展。

他強調會盡所能，來確保本港輝煌的成就持續下去，讓社會大眾都能分享成果。

以下是衛奕信爵士於大會堂宣誓就任香港總督典禮上致辭全文：

鍾逸傑爵士、鍾士元爵士、各位嘉賓：

　　我非常感謝鍾逸傑爵士和鍾士元爵士的歡迎辭。

　　我這次以總督身份回到香港，實在是一項殊榮。我受任為香港總督，是尤德爵士不幸突然逝世所致。這件事令我難以忘懷。當天在香港參加尤德爵士喪禮的每一個人，目睹香港民眾衷誠愛戴他，尊敬他，都深受感動。我現在承接他的責任，將會以全心全意，公爾忘私為香港服務的精神為典範。我要在他奠下的基石上努力建設。

　　尤德爵士五年前到香港履任時，曾充滿信心地說，會設法解決香港前途這個重要問題。現在香港前途已經明朗。一份具歷史意義的協議詳細地列明香港的長遠前途。英國政府和中華人民共和國政府都決心切實執行這份協議。從簽署聯合聲明到現在短短的時間內，兩國政府已下了不少工夫，使聯合聲明發揮其實際效力。中英兩國政府都表明了誠意，而且作出承諾。因此我確信實施聯合聲明的重要工作，必然會繼續穩步進展。

　　我也會竭盡所能來確保這些輝煌的成就持續下去，讓社會大眾都能分享成果。香港的繁榮倚靠香港人能夠生產別人需要的貨品，並且能夠在國際市場上推銷這些貨品。我們必須營造有利的環境，去吸引投資及培養進取的精神；我們必須維持健全的行政架構，輔以一套明確可行的法例；必須維持在基層設施方面的投資步伐，使香港的發展巨輪繼續向前推動，此外我們也必須追上科技的發展，維持香港在國際市場上的競爭能力。

　　同時我們更須照顧個別市民的需求和願望，繼續擴展和改善本港的公屋計劃、教育制度、醫療和社會福利服務；為青少年、老年人、有病的人和不能照顧自己的人設想；並盡力去保護和改善周圍的環境。

　　政府的結構，和任何行政當局的組織，對社會的種種需求必須作出敏捷的反應，香港政府獨特的制度，就是順應社會的需求而規劃和發展出來的，擴大的立法局，已成為眾所關注的辯論和討論的重要機構，各區議會也肯定成了地區行政的一環，至於市區管理的工作，市政局和區域市政局現在也負起重要和必須的任務，本年內，我們會檢討這些機構的角色，功能，及其組織，這些都是具深遠影響的重要問題，我們必須以沉着和理智的態度去處理。如果需要任何改變，就必須審慎從事，循序漸進，斷不能因此而影響我們的穩健發展和我們所珍惜的安定。

　　在未來的歲月裏，我們還需面對許多複雜和影響深遠的問題。在處理這些問題時，我還需倚重行政局，立法局和其他委員會的意見和指導，在我們的社會中，兩局和各類委員會扮演着重要的角色，至於我現在就要領導的公務人員，我對他們的辦事經驗和效率，有莫大的信心。

　　我們將來肯定會面對不少挑戰，不過香港屢次都顯示出確實具有毅力和決心去克服困難，應付挑戰和適應變遷。

　　我和內子能夠在香港與你們一起，感到非常榮幸，我們覺得好像回到於老朋友之間，我們決心和大家一起為香港同香港人的前途和幸福努力。

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鍾逸傑歡迎衛奕信爵士重回香港稱

香港變得更為複雜 港人應變能力亦增

港人毅力才智可克服困難繼續前進

（特訊）鍾逸傑爵士表示：本港過去各階層民眾參與尋求對策去解決本港之經濟、社會及政治問題，並為港人創下世界紀錄，成為別人的模範，神令港人引以自豪。以下是鍾逸傑爵士昨日在大會堂衛奕信爵士宣誓就任香港總督典禮時致歡迎辭全文。

總督閣下、衛奕信夫人、各位嘉賓：

　　我非常榮幸和高興歡迎總督閣下，重臨香港。今天在這裏舉行這個典禮，我們都意想不到，可見命運的安排，往往是出人意表的。

　　你這次不但回到遠東，回到香港，回到舊地，更回來作為我們的總督和朋友。

　　總督閣下，自從你離開香港之後，香港在社會、經濟和政治各方面已變得更為複雜，相信不少人都有同感。但面對這些問題，香港人應變的能力也相應增加。我們也想出了自己的方法，使各階層的民眾參與尋求對策，去解決這些問題。

　　在這段期間，香港不但為有了更多的高樓大廈而成為一個更大的都市，同時香港在太平洋區和世界上的地位日益重要，我們的生活因此也變得更多樣化。香港人創下和刷新世界紀錄，已司空慣見，而我們在許多事情上都成為別人的模範。我們可以引以自豪的成就雖然很多，但由於天然條件所限，加上人口激增，我們在許多方面仍然落後，有待改進，大致上說，我們知道問題所在。有某些工作只要假以時日，就可以完成。但另外有些事情，我們需要作出困難而耗資不菲的決定。然而香港人具有毅力才智，足可克服困難，繼續前進。

　　隨著香港不斷發展，市民除了感到自豪，還產生更大的歸屬感，他們腳踏實地，生活有明確目標。但有時他們亦會想到將來未必一帆風順而感到憂慮，這是可以理解的。在繁盛的街道、課堂、街市、屋邨、火車、巴士、音樂廳和郊野公園，到處可以看到市民這種一則自豪、一則憂慮的表現。我們必須緊記着香港民眾這些交集的感情和態度，因為歸根究底，都下一個世紀開始時，香港將會有超過六百萬人口，而他們的前途福祉正是我們要關注的。

