行政长官梁振英先生，
候任行政长官林郑月娥女士，
同胞们，朋友们：
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying,
Chief Executive-Elect Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor,
Fellow Compatriots,
Dear Friends,
大家晚上好！时隔9年，重临美丽的香江，同大家共同庆祝香港回归祖国20周年，我感到十分高兴。在此，我代表中央政府和全国各族人民，向在座各位并通过你们，向全体香港居民致以诚挚的问候和良好的祝愿！
Good evening! It gives me great pleasure to come back to this beautiful city after an interval of nine years and celebrate with you the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. On behalf of the Central Government and people of all ethnic groups across China, I would like to extend our warmest greetings and best wishes to you and, through you, to all Hong Kong residents.
——岁月不居，时节如流。转眼间，香港特别行政区迎来20周年的生日。回想当年，游子回归母亲怀抱的一幕幕感人场景仍历历在目。我们还记得，香港政权交接时，中华人民共和国国歌雄壮奏响、中华人民共和国国旗和香港特别行政区区旗冉冉升起的神圣庄严。我们还记得，中国人民解放军驻港部队进驻时，香港同胞冒着瓢泼大雨热烈欢迎的兴奋激动。我们还记得，在喜迎回归的日子里，神州大地张灯结彩，男女老少载歌载舞，举国同庆的幸福欢乐。这些历史画面已成为全体中国人的集体记忆。
– Time keeps rolling on. In the blink of an eye, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is 20 years old. The moving occasion of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland in 1997, like a long-separated child coming back to the warm embrace of his mother, is still vivid in our memory. We still recall the solemn ceremony of the transfer of government in Hong Kong, the playing of the stirring national anthem of the People’s Republic of China and the raising of the national flag of the People’s Republic of China and the regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We still recall the joy and excitement of Hong Kong people who cheered the processions of the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison despite downpours. And we still recall the festive celebrations across China where people were singing and dancing to hail Hong Kong’s return. These historical scenes have become a part of the collective memory of all the Chinese people.
——春耕夏耘，万物生长。20年间，“一国两制”在香港的实践，就像一棵幼苗，在风雨中茁壮成长，结出了累累硕果。中华人民共和国宪法和香港特别行政区基本法确立的特别行政区制度有效运作，民主政制依法推进，政府效能、法治水平等多项指标均比回归前大幅提升；经济平稳增长，竞争力和自由度在全球名列前茅；社会大局保持稳定，各项事业长足发展，人均预期寿命位居世界前列。这些成绩的取得，离不开中央和祖国内地的大力支持，但主要还是香港特别行政区政府和广大香港同胞团结奋斗的结果。在这里，我要为香港同胞点赞！为所有作出贡献的香港社会各界人士点赞！
– All crops grow through cultivation. Over the last two decades, the practice of “One Country, Two Systems” in Hong Kong, like the growth of a seedling, has become strong and robust despite wind and rain and yielded many fruits. The SAR system established under the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has operated effectively, and democracy in Hong Kong has been advanced in accordance with law. The multiple indicators of governance of the HKSAR such as government effectiveness and the rule of law are much higher than those before Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. Hong Kong enjoys steady economic growth and remains one of the most competitive and free economies in the world. Hong Kong has maintained social stability and scored great progress in various fields of endeavor. Its average life expectancy is one of the highest in the world. While such achievements would not have been possible without the strong support of the Central Government and the mainland, they are primarily attributed to the unity and hard work of the HKSAR Government and people of Hong Kong. Here, I wish to salute you, the people of Hong Kong and all those in Hong Kong who have made such achievements possible.
