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 1996

1996年香港總督彭定康農曆新年賀辭
Read by Christopher PATTEN, Cantonese voiceover by CHUNG Wai-ming

（粵語版，經鍾偉明謄改）

各位觀眾︰

每年到咗呢個時候，如果可以嘅呢，大家都會與家人以及朋友喺埋一齊，自然亦會回顧過去多個月來，喺我哋身上發生 嘅重要嘅事︰或者回想嗰啲進展順利嘅事，或者展望來年可能發生嘅事，例如考試、假期、我哋嘅工作等等。

除咗對個人同家庭之外，我哋亦都會對社會整體進行回顧同展望。我哋可以睇到，過去一年，香港喺好多方面都有良好嘅進展。先講嗰啲推動社會發展同維持社會運作嘅各個組織同階層，全部都有好好嘅表現。

首先，我哋舉行了本港有史以來最成功和最民主嘅一次選舉。更多市民登記成為選民，更多市民行使公民權投票。整個選舉過程都係喺非常融洽和諧嘅氣氛之下進行，保持住港人嘅一貫作風。

我哋亦都睇到，中英政府就本港司法制度成功過渡九七嘅問題達成協議。呢項協議嘅簽訂，為香港能夠繼續享有法治，帶嚟樂觀嘅前景，而法治正係香港社會維持繁榮安定嘅其中一項要素嚟。

至於我哋嘅公務員，喺任何時候，都能夠秉承盡忠職守嘅優良傳統，繼續為市民提供最好嘅服務。呢個係世界上最優秀嘅公務員隊伍之一。現時，每一位公務員都能夠以較前開放同向公眾加倍負責嘅態度，從善如流，精益求精，竭誠為每一位香港市民服務。

因此，我相信過去一年，對各個階層嚟講，都係美好嘅一年。我哋亦可以睇到，中英兩國間嘅關係和氣氛有所改善。籌備委員會主任委員錢其琛先生喺中國政府掌管要職，必定可以協助計劃香港嘅未來。去年秋天，錢先生以中國國務院副總理兼外交部部長嘅身分，訪問倫敦，同英國部長級官員舉行咗不少具有實質效益嘅工作會議。

跟住，英國外相聶偉敬喺今年一月回訪北京，此行亦非常成功。我希望呢啲接觸，有助解決過去數年雙方喺在談判桌上遇到嘅一些難題，以及使嗰啲懸而未決的事，能夠一如我哋所想，喺一九九七年年中前獲得解決。

我殷切期望喺未來幾個月，中英之間嘅磋商可以取得更快嘅進展。我哋確實需要做到呢一點。

喺經濟方面，我哋嘅表現好過一啲悲觀嘅預測好多。

本港經濟持續增長，雖然增長速度或者未能夠達到我哋嘅期望。通脹率仍然稍嫌偏高，不過已逐漸回落。至於失業率，雖然係上升咗一啲，但仍然係低過其他地方。咁樣提醒了我哋，必須加強訓練以及再培訓工作，嚟到確保失業人士好快可以搵到另一份理想嘅職業。

我哋衷心希望能夠確保喺香港，所有想工作嘅人都能夠搵到工作，都能夠對香港作出貢獻。對於社會嚟講，呢個係我哋嘅首要任務。

喺社會福利工作方面，我哋亦取得進展。我哋為老人以及殘疾人士提供更多設施。此外，我好高興，我哋終於可以為強制性公積金制度奠下基礎。日後，呢個制度會為老人晚年嘅生活提供經濟上嘅保障。

我哋必須確保老人得到應有的照顧，因為香港今日嘅成就，可以講係佢哋昔日努力嘅成果嚟。

喺成功嘅呢一年完結，我哋展望將來，數一數大約五百幾日之後，即係九七年年中，香港嘅主權就會移交中國。現時距離呢個日子，唔夠五百日，當我明年向大家拜年嘅時候，其間相隔，更加會少過一百五十日添。時間過得好快，而我哋 仍然有好多工作要做。