　　我最後要提及的，就是你屬下所有公務人員，都會忠誠勤奮，為你服務，全心全意去為各個目標努力。

　　總督閣下，我們都希望你和家人跟我們一起生活得幸福愉快。

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鍾士元致歡迎辭稱新港督深慶得人

香港市民深切關注 保持繁榮安定成果

香港躋身世界最繁榮安定之地區之列

全賴港人積極進取政府不罔加干預

（特訊）行政局首席議員鍾士元爵士指出，香港是蕞爾之地，在缺乏天然資源下仍能躋身世界上最繁榮和安定的地區之列，這全是港人刻苦勤勞、積極進取及政府不罔加干預的結果。

以下是衛奕信爵士於大會堂宣誓就任香港總督典禮後，鍾士元爵士致歡迎辭全文。

督憲衛奕信爵士閣下、督憲夫人、各位嘉賓：

　　我今午能代表香港市民，以及本港行政立法兩局非官守議員，向閣下及督憲夫人致以熱烈和衷心的歡迎，深感欣幸。我們歡迎閣下重臨香港就職，本港第二十七任總督。

　　過去數十年間，香港進展良多。在五十年代，本港經濟體系銳變；六十年代工業蓬勃發展；七十年代，經濟突飛猛進，到了八十年代，中英雙方順利簽署聯合聲明，為香港前途問題定定了長期的解決方案。在達成這項深具歷史意義的協議的過程中，督憲閣下曾擔任極重要的任務。

　　香港雖然是蕞爾之地，並缺乏天然資源，但現在畢竟能躋身世界上最繁榮和安定的地區之列，去年本港國民生產總值的實質增長高達百分之九，預計八七年度的實質增長亦會相當可觀，可達百分之六。本港市民個人入息，在實質上續有提升，加上通貨膨脹率低，生活水準不斷提高，而且實際上已達致全民就業，港人因而享受勤勞的成果。本港更享有高度自由、及低犯罪率；而在公眾衛生、教育水準和社會福利方面，皆有驕人表現。凡此種種，均為本港市民刻苦勤勞，積極進取和政府不罔妄加干預的結果。香港市民深切關注的，就是如何能夠保持以上的一切成果。

　　督憲閣下，你曾親身體驗香港的生活，熟悉中國和中國人民的情況，又曾深入參與中英兩國外交談判和中英聯絡小組的工作，在本港踏入敏感和重要的過渡期，由閣下出任香港總督，實在深慶得人。在多年的英明領導下，全港市民將會全心全力支持，使香港成為一個更美好的安居樂業之所，更完善的培育後代之地方。我們謹祝督憲閣下伉儷在本港生活愉快，任期悠長，政績彪炳。

[Historical files] Sir MacLehose's Statement on 5 Nov 1977 on Partial Amnesty of Police Officers

港督麥理浩昨夜發表重要聲明

今年以前所犯貪污廉署不再受理投訴

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成立兩個特別委會監管廉政公署工作

簡悅强爵士任主席　另一個高登任主席

1977年11月6日 星期日 華僑、工商日報綜合
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（特訊）港督麥理浩爵士昨晚在一項聲明中宣布：廉政公署將不受理任何在一九七七年一月一日之前所犯罪行的投訴及證據。但那些經已被接見、通緝及逃離本港的人士則不包括在內。

而一個由簡悅强爵士任主席的委員會將會成立，以監管廉政公署處理其屬員的投訴。

港督在昨晚八時四十五分由港督府發出的聲明如下：本人在昨日錄影及於今晚播出的一個電視訪問節目中曾指出，在對付貪污問題方面，已有重大的進展，而警隊目前的情況是大部份的警務人員均無需感到恐懼的，我可以說，所有公務員的情況亦是一般無異。

我認為如果能在此闡明一下本人的意思以及含意是有幫助的。這是因為顯然有眾多皇家香港警務人員現正感到恐慌。他們恐怕現時可能會因很久以前所犯的輕微過失而被追究。其他以前從未有牽涉貪污的人對於其同僚所受的威脅，無論其觀感正確與否，則均感到關注。

但我相信所有警務人員及公務人員都認為必須維持大有改進的誠實標準，他們認為此舉是有利於全體公務人員及整個社會，而且他們對於不論任何性別之人士，在處身於這個新環境下，仍然濫用他們的地位，都感到不應予以寬恕。當然也會有人不同意這種看法，他們就是那些小數有罪者，他們最關心的是要逃離檢控，或回復他們以往的陋習。

你們都知道，姬達須直接向本人負責。鑑於目前的進度，我們本來準備要宣布廉政公署，將集中處理現時的貪污事件，而大致來說，現時已達到肅清所有貪污公務人員的階段，而對於過去犯法的投訴，在普通情形下就不會予以受理。我們認為這項宣布，將會大大減輕公務員的憂慮。我們已準備在明年春作此項宣佈。但由於近日發生的事件，而且只有數個月的差別，我認為立即宣佈是會有助於現時的情形。

因此我要向所有有關人士說：今天廉政公署對於有關一九七七年一月一日之前所犯罪行之投訴或證據，在普通情況下將不予受理，惟那些經已被接見之人士，已被通緝之人士以及現時不在香港之前任公務員則屬例外。我不將那些經已被接見之人士包括在內，是因為認為執行法例之工作（無論是由警務人員或廉政公署人員負責執行），是不應該受到未經法律規定之行動所阻礙的。

我說：「在普通情況下將不予受理」，因為間或會發現嚴重的罪行，如不受理就會受到非議，而且如不採取行動，則市民定不能容忍。但遇到有此類案件時，必會先與本人諮商。

對於廉政公署在進行調查對所採用之方式及程序，有人感到關注，而這些方式及程序曾被指稱為不適當及不合法的，現時已設有一個以高登爵士為首之行政立法兩局非官守議員所組成之委員會，負責監管有關處理市民對警務人員之投訴。

現時政府又正在設立另一個由簡悅强爵士任主席之委員會，負責監管廉政公署處理對其屬員之投訴。。任何人士如認為收到不適當的待遇時，可向行政立法兩局非官守議員辦事處投訴。本人已訓示律政司對該委員會在執行職務時給予所需之協助。

律政司於下星期四立法局施政報告辯論會時，將會對此等問題作進一步之闡述。
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7 November 1977 - Statement from Governor at LegCo
"Government and community cannot yield to the corrupt says Governor"

I would like to make a statement.

On the Saturday evening I announced a new policy with regard to ICAC operations. I did say in the following terms: ‘all concerned may take it that as from now the ICAC will not normally act on complaints or evidence relating to offences committed before 1 January 1977 except in relation to persons who have been interviewed, persons against whom warrants have been issued, and persons now outside Hong Kong. I except persons who have already been interviewed because I do not think that anyone would accept that law enforcement operations, whether by the Police or by the ICAC, should be halted by extra-legal action. I say ‘will not normally act’ because occasionally an offence may come to light which is so heinous that it would be unthinkable not to act and the public would not tolerate failure to act. But in any such case I will be consulted first.’