——承前启后，继往开来。“一国两制”是中国的一个伟大创举。在统一的国家之内，国家主体实行社会主义制度，个别地区依法实行资本主义制度，这在过往的人类政治实践中还从未有过。前人用超凡的勇气探索和突破，后人要以坚定的信念实践和发展。前进道路并不平坦，但我们实行“一国两制”的初心不会改变，决心不会动摇。我们要以“长风破浪会有时，直挂云帆济沧海”的信心，以“千淘万漉虽辛苦，吹尽狂沙始到金”的恒心，推动“一国两制”在香港的实践取得更大成就。
– Now is the time to build on past achievements and make new progress. “One Country, Two Systems” is a great pioneering initiative by China. Its practice, featuring socialism in the main body of the country and capitalism in certain regions, is unprecedented in human political history. It is a breakthrough those before us made through exploration and with extraordinary courage. We the succeeding generation should practice and develop “One Country, Two Systems” with firm resolve. The road ahead may not be smooth, but our commitment to “One Country, Two Systems” remains unchanged, and our resolve remains firm and strong. We are fully confident that we are able to “ride the wind and cleave the waves”, and achieve even greater success in the practice of “One Country, Two Systems” in Hong Kong through persistent and unrelenting efforts like sifting through sand thousands of times to find gold.
在这里，我想对香港同胞讲“三个相信”。
On this occasion, I wish to share with Hong Kong compatriots the importance of having confidence in the following three areas:
第一，相信自己。中国人是了不起的。我们有5000多年源远流长的文明历史，是世界古代文明中唯一没有中断而延续至今的。在有史籍记载的多数时间里，中华民族在经济、科学、文化、艺术等诸多领域都走在世界前列，为人类文明进步作出过巨大贡献。尽管中国在近代以后落后了，但新中国成立以来，在中国共产党领导下，经过几代人艰苦卓绝的奋斗，中华民族已经巍然屹立在世界民族之林。香港从一个默默无闻的小渔村发展成为享誉世界的现代化大都市，是一代又一代香港同胞打拼出来的。香港同胞所拥有的爱国爱港、自强不息、拼搏向上、灵活应变的精神，是香港成功的关键所在。我要特别指出的是，香港同胞一直积极参与国家改革开放和现代化建设，作出了重大贡献。对此，中央政府和全国人民从未忘记。香港同胞不仅完全有能力、有智慧把香港管理好、建设好、发展好，而且能够继续在国家发展乃至世界舞台上大显身手。
First, we should have confidence in ourselves. We Chinese are a great people. Our time-honored 5,000-year civilization is the only ancient civilization that has survived with no interruption. For a great part of recorded history, the Chinese nation led the world in economic, scientific, cultural, art and other fields, and contributed much to the progress of human civilization. China lagged behind other countries in modern times, but that has changed since the founding of New China in 1949. The Chinese nation, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and thanks to dedicated efforts of the Chinese people of several generations, has proudly taken its place among the nations of the world.
Thanks to the hard work of several generations of its people, Hong Kong has transformed itself from an unknown fishing village into a world-renowned modern metropolis. The key to Hong Kong’s success lies in its people’s love of the country and Hong Kong, and their perseverance, pursuit of excellence and adaptability. I want to particularly commend Hong Kong people’s participation in and significant contribution to China’s reform, opening-up and modernization drive. The Central Government and people across the country have never forgotten what you have done. The people of Hong Kong have the ability and wisdom to administer Hong Kong well and achieve greater development and progress in Hong Kong. I am sure you will continue to do all you can for the development of the country and distinguish yourselves on the world stage.