不過，如果中英關係良好，我有信心，餘下嘅問題係可以獲得解決嘅。當然，明年稍後，候任行政長官被選出之後，佢會應付好多重要嘅工作，但我相信，無論係邊一位出任第一屆特區政府行政長官，接替我掌管要職，佢都會得到全港市民嘅愛戴同支持。

我相信，我最經常被問及嘅一個問題，亦係我比其他人更多被問及嘅一個問題就係，呢一切行得通嗎？未來的香港，會否繼續好似現在咁成功？會否依舊係一個安居樂業嘅好地方？而我嘅回覆總係樂觀，不過絕對唔係盲目嘅樂觀。如果我話香港無任何困難或者問題，無人會相信。但係，我深信縱使面對種種難題，我哋亦都能夠應付裕如。

有兩個原因令我咁樂觀：

第一個原因，我認為極之重要嘅就係，香港人應變力強，勇於面對挑戰。喺過去四、五十年，佢哋曾遇到種種困難，但係都能夠一一克服。

我哋嘅制度行之有效。我哋決意奉行呢個制度，而只要我哋能堅守而且維護呢個制度，能夠忠於自己，我深信香港將來一定會繼續繁榮昌盛，取得卓越嘅成就。

第二個令我樂觀嘅原因，同樣係十分簡單和明顯。我喺呢度嘅學校、大學、訓練學院、位於青衣同柴灣等地嘅科技學院，見過相當多嘅香港年青人。嗰日，我喺播音室同一班年青人共聚咗一小時，佢哋向我提出咗好多問題，幾個星期前，我喺一個學校集會上，向全體學生致辭。一次又一次，香港年青人嘅特質，使我留下深刻印象。佢哋熱心、開朗、幽默、忠誠，不但立志對工作全力以赴，希望學以致用，仲決意要為香港締造一個更美好嘅將來。

我相信佢哋嘅努力，一定能夠使香港喺未來數十年，喺二十一世紀，取得更卓越嘅成就。

（彭）新春快樂。

Hello.

At this time of year when people are - if they can possibly manage it - with their families and their friends, it's natural for all of us to think back over the previous months at all the highlights: the things that went well, and perhaps to look ahead to what's going to happen in the coming year: the exams, the holidays, the things we have to do at work, and so on.

Well, what we do in our own families we do as a community too, and looking back over the last year in Hong Kong we can see an awful lot that's gone well, for a start, things that have gone well for those institutions, those parts of our community, which actually make things work, which run things.

We had, for a start, the most successful - the most democratic - elections in our history. More people registered to vote, more people exercised their civic right to vote, and the whole thing was carried off with a great deal of good humour and moderation, as you'd expect in Hong Kong.

We've also seen an agreement on the successful transfer of our administration of justice through 1997, which will make a tremendous difference to the possibilities for the Rule of Law; and as we know the Rule of Law is one of the real key ingredients in Hong Kong's well-being.

And all the time we've seen the civil service continuing to do the job they do so well, so magnificently well - One of the best civil services in the world, serving you - the men, women, and children of Hong Kong - doing so in a more open and accountable way than ever before, always willing to learn to do things better if they get the sort of advice on how to manage that.

So it's been a good year, I think, for all those parts of our community. I think we can also point to an improvement in the atmosphere and the relations between Britain and China. Mr Qian Qichen who runs the preparatory committee so is in a key position in China to help to shape our future, Mr Qian Qichen as Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister went to London last autumn and had some good solid working meetings with British ministers.

And then Malcolm Rifkind, his opposite number, the Foreign Minister in the UK, went back to Peking in January and also had a very successful visit, so I hope that will help us to clear away some of the problems we've had on the negotiating table over the last years, and I hope it will help us to work through some of the backlog of issues that all of us want to clear up before the middle of 1997.

I very much hope that we'll see faster progress in the coming months. We certainly need to do so.

Our economy has done much better than some of the gloomiest predictions suggested.