This, of course, applied to the members of all public services, and to the public, and not just to the Police Force.

Our object has always been to cleanse the public service and to continue prosecutions for past offences until acceptable standards had been achieved. We had never envisaged prosecuting everybody who had ever committed any offence. In view of the great improvement in the standards of honesty achieved, particularity over the last two years, I had expected before long to take a step of the sort announced last Saturday. This would make it possible to concentrate on maintaining standards for the future, rather than to continue to impress the need for honesty by prosecuting people for offences committed in the past, and thus turn over a new leaf in the history of the public services. However, in the circumstances that had arisen, I judged that this relief should be granted immediately. Apart from these exceptions, it has removed all cause for fear from all who keep straight.

The exceptions were deliberately intended to be very small. One was – and I quote – ‘persons who had already been interviewed’. This does not mean anybody to whom an ICAC officer has spoken at any time. It means only persons who have been interviewed by an ICAC officer, whether or not following arrest, and to whom during that interview allegations had been made that they had committed an offence. The number of such people is small, probably not more than 200 within a force of 20,000.

Another exception was an offence committed before this year, which came to light, and was so heinous that it would be unthinkable not to act. To ensure that in no circumstances would this exception be used to undermine my general intention, I stated that if there was such a case it would have to be referred to me. And this made clear that I expected the number of cases to be negligible, and in fact none is known at this moment.

Other exceptions related to the obvious cases of persons for whom warrants had been issued or person now outside Hong Kong.

Although there was nothing in the statement that would inhibit ICAC from ensuring that the improvement achieved would be maintained, or that suggested that our determination to maintain a clean public service was abandoned or diminished, I think its timing and its content came as a shock to the public. Although the reasons for it have been sympathetically understood, many were worried that it had been made at all, or that it went too far. But certainly, no one has suggested that it should have gone further – quite the contrary.

My statement has been under consideration by the different associations of the Police Force. Honourable Members and the public will be concerned to learn that informally it was suggested that it did not go far enough; that pressure should be maintained on the administration by demonstrations and progressive refusal of law enforcement until all current interviews, charges and court proceedings now in course were dropped.

I have no doubt that these ideas were propagated by the less than one per cent who under the exceptions I have mentioned remain in fear of prosecution, and insofar as they are supported by others it is because of a mistaken sense of temporary euphoria or solidarity. I assure them it is time very soberly to consider their position. It is for the Police to answer to lawful authority and to enforce it − not to answer to a small self-interested group.

The idea that pressure can achieve further concessions of this sort would result from a complete misconception of the mood of the Government and the community. It would also ignore the true interests of at least 99 per cent of the Police Force itself. Needless to say it totally ignores the true interests of Hong Kong where the enforcement of law and order and the achievement of acceptable standards of honesty have made such strides in recent years. Concessions to such demands under pressure would invite pressure on other issues; next, it would be the suppression of ICAC itself, possibly to have persons in prison released, and so on, until we had a situation in which the law was being administered in the interests of the corrupt. I know this is not what most of the Force and their families want, but this is where they would be led if the Government were to give any further ground. To do so would yield to anarchy and to anarchy there can be no concession. I am confident in this I am speaking for the entire community, young and old, rich and poor.

I hope that wiser counsels will now prevail. But it is as well that all should realize now, before irrevocable action is taken that we cannot accept that policemen who do not accept lawful authority, or who support others in not doing so, or continue to dominate lawful authority by means of pressures, should remain in the Force, and be paid by the public. In the present circumstances powers available are too slow and ponderous. Honourable Members will therefore be invited this afternoon to amend the Police Force Ordinance to grant powers of summary dismissal.

I very much hope it will not be necessary to use these powers. I hope, as I say, that wiser counsels will prevail and that the dialogue proceeding will continue. I can also ensure all concerned that these powers will not be used in respect of anything that has happened so far, and they will not likely be used in the future.

I am glad to say in conclusion that a meeting was held between the Deputy Commissioner of Police and representatives of the various Police associations during most of today. The meeting agreed that the Commissioner should issue a statement that will be made shortly, recording a pledge of full loyalty to the Commissioner and a pledge that in future all issues would be pursued through established constitutional channels, and by no other means, and certainly not by the process of any protest public gatherings.

As I have only just heard this statement I am unable to comment on it, but I feel it right that Honourable Members should know of it before passing to the Bill before them. I still think that the powers that the amendment will confer and desirable, though the outcome of this meeting does offer additional hope that they will not need to be used.

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警聲特刊，一九七七年十一月八日一九七七年十一月七日立法局會議港督麥理浩爵士演詞＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

上星期六傍晚，本人就廉政公署之行動發表了一項新政策，其內容如下：「我要向所有有關人士說：今天廉政公署對於有關一九七七年一月一日之前所犯罪行之投訴或證據，在普通情況下將不予受理，惟那些經已被傳訊之人士，已被通緝之人士以及現時不在香港之前任公務員則屬例外。我不將那些已被傳訊之人士包括在內，是因為認為執行法例之工作（無論是由警務人員或廉政公署人員負責執行），是不應該受到未經法律規定之行動所阻礙的。我說：「在普通情況下將不予受理」，因為間或會發現嚴重的罪行，如不受理就會受到非議，而且如不採取行動，則市民定不能容忍。但遇到有此類案件時，必會先與本人諮商。」

此點當然是適用於全體公務員及社會人士，並非單指警務人員而言。

我們的目的一直都是清理政府部門及繼續對過往的罪行提出檢控，直至達致可被接納的標準為止。我們從未想過要檢控每一個曾有任何違法行為的人。鑒於廉潔誠實的標準已有顯著改善，尤以過去兩年為然，本人曾估計不久即可採取與上週六所宣布者類似的措施。

此舉能使我們今後能集中力量去保持標準，而非藉繼續起訴前曾犯罪的人士，以肅貪倡廉。這樣就可以為公共服務寫下歷史新的一頁。然而鑒於近來事態發展，本人認為有立即頒布特赦的必要。除特殊情形之外，這項決定實際上已消除了所有今後走正途人士的恐懼。

我故意將例外情形減至極少數。其一是「曾被傳訊的人士」，這並非表示任何曾與廉署人員交談的人士，而只指不論在被捕前後曾被廉署人員傳訊，並被指控曾犯罪行的人士。此類人士數目不大，再有二萬人的警隊中，人數可能不足二百人。

另一例外是在今年以前所犯的罪行，經揭發後發覺其性質極為嚴重，如有此情形而不採取行動，實在匪夷所思。但為確保在任何情況下，此類例外不致有違本人原意，故本人當時說，一旦有此種情形出現，必須轉交本人裁奪。這已明確指出，本人預料此類案件少之又少，而且事實上迄今仍未知有此種事情存在。

其他例外則是指已被通緝之人士，或現時潛逃離港之前任公務員。這項決定的理由顯而易見，毋庸贅言。

這項聲明，絕無妨礙廉政公署保持既得成果之意，亦不是說我們已把維持公共服務廉潔的決心放棄或減低。但在這個時候宣布這樣的聲明，市民當感愕然。雖然一般人對其理由已加諒解，但亦有許多人對政府竟然有此宣布表示憂慮，或認為是過分讓步。可是，並沒有人認為政府應作更大讓步。相反的，大家都認為不能再作讓步。

警務人員所組成的各個協會現仍考慮本人的姓名。但仍有人非正式地表示，認為這項聲明中所作出的讓步仍然不夠，應繼續用示威及逐步拒絕執行法例等行動，向政府施加壓力，迫使政府放棄現時在進行中的一切傳訊、控訴及審慎工作。各位議員及市民對此種種當感關切。本人絕對相信這些謬論正由為數不少於百分之九十九的人員所散播，這些人員是我所提及的不受赦免的人。他們仍然恐懼被控。其他人士如果支持這一小撮人，其與共安樂謀團結的真義，相去實何止十萬八千里。

本人因此向他們着重指出，現在正是他們積極冷靜地考慮自己處境的時候。警察隊伍的任務是香合法當局負責和執行法紀，而不是一小部份自私自利的人負責。

以為用壓力就可以獲得進一步讓步的人，完全誤解了政府和社會的態度，亦知警隊內至少百分之九十九人員的真正利益於不顧。不用說這種人更完全忽視了香港的真正利益，本港在近年來在維持法紀及治安以及奠定廉潔風氣方面，已有可觀進展。

在壓力下對這些要求作出讓步，會引致對其他問題的壓力：要求壓倒廉政公署，釋放獄中犯人等等的壓力會接踵而來，終至法律只為維護貪污人士之利益而執行。我確信這不是大部份警務人員及他們的家人所希望見到的。但假如政府再作讓步便會導致這樣的後果，就是向無法無天的人屈服，而對無法無天的人是絕對不能讓步的。本港全體市民不論老少貧富，對此定有同感。

我希望有關人等都能作出更理智的抉擇。無論如何，在他們採取無可挽回的行動之前，他們應該知道我們不能讓拒受合法當局節制的警務人員、或者支持他們不受合法當局節制的人、又或繼續試圖用壓力去左右合法當局的人繼續留在警察隊伍內，及繼續有市民大眾支付其薪酬。目前情況下，政府運用現有權力來對付這各種人員，需時過久，手續亦太繁複。所以今天下午特請各位來商討如何修訂警察條例已賦予警務處長對上述各類不法人員予以立即革職的權力。

我極希望不需要使用此等權力。正如我說我希望有關人等及時醒悟，繼續商談。我同時也要對所有有關人士保證，立即革職的權力，不會運用於迄今發生的事件上，而且將來亦不會輕易運用。

最後本人很高興的告訴各位，副警務處長與各警務人員協會之代表，今日大部份時間在舉行會議。會上獲致協議，認為警務處長應發表一項聲明，內容除聲明各會已對處長全力效忠之外，並保證今後只經由早經確定的正當途徑來解決問題，而不以任何其他方式進行。更絕對不會已舉行任何公共集會抗議之方式進行。警務處的聲明，不一會便會公布。

由於我剛剛獲悉該項聲明，故現在未能作出評論，但我覺得各位議員應該在通過修訂案之前知道有這件事。雖然他們的會議，使我們更有希望，毋須行使法案賦予的權力，不過，我認為這些權力仍然是必要的。

[HK's First Interpreter] Hong Kong A Step Closer to Use of Chinese in Public Matter

香港政府新聞公報

一九七二年四月廿八日 星期五

公事上使用中文又邁進一步
即時傳譯主任 由英抵港履新

為推行公事上使用中文於新近所聘任的即時傳譯主任鄭仰平，現已由英國抵港，負責有關在立法及市政兩局公開會議席上提供即時傳譯服務的事宜。

在此等會議席上提供即時傳譯服務，乃為公事上使用中文研究委員會向政府提交的第一份報告內所建議。隨著即時傳譯主任的抵港履新，此項建議的實施又有進一步的進展。

鄭氏現已分別會見民政司署中文監察專員黃劍琴，布政司署及市政局人員，商討有關他的工作問題。

鄭氏在今後數月內的工作，主要將為擬定傳譯的程序，以及給予其他即時傳譯員嚴格的訓練，此等傳譯員的選錄，為根據於一九七一年香港訪問的英國專家披里的意見，他們在受訓之後，將協助鄭氏提供所需的即時傳譯服務。

鄭氏於香港出生，已婚，有四名子女，早年在上海及廣州接受教育，過去曾在香港電台、印度電台及英國廣播電台服務。

政府發言人指出，有關在立法及市政兩局為提供即時傳譯服務而裝設的工作櫃枱，其工程幾已接近完成，所需的其他設備亦已訂購，預料可於本年七月間運抵本港。

Language barrier on way out at council meetings

SCMP, 29 April 1972

Both the Chinese and English speaking public will soon attend Legislative Council and Urban Council meetings without any language barrier.

The date, next August, was set yesterday by Government's newly-appointed Chief Interpreter, Mr Y. P. Cheng, who arrived from England last Friday.

Mr Cheng, a former translator and broadcaster with the BBC in London, and his three-man team will provide simultaneous interpretations at Legco and Urbco meetings.

In an interview yesterday at the Colonial Secretariat, Mr Cheng admitted the job was a “new challenge for me.” He said he had no past experience in this field.