We've continued to grow, although not perhaps quite as fast as we'd all like. We've seen inflation edging down, although it's still - I'm afraid - a bit too high, and we've seen unemployment - alas - going up a little (not as high as in other places) and reminding us of the absolutely crucial importance of us doing more in training and retraining to ensure that people if they lose a job - are only out of work for a very short while before they can get back into rewarding employment.

We really - it's our number one priority in the social area - we really want to ensure that everybody who wants to work in Hong Kong can do so, can make their contribution.

We've made progress too on the social side, more facilities for the elderly, more for the disabled, and I'm delighted that we've finally got in place the building blocks for our mandatory provident fund, which is going to be the source of financial support for the elderly in the future.

We really should make sure that the elderly get the fair deal which they're entitled to. After all, they made Hong Kong what it is today.

We look ahead from that pretty successful year, and we look ahead I suppose over 500 days - to the transition to Chinese sovereignty in the middle of 1997 - less than 500 days now - and when I speak to you this time next year it'll be less than 150, so time is galloping past, and there's still quite a bit to do.

But I'm reasonably confident that - given the better atmosphere between Britain and China we'll sort out the remaining problems. There's, of course, a big job to do for the Chief Executive Designate when he or she is chosen later in the year, and I know that whoever gets that crucial job, following me as the head of the first SAR government - I know that whoever gets that job - will be able to count on the goodwill and support of the whole community.

I suppose that I'm asked more than anybody else, and it's the most frequent question I get, I'm asked: Is it all going to work? Is Hong Kong going to continue to be as successful and decent and good a place to live in the future, as it is today? And I answer - I answer optimistically. Not mindless optimism. Nobody believes you if you deny that there are any difficulties or problems, but I think we can take those in our stride.

I answer optimistically for two reasons:

First of all, and for me it's a very important reason, first of all because of the resilience, the courage, of the people of Hong Kong, who've taken an awful lot of more difficult things in their stride in the last forty of fifty years.

We've got a system here which we know works. We're committed to it, and provided we stick to it, provided we're prepared to stand up for it, provided we're true to ourselves, then I'm sure that Hong Kong will continue to be very, very successful in the future.

The second reason why I'm optimistic is equally simple and equally clear. I see an awful lot of the young people of Hong Kong. I see them in schools, and universities, in training institutes, in technical colleges like Tsing Yi and Chai Wan. I saw a group the other day in a broadcasting studio and they asked me questions for about an hour. I addressed - a couple of weeks ago - a whole school at their assembly and I am struck over and over again by the quality of the young people of Hong Kong - enthusiastic, cheerful, humorous, committed, determined not just to do their best in their own careers, not just to make the most of the education and training they're getting, but determined to build an even better future for Hong Kong than its past.

I think that they will help to shape a marvellous city in the 21^st century - in the decades that lie ahead.

Sun Chun Fai Lok.

（書面語版：政府新聞處）
各位觀眾︰

每年到了這個時候，如果可以的話，大家都會與家人和朋友聚在一起，自然亦會回顧過去一年來，發生在我們身上的重要事情︰或是想那些進展順利的事，或是展望來年會發生的事，例如考試、假期、我們的工作等等。

除對個人和家庭外，我們亦會對社會整體進行回顧和展望。我們可以看到，過去一年，香港在許多方面都有良好的進展。先說那些推動社會發展和維持社會運作的各個組織和階層，全都有很好的表現。

首先，我們舉行了本港有史以來最成功和最民主的一次選舉。更多市民登記成為選民，更多市民行使公民權投票。整個選舉過程都是在非常融洽和諧的氣氛下進行，保持着港人的一貫作風。

我們亦看到，中英政府就本港司法制度成功過渡九七的問題達成協議。這項協議，為香港能夠繼續享有法治，帶來樂觀的前景，而法治正是香港社會維持繁榮安定的其中一項要素。

至於我們的公務員，在任何時候，都能秉承盡忠職守的優良傳統，繼續為市民提供最好的服務。這是世界上最優秀的公務員隊伍之一。現時，每位公務員都能夠較以前開放和向公眾加倍負責的態度，從善如流，精益求精，竭誠為每位香港市民服務。