His first task, he said, would be to compile a standard glossary of official terms comprising mainly names and titles in both languages.

He will also train the other interpreters. They were selected on the advice of Mr A. T. Pilley during his visit last year. He will undergo an extensive familiarisation programme of various Government departments and will work closely with the Commissioner for Chinese Language, Mr Christopher Wong.

“In future, the Legislative Council and Urban Council can speak in either Chinese or English, We will do the translation, he explained. Mr Cheng said Cantonese would be used in Chinese interpretations. But we are not ruling out Mandarin, “ he added.

He estimated that the translation speed would be approximately three-quarters of a sentence behind the speakers.

Mr Cheng said the sound equipment was expected to arrive some time in July. Mr Cheng was born in Hongkong and educated in Shanghai and Canton, He has more than 10 years of experience with Radio Hongkong, All India Radio and the BBC.

Straight Talk with Kurt Tong (26.2.2019) - Full Transcript

Straight Talk with Kurt Tong (26.2.2019) - Full Transcript

http://news.tvb.com/programmes/straighttalk/5c75430de6038315322124ee

MC: Hello I’m Michael Chugani and this is Straight Talk. With me today is the US Consul General, Mr Kurt Tong. Thank you very much. Now, Mr Consul General, you were here about a year ago. 

KT: About a year ago, yes. Thanks, Michael.

MC: In that year, a lot has happened. Since you last came, we’ve had the trade war, we’ve got legislative councillors who were disqualified, we’ve got a national anthem law and we have a congressional report that said we should reassess the Hong Kong Policy Act. I’m going to start off with the trade war because just yesterday President Donald Trump said okay, negotiations have gone well and he’s going to delay the tariffs for a while. Now, Mr Consul General, a lot of people say, critics say that the trade war was not necessary, and it was America’s way to try and suppress the rise of China. Would you say that was true?

KT: Well, thanks Michael and thank you for having me again this year. It’s been...I enjoyed...it’s a really good opportunity to have some dialogue. The situation with the ongoing trade negotiations, I would characterize it as “we’ve entered a second overtime”. We’ve had a brief first overtime for about two days and then the president, as you said, has indicated that he’s going to postpone raising US tariffs for a period of time while we have future negotiations. I think the US continues to have high expectations for these talks. There's a lot of very important structural issues that we’re now substantively engaged on. We have a clear agenda and there is a reason to think that we can actually have a significant breakthrough in improving the nature of the US-China economic relationships, which the US as you know had a lot of points of dissatisfaction with. So, I’m hopeful that these negotiations would go well and that is pretty much the intentions of the talks...the tariffs you know, are an action-forcing event. They focus the mind and they help China understand to the degree of which the US really consider these problems that are buildup in the nature of the US-China economic relationship to be very serious.

MC: Was it necessary? Because people say that it’s hurt both the US and it’s hurt China, it definitely has hurt Hong Kong, and that it could’ve been settled without tariffs, and that by imposing these tariffs, President Trump is trying to, I asked, again to suppress the rise of China.

KT: That’s clearly not the case. We’re not trying to suppress the rise of China, we’re trying to interest China and create incentive for China to focus on significant problems that are...

MC: Have they been playing unfair?

KT: Who?

MC: China. In trade.

KT: Yes. Absolutely. It’s been an unfair...

MC: In areas like technology transfer, forced technology transfer.

KT: Unfair and non-reciprocal on trading relationship in the way it’s been structured, and particularly, as with respect to technology and investment. So, we focus the mind through tariffs and have had negotiations. This is not uncommon in global commerce or trade negotiations. 

MC: Sure, now the thing is that I’m going to link that with the Huawei issue, with the arrest of a senior Huawei official. 

KT: Well, that’s the wrong thing to do, because they’re not linked.

MC: OK, they are not linked. But you know, it’s been said that the two are separate. I understand that but people, critics look at it as one whole thing. You’ve got the trade war, you’ve got the arrest of the Huawei official and then you’ve got the US trying to stop Huawei into dominating 5G. All these things combined…

KT: Well, critic... 

MC: ...will give people an impression that they’re trying to suppress the rise of China.

KT: Right, and those people, those critics are incorrect. There's no linkage between the Huawei technology issue, the specific case against Mrs Meng [sic] or the ongoing bilateral trade negotiations. These are separate things and that’s the way the real world works. Now, there’s a talking point that is being issued by the Chinese side that the United States is interested in containing or suppressing China.

MC: Right.

KT: That is a talking point also intended to create leverage and motivate people to…

MC: You’re not trying to do that? You’re not trying to do that? The US is not trying to do that?

KT: That’s right. We’re trying to resolve specific problems in specific ways using specific levers. When someone breaks the law, you have a law enforcement action. When there’s a technological risk, that will be considered debated and as you seen there's been a lot of countries considering the right way to deal with the risk mitigation, with respect to technologies coming out, particularly 5G. And in trade area, trade investment area, you have a negotiation. If you need to create leverage in order to have that negotiation, you create leverage and have a negotiation. This is how the real world works.

MC: Okay, I’m going to bring the issue back to Hong Kong now because we’re in Hong Kong and I think one of the things that concerns a lot of Hong Kong people, especially businesses in Hong Kong. Is that congressional report that came out that said that because they see Hong Kong’s autonomy is diminishing, perhaps it’s time to reassess to giving Hong Kong a special customs status, right? Now, you have said, Mr Consul General, that they’re not going to take...the US is not going to take back the Hong Kong Relations Act for the time being, is that right?

KT: So, the most important point to make is...and you’ve said all the way from trade negotiations to the Hong Kong Policy Act, there’s no relationship between those issues as well. 

MC: Yes, of course. It’s a separate issue.

KT: It’s entirely separate issues and the Hong Kong Policy Act is a piece of US legislation that allows the United States to treat Hong Kong differently than it treats the rest of China for purpose of the US law. That will continue as long as Hong Kong continues to be substantively autonomous in those various areas of US laws. So, I think...again it’s a much more legalistic, methodical, scientific conversation that is often portrayed. So...I think that we will issue another report again soon, coming out of the State Department, the consulate assisted in the creation of that. It will report the reality of Hong Kong…

MC: What is the reality, Mr Consul General?

KT: ...situation and autonomy. The reality is that Hong Kong continues in many ways, in many areas to enjoy a high degree of autonomy but there are issues on areas for concern, in particular this last year 2018 was not a particular good year for Hong Kong’s autonomy. There were signs for increasing pressure put on Hong Kong’s political space and some unfortunate events have happened in 2018 which created a sense that Hong Kong may be losing some of that grip on autonomy. So, I think the report is likely to reflect that fact but also will be fair in assessing the overall balance of the pros and cons with respect to autonomy. 

MC: I’m going to try and pin you down on that. Now, the last time you were here, you said that the emphasis seems to be less on autonomy and more on “One Country”. That’s what you said last time. Now, you’re saying a new report is coming out…

KT: It’s required by Congress…

MC: Sure, right. And things have happened, unfortunate things. I think what you meant was that you’ve had candidates being disqualified to run in elections, you’ve had a foreign journalist expelled for hosting a talk at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club by a pro-independence party. Then you’ve got people in Hong Kong saying free speech has limits, you cannot even talk about independence. You, when you were last here, you said, free speech is free speech, right? And as long as it’s peaceful, it should be allowed, right? Now, you are now saying that the new report, as required by law, will come out soon, and it will reflect these things. How strongly will it reflect these things that the autonomy is now under threat?

KT: Well, the report is yet to be issued. You know, I don’t want to lessen your enthusiasm for actually reading it when it comes out. But the point that matters is that I think there’s been a trend in the last few years and in 2018 in particular of emphasis on “One Country” in ways that impinged on the realization on the full benefits of “Two Systems”, and the autonomy, the high degree of autonomy that Hong Kong is supposed to enjoy under the Basic Law.

So the thing that concerns me is that concern from the mainland side about politics in Hong Kong. Hong Kong politics is different than mainland politics and that’s… I understand that it’s uncomfortable for the mainland. But that kind of pressure that’s being applied can impact the political sphere in Hong Kong in a narrowing political space, that a deeper concern for US interests is that it could actually, over time, start to influence the economic spheres as well. And really this year, we’re experiencing… we’ve enjoyed the 175th anniversary of our consulate, we’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what our consulate is about, what the US presence is about in Hong Kong? When you really dig into it, a lot of it is about economic ties, trade, investments and business. And if that political atmosphere changes to a sufficient extent, it ends up hurting the business environment that would be very problematic I think for everyone involved, for the United States, for China, for Hong Kong people certainly and even for the region.

MC: Okay. Quick break. See you soon.

/////

MC: Thanks for staying with us. This is Straight Talk. With me is Mr Kurt Tong, he is the Consul General of the US. Now, Mr Tong, before the break, we talked about the US Policy Act, I think that’s one thing that concerns a lot of people in Hong Kong. And you did say that what concerns the US is that, as people see autonomy eroding, and more focus being put on “One Country”, rather than “Two Systems”, it could then spill to affecting business ties, the business atmosphere, and that concerns the US because you have got a lot of companies in Hong Kong that do business here, right?

KT: Yes. A huge presence.

MC: Exactly. Now, you know last year when you are here, you did say and I will say it again that you felt that emphasis is now more on “One Country” than “Two Systems”, and autonomy is eroding. A new report is coming out again, and I’m sure, even though you won’t tell me what it is, it is still being done, I don’t think that it will say “everything is fine”. I am sure it will say that “things are not fine”, right? Now, how much worse does it need to get before the US congress says “okay, now we must take a serious look at whether we should give Hong Kong special status”.

KT: So, there is no autonomy meter, right? And it’s not…

MC: That I do know, but Mr Consul General, you have said that…

KT: Let me…

MC: Okay.

KT: It’s not… so my point being that it is not a black or white question. And the report and what not will be very careful to be fact-based, to be careful and assessments, and make sure that we get our stories straight. The Hong Kong Policy Act provides a legal framework for a variety of activities and cooperation, application of US law, to the relationship between the United States and Hong Kong. The likely way that things will happen going forward is that there will be, some scrutiny of the various aspects of implementation of that law. And if there is autonomy in those areas of application, then it will continue just fine. And I expect that mostly the case in most areas going forward. In a specific area, bilateral activity, like say law enforcement cooperation, things are going great, Hong Kong is showing a high degree of autonomy, Hong Kong is acting like a “Two Systems” special place, then the US will continue to treat it as such.

MC: But what areas do you feel that autonomy is eroding? 

KT: Well, in the biggest implication, I think it’s in the political sphere again, that political activities have been constrained, you talked about some of the negative events with respect to the freedom of expression, over the past year…

MC: Will those things be…

KT: And that’s the concern. So that is the general background, and then when you consider the Hong Kong Policy Act and US-Hong Kong cooperation, in some ways it's more specific to various activities.

MC: Do you expect, I know this is like you don't know yet, but do you expect that when the report comes out, it will be more critical than the one before?

KT: Well, I think, given what I have told you about our assessment of the previous year, I think that could be the case, yes.

MC: It would be more critical than the one… because the one before drew a very angry response from Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive, right? So, you said the new one coming out will be even worse? 

KT: It’s an uncomfortable thing for one government to make a report about the activities of another government.

MC: Sure.

KT: Or either the Hong Kong government or the mainland government. That’s an uncomfortable thing, people sometimes react to that. I get it, we are required by law because of these special circumstances of “One Country, Two Systems”. And being allowed under US law to apply these special positive aspects of a unique relationship.

MC: Well, I’ll ask you…

KT: We are required to report on it, and we will report on it, and people might not like what we say, but we…

MC: But it’s the US law, so you report on it, right? Now, I am going to ask you one more question, and then I will move on. Now, you think the report will be worse than the one, well, more critical than the one last year, right? Okay, fine. Now, can I assume that it will be more critical because in that year, you have had candidates being disqualified, you have had a journalist being expelled, you have had a political party being banned, and then the insistence that you cannot even talk peacefully about independence, if you do you will no longer be able to run for elected office again. Are these the things that will make the report more critical? 

KT: You have cited some important examples of what we would consider negative trends in autonomy in Hong Kong’s political space.

MC: So those were the issues that will make the report more critical? 

KT: Again, I hope you look forward to reading it.

MC: But then the point will not be reached. In your opinion, as Consul General, the point will not be reached for the Congress to say “we are going to take away the Policy Act”?

KT: Well, the act will require another act of Congress to change, and I haven’t seen anyone suggest that.