因此，我相信過去一年，在社會的這些方面來說，都是美好的一年。我們亦可以看到，中英兩國間的關係和氣氛有所改善。錢其琛先生作為籌備委員會的主任委員，定可代表中國政府協助計劃香港的未來。去年秋天，錢其琛先生以中國國務院副總理兼外交部部長的身分，訪問倫敦，與英國部長級官員舉行了不少有建設性和具實際效益的工作會議。

接着，英國外相聶偉敬於本年一月回訪北京，此行亦非常成功。我希望這些接觸，有助解決過去數年雙方在談判桌上遇到的一些難題，以及使那些懸而未決的事，能夠正如我們所希望的一樣，在一九九七年年中前獲得解決。

我殷切期望在未來數月，中英之間的磋商可以取得更快的進展。我們確實需要做到這點。

在經濟方面，我們的表現較一些悲觀的預測好得多。

本港經濟持續增長，雖然增長速度或許未能達到我們的期望。通脹率仍稍嫌偏高，但已逐漸回落。至於失業率，雖然是上升了一些，但仍較其他地方為低。這提醒了我們，必須加強訓練及再培訓工作，以確保失業人士很快便可找到另一份理想的職業。

我們衷心希望能夠確保在香港，所有想工作的人都能找到工作，都能對香港作出貢獻。對於社會來說，這是我們的首要任務。

在社會福利工作方面，我們亦取得進展。我們為老人及殘疾人士提供更多設施。此外，我很高興，我們終於可以為強制性公積金制度奠下基礎。日後，這個制度將會為老人晚年的生活提供經濟上的保障。

我們必須確保老人得到應有的照顧，因為香港今天的成就，可以說是他們昔日努力的成果。

在這成功的一年完結時，我們展望將來，展望大約五百多日後，即在一九九七年年中，香港的主權便會移交中國。現時距離這個日子，不到五百天，當我明年同樣時間向大家拜年時，其間相隔，更會少於一百五十天。時間過得很快，而我們仍有不少工作要做。

不過，如果中英關係良好，我有信心，餘下的問題可以獲得解決。當然，今年稍後，候任行政長官被選出後，他／她將須應付很多重要的工作，但我相信，無論是誰出任第一屆特區政府行政長官，接替我掌管要職，他／她都會得到全港市民的愛戴和支持。

我相信，我最經常被問及的一個問題，也是我比其他人更多被問及的一個問題就是，這一切行得通嗎？未來的香港，會否繼續這樣成功？會否依舊是一個安居樂業的好地方？而我的回覆總是樂觀的，但絕不是盲目地樂觀。如果我說香港沒有任何困難或問題，沒有人會相信。不過，我深信縱使面對種種難題，我們亦能應付裕如。

有兩個原因令我這樣樂觀：

第一個原因，一個我認為極重要的原因是，香港人應變力強，勇於面對挑戰。在過去四、五十年，他們曾遇到種種困難，但都能一一克服。

我們的制度行之有效。我們決意奉行這個制度，而只要我們能堅守並維護這個制度，且能夠忠於自己，我深信香港將來定會繼續繁榮昌盛，取得卓越的成就。

第二個令我樂觀的原因，同樣是十分簡單和明顯的。我在這裏的學校、大學、訓練學院、位於青衣和柴灣等地的科技學院，見過相當多的香港人。那天，我在播音室和一班年青人共聚了一小時，他們向我提出了許多問題，數星期前，我在一個學校集會上，向全體學生致辭。一次又一次，香港年青人的特質，使我留下深刻印象。他們熱心、開朗、幽默、忠誠，不但立志對工作全力以赴，不僅希望學以致用，還決意要為香港締造一個更美好的將來。

我相信他們的努力，定能使香港在二十一世紀，在未來的日子，取得更卓越的成就。

祝大家新春快樂。

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.

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.

Atsuna: I'm Yellow Ribbon, But Disagree w/ Throwing Bricks?

I'm Yellow Ribbon, But Disagree With Throwing Bricks?