MC: Alright, okay. Now, I am going to move on. We have got another thing here now that a lot of controversies, an extradition proposal from the government, stemming from an alleged murder case in Taiwan, involving a Hong Kong person.

KT: Right.

MC: Now, you know, the funny thing is a lot of people in Hong Kong, politicians saying “fine, let’s have one with Taiwan”, but they’re worried about having one with mainland China, right? And the reason being that if you allow that, then Beijing can demand to have this or that person to be extradited for political reasons, right? Now, the US and China, you do have a treaty, right, the US and China, you have a…

KT: No.

MC: You do have one.

KT: With Hong Kong.

MC: With Hong Kong? Not with… I am sorry, yes. You have one with Hong Kong, but not with mainland.

KT: Because of the Hong Kong Policy Act…

MC: Exactly, right.

KT: and “One Country, Two Systems”.

MC: And that came about 20 something years ago with Hong Kong, right? 

KT: We had one predating the handover, but that agreement is remained enforced, again because of the Hong Kong Policy Act allowing us to do that.

MC: So, are you worried that you have one with Hong Kong, and then if Hong Kong said “could you please extradite this person to Hong Kong?”, is the US worried that if Hong Kong has one now with mainland China, then that person upon arriving in Hong Kong, the Chinese government can say “we want that person over there”. Does that worry you?

KT: Well, here is the thing, I am going to give you a careful answer on this, I think the details in this kind of thing really matter, and so I am not prejudging the likely outcome of Hong Kong’s deliberation about what to do with respect to fugitive transfer, vis-a-vis mainland, vis-a-vis Taiwan, and also I don’t want to prejudge what the US reaction would be, because it really depends upon the details and how these things are implemented, in terms of the carve-outs protection for individuals, and with respect to possible fugitive transfer or extradition. So, we will just have to wait and see. There is a possibility that if it is structured in certain ways, then that could have some impact on the implementation of our bilateral arrangement between the United States and Hong Kong. But I don’t want to prejudge that.

MC: Sure.

KT: We are just going to wait and see what happens.

MC: Okay. We have just got a couple more minutes. The Greater Bay Area, some details have been announced. Yet again people say that this is going to even further worsen Hong Kong’s autonomy. Does that worry you?

KT: I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.

MC: Do you think it will?

KT: I honestly don’t know. I have carefully read the framework that was announced. Let me put a more positive spin on it. I think the Greater Bay Area initiative does create some significant opportunities to reestablish momentum around the reform and opening process for the Chinese economy, using once again, as was the case 40 years ago, and during that 40-year Reform and Opening period, we have heard so much about lately, that to use south China as a place that shows the way to the rest of China, in terms of economic reform and opening. So, a Greater Bay Area initiative that would most excite foreign businesses as well as foreign governments would be one that, in a sense, pushes reform and opening process and the kind of global best practices and rules-based systems that are prevalent in Hong Kong and Macao into Guangdong. That would be great.

MC: Not the other way around?

KT: That would create enormous opportunities for foreign business as well as Hong Kong businesses, as well as mainland businesses, everyone would be happy. So, I really think that, again, the devil is in the details on this, and there weren’t that many details so far. They haven’t announced.

MC: Yeah, they are working on the details.

KT: And if at the end of the day, it’s just some slogans and some bridges, then that’s kind of a neutral outcome, it doesn’t really help open up China, but it also doesn’t really pose a big problem for Hong Kong.

MC: Okay. I have got one minute left. The last time you were here, I asked you free speech is free speech, and you said you can use it even if you promote independence as long as it’s peacefully done. Do you still stand by that?

KT: Well, that’s our approach in the United States. There has been a lot of discussion around flags and anthems of late, and in the United States, you can burn flags or misbehave during the national anthem, people don’t like it when you do it, it’s considered impolite, and not good. 

MC: So free speech is free speech, even for independence?

KT: Certainly, it’s legally protected, free speech.

MC: But for Hong Kong, you think it should be allowed, you can speak about independence peacefully?

KT: Well, our interpretation of freedom of expression is that it’s a boundless thing, and people should be allowed to express themselves as long as they are not specifically hurting another person.

MC: Okay, I have got to end it right there. Thanks. See you next week. Good evening.

Lunar New Year Message from Chris Patten, HK Governor in 1995

1995年香港總督彭定康農曆新年賀辭

Read by Christopher PATTEN, Cantonese voiceover by CHUNG Wai-ming

你哋好。一年就快過去，另外一年亦都來臨，而家喺我哋同家人同親友歡聚一堂嘅時候，我相信大家都會花多啲時間，想一想喺過去一年裡便，我哋認為做得滿意嘅事，包括我哋真正喜歡做嘅事、一齊分享過嘅趣事以及合力實現嘅理想。我哋亦會展望新嘅一年，想到一切我哋希望做嘅事、希望付諸實行嘅明智決定同埋希望成功完成嘅工作。

當我哋為家人想到要做嘅事嘅時候，相信我哋亦同樣為社會設想，為香港呢個美好嘅城市設想。喺過去一年，雖然偶然有波折，但係我哋仍然能夠一一咁應付到。而且我相信，喺世界其他地方，差不多冇人應付得好過我哋。

經濟問題困擾住整個世界，但係香港喺過去幾十年來一直都能夠應付裕如，而且可以講係傲視同儕添。點解？其實幾份報章同雜誌，以及美國智囊團，喺舊年發表嘅意見，都可以為我哋提供部分嘅答案。佢哋有啲將香港稱為全世界最有利於營商嘅城市，有啲稱讚香港係全世界最自由嘅經濟體系，又有啲認為香港係全世界競爭最激烈嘅地方之一。香港市民實力十足，勇於進取，刻苦耐勞，為香港創造好多優越條件，使我哋嘅經濟每年都持續增長。雖然其他地方都要面對種種問題，但係我哋仍然能夠撥出資源去做我哋想做嘅事。

我哋已經睇到舊年嘅部分工作成果，我哋目睹各項社會計劃不斷發展，尤其是喺培育青少年方面，我哋更加係不遺餘力，我相信呢個係你哋極為重視，亦都係香港前途嘅所繫。我哋將更多嘅資源用喺發展幼稚園、中小學、專上學院、訓練學校同大學嘅教育上。為咗確保青少年能夠獲得最佳嘅機會，呢方面嘅投資係至為重要嘅。

但係，我哋亦都為年老嘅市民設想，並且為佢哋提供更多嘅服務。我哋年長嘅親友為香港締造繁榮，因此佢哋應該享受香港今日嘅豐碩成果。佢哋應該同我哋一齊分享我哋嘅卓越成就。

金錢唔係生命中唯一最重要嘅嘢，我相信人人都希望心境安寧，因此努力使香港成為一個非常安全嘅居住地方。喺呢方面，我哋做得出色過其他地方，但係我哋唔會因此自滿。香港有出色嘅警隊，我希望佢哋經常獲得應有嘅資源同支持，你哋透過參與撲滅罪行委員會等嘅工作，給予警隊好多支持。喺我哋嘅努力之下，香港會繼續係亞太區，甚至係全球其中一個最安全嘅地方。

呢啲係過去嘅事。將來又點樣？我哋仍然需要確保香港嘅經濟能夠繼續使我哋獲得理想中嘅生活同水平。我哋仍然要不斷發展各項社會計劃。我認為我哋喺新嘅一年仲要注意幾件非常重要嘅事。首先，法治係使香港出類拔萃同取得卓越成就嘅原因之一。我哋訂立嘅公平規則，適用於每一個人，不論佢係乜嘢身分，就算係總督都要遵守。呢種法治精神，亦都令香港成為一個特別適合營商嘅理想地方，並且提供一種團結社會嘅力量，使社會更加穩定同繁榮。

我哋都知道我哋需要肩負歷史任務，盡量使香港喺一九九七年成功過渡。對我哋嚟講，呢項係艱鉅嘅任務。但係我哋希望能夠同中方官員有更佳嘅合作，取得更好嘅成績。因為如果能夠成功完呢一項偉大而獨特嘅任務，將香港主權移交中國，對我哋各方面都有好處。

相信各位都知道，每一個星期我都會花費好多時間巡視各區，探訪屋邨、學校、醫院、工廠以及其他不同嘅地方。我想真係睇到差不多香港嘅每一樣事物，有時仲去勻香港嘅每一個地方添。舊年，我巡視各區嘅時候，得到各位親切迎迓，盛情款待，我要借呢個機會向你哋致謝。

我未必同你哋每一位都見過面，但係有時我覺得大家好似見過面，對於我喺過去一年未曾有機會同各位相遇過嘅市民，我謹祝你哋喺新嘅一年萬事如意、身體健康。

我殷切盼望能夠喺新嘅一年有機會同各位見面。喺呢度，我謹代表內子同女兒，恭祝全港市民新年快樂。我深信，我哋都期望香港以及我哋嘅家園喺豬年事事順遂，心想事成。恭喜發財。

Good evening.

I think at the end of one year and the beginning of the next, when we're gathered together at home with our families and loved ones, all of us spend a good deal of time thinking about what's gone well in the previous year: the things we've really enjoyed, the jokes we've shared together, the ambitions that we've realised together.

And we look forward to a new year, to all the things we'd like to do, all the good resolutions we've made, all the things we'd like to succeed in.

Just as we think about that for our families, I guess we think much the same about our community, much the same about this wonderful city of Hong Kong.

Over the last year, despite the occasional ups and downs, we've managed to cope once again more successfully than I guess almost anybody else in the world could manage. There are economic troubles around the place, but Hong Kong has always shown itself, for decade after decade, to be much more capable at coping with all that than almost anyone else in the world.

Why?

Well, one or two newspapers and magazines and American think-tanks have given us a clue over the last year. One of them said that Hong Kong was the most business-friendly city in the world, another said that this was the freest economy in the world, another that we were one of the most competitive places in the world.

Because of all that, which is a huge tribute to your strength and courage and hard work, we've had year after year of economic growth, and we've been able - despite the problems elsewhere - to provide the resources to do the things that we want to do.

We've seen some of that in the last year. We've seen our social programmes developing. In particular, and - I think this is where you place so much priority - we've been able to do more for the young, and that's where our future lies. We've been investing more in kindergartens, in elementary and secondary schools, and in colleges, training colleges, and universities. That's so important to make sure that our young people have the best possible chance in life.

But we've also thought more and done more for the elderly. It's our elderly relatives, our elderly friends, who built Hong Kong, and they deserve the best of Hong Kong today. They deserve to share in some of our success.

It's not just money that matters in life. I think people want peace of mind, and we've done better than others - without being at all complacent - in keeping our city a pretty safe place to live in. We have a marvellous police force here in Hong Kong. I want to see that they always have the resources and support that they deserve. You give them a lot of that support, with the fight crime committees and so on. And with our help I know that Hong Kong will go on being one of the very safest places not just in the region but in the world.

So that's the past. What of the future?

We have to go on making sure that our economy can go on delivering the quality and standard of living that all of us desire. We have to go on developing our social programmes.

There are a couple of other things which I guess will matter very much over the coming year.

First, one thing which helps to make Hong Kong distinctive and helps to make Hong Kong successful is the rule of law: the fact that we have fair rules that apply to everyone. Whoever you are, whether you're the Governor or whoever, the same rules apply. That makes this a particularly good place to do business, but it also provides some of the glue which holds our society together, and makes it more stable as well as more prosperous.

And we all know that we've got a historic task: to manage the transition through 1997 as successfully as possible. It's difficult for all of us to do that. But we want to work better and more successfully with our Chinese colleagues, because it's in all our interests to succeed in the great and unique enterprise which is represented by the transition to Chinese sovereignty.

I spend, as I think you know, a good deal of each week out on the street, visiting housing estates, schools, hospitals, factories, and places of work. Really, I think, getting to see almost everything in Hong Kong, and sometimes it seems getting to see everywhere. I'd like to thank all of you for your kindness and your courtesy and the warmth of your greeting whenever I've been out and about in the last year.

I probably haven't seen all of you, although it sometimes feels as though I have. For those of you that I haven't seen personally over the past year, I'd like to offer my warmest good wishes for the year ahead.

I very much hope that we will meet over the next 12 months. In the meantime, on behalf of my wife Lavender and my family, I wish everyone a very Happy New Year.

All of us, I'm sure, want for Hong Kong what we want, in the Year of the Pig, for our families. Kung Hei Fat Choy.