Translated by Chen-t'ang 鎮棠, written by Atsuna
Original: http://www.passiontimes.hk/article/02-10-2016/28665/ 

Dirty cops want to ruin your lives, by shooting on the first day of Lunar New Year. In Umbrella Revolution protesters defended themselves with umbrellas from pepperspray, and this time in Mong Kok, they used bricks to fight back. When the Umbrella Revolution ended, the social movement entered into moments of silence, but this time, there are new momentums. But from what we have seen on Facebook, quite many repeated this: "I dislike the cops, but blah blah blah..."

Hongkongers love Taiwan, and envy they have Ko Wen-je as their Taipei mayor, or the right to vote for the president, but few Hongkongers remember how these achievements came. Hongkongers are much worse than the Taiwanese, who has decades of protests history. In the face of China's invasion, Hong Kong cannot afford to waste a single second. Perhaps "genetic mutation" is needed. So within few years, protesters have evolved -- from the ceremonial procedures in July 1st Demonstration and Tian'anmen Massacre Vigil, to wearing helmets, eye masks and surgical masks in Umbrella Revolution, to hurling bottles and bricks in 2016. The change might be too fast, and some people might not be able to follow.

The fact is, China has no taboo [or, doesn't give a damn - translator's note] for Hong Kong. High Speed Rail (XRL), Internet Article 23 (Copyright Amendment Bill) and many other cases showed that the government wants to force the passing of each and every project they want. Some people know that Hong Kong sinks much faster than they would have imagined, but when they see bricks and fire, they got  "eyesore" because of their pacifist thoughts -- or "PRNN" (being peaceful, rational, non-violent and non-swearing). They wanted to cut ties and condemn such acts much severe than the Blue Ribbons.

I am in a Whatsapp group, and those members are mostly mild pan-democrats. One day they talked about why the government is so shameless, and I said, "The Umbrella Revolution is the Pandora's Box. Amid such a big unrest, the bottomline of pan-democrats are "condemning breaking glasses"? Seriously if I were 689, I will be as wilful as I can, as there will be no consequences."

Xu Zhiyuan, a Chinese writer, in the prelude of his book The Totalitarian Temptation, said: "The struggle against the totalitarianism needs sufficient intellectual and mental preparation. Shallow resistance can hardly be effective."

Some Hongkongers have not realised that China is not another British colonial government. Even if so, the social reform including education and medical issues were because of the 1967 riot conspired by Chinese communists. We are now facing a shameless regime without regard to people's lives. Is it innocent to think one can have "sweets" without any costs?

The colonial government was spoiling, in a sense that they gave people good lives and democracy, and fed them with love and peace.  Martin Luther King once said, "True peace is not merely the absence of tension. it's the presence of justice".

Afraid of conflicts, body contact or so is but normal. Under China's "colonial rule", dirty cops can hit your head at the back without notice and charge you "assaulting police officer". With TVB's sided reporting and high costs of resistance, it is understandable not to go to the front line. But justice and democracy are hard fought, and youngsters of Hong Kong sacrifice their tear and sweat, career and reputation to fight for the interests of Hong Kong, but is it reasonable to point fingers at them by saying "crossed the line", "too violent" or "ruining the rule of law in Hong Kong"?

Lu Xun, a contemporary Chinese writer, once said "Demanding harshly the gentlemen (junzi) and conniving petty people (xiaoren) might be seen as a 'smart move', but actually helps the petty people to do evil." If you said "I am not speaking for the cops", but "nagged about the weaker side", you are but an "accomplice of the killer", in Lu Xun's words.

Some people in the hindsight said CY Leung went abroad every Lunar New Year, but not this year, so this must be his honey trap. If you are there in Mong Kok, when you see the cops have gone wild by pepperspraying people and beating the head of a protester, or even putting fingers on the gun trigger to scare off people, you would react. Even if CY is to light up this fire, he will continue such suppression if there is no reaction. What would you do then? I know history is about random occurrence. Who knows Qing would crack that way in 1911? Who knew the Berlin Wall would fall that way in 1989? Some people might think "everything is under control", but to be honest, who knows the ending?