第二，相信香港。香港发展具有很多有利条件和独特优势。香港经济高度自由开放，人员、货物、资金等要素自由流动，这是吸引国际资本、留住本地资本的重要因素。香港法律、会计、监管等制度同国际接轨，服务业完备，政府廉洁高效，营商环境便利，深得外来投资者信任。香港是重要的国际金融、航运、贸易中心，是连接内地和国际市场的重要中介，是国家“引进来”、“走出去”的双向服务平台。迄今香港仍是内地最大的外来直接投资来源地和境外融资平台，同时也已成为内地最大的境外投资目的地和全球最大的离岸人民币业务中心。更为重要的是，香港享有“一国两制”的制度优势，不仅能够分享内地的广阔市场和发展机遇，而且经常作为国家对外开放“先行先试”的试验场，占得发展先机。“沪港通”、“深港通”以及即将开通的“债券通”都在香港试点。香港只要巩固和提升这些优势，就一定能够留住并吸引各方投资和人才，在经济全球化和区域合作中把握机遇，促进本地创新创业，开发新的增长点，续写狮子山下发展新故事、繁荣新传奇！
Second, we should have confidence in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is blessed with many favorable conditions and unique strengths for development. It has a highly free and open economy featuring free flow of factors of production such as personnel, goods and capital, and this is a major factor in both attracting international capital and retaining local capital. With its internationally recognized legal, accounting and regulatory systems, a full-fledged service sector, clean and efficient government and business-friendly environment, Hong Kong has the full confidence of outside investors. Hong Kong is an important international financial, shipping and trade center, a major conduit connecting the mainland and international markets and a two-way service platform for China both to attract foreign investment and enter the international market. Hong Kong is by far the mainland’s biggest source of external direct investment and non-local financing platform, and it has grown into the mainland’s largest non-local investment destination and the biggest offshore RMB business center in the world. More importantly, the practice of “One Country, Two Systems” has given Hong Kong an institutional advantage, enabling it both to share in the mainland’s vast market and development opportunities and serve as a testing ground for the country’s new opening-up initiatives, and this gives Hong Kong an edge in pursuing development. Pilot programs of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect have both been launched in Hong Kong, so will be the “Bond Connect”. By building on and leveraging these strengths, Hong Kong will surely be able to keep and attract investment and talents, seize opportunities presented by economic globalization and regional cooperation to promote innovative local business start-ups, and develop new growth drivers. The legendary city of Hong Kong by the Lion Rock will surely open a new chapter of development and prosperity.
第三，相信国家。不论是过去、现在还是将来，祖国始终是香港的坚强后盾。经过近40年改革开放，中国实现了从站起来到富起来再到强起来的伟大飞跃。目前，我国是全球第二大经济体，世界第一制造大国和货物贸易大国、第一外汇储备大国，是全球经济增长的最大贡献者。我国科技实力日益强大，高性能计算机、载人航天、探月工程、量子通信、北斗导航、载人深潜等尖端成就相继问世，高铁走向世界，自行研制的大飞机首飞成功。我们的朋友圈越来越大，倡导的亚投行已批准成员达80个，发起的“一带一路”倡议有100多个国家、地区和国际组织积极参与。一个多月前在北京举行的“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛取得圆满成功，中国倡议引领世界发展，为推动构建人类命运共同体注入强劲动力。祖国日益繁荣昌盛，不仅是香港抵御风浪、战胜挑战的底气所在，也是香港探索发展新路向、寻找发展新动力、开拓发展新空间的机遇所在。国家好，香港会更好！
Third, we should have confidence in our country. The motherland has given and will always give a strong backing to Hong Kong. Thanks to close to 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has made big strides forward: from first managing to stand on its feet to becoming prosperous and strong. China is now the world’s second largest economy and its leading manufacturer and trader in goods. China has the world’s largest foreign exchange reserves, and it has contributed more to global economic growth than any other country. Its scientific and technological strength is rising, with advanced achievements made that include the high-performance computer, manned spaceflight, lunar exploration program, quantum communications, Beidou Navigation Satellite System and manned deep-sea submersible. China’s high-speed railway has entered the world market. The independently-developed C919 airliner made a successful maiden flight. Our circle of friends is growing: The China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank now has 80 approved members, and over 100 countries, regions and international organizations have actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China. The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was successfully held in Beijing six weeks ago, and China’s call to boost global development has added strong impetus to the endeavor of building a community of shared future for mankind. An increasingly prosperous motherland serves as a source of strength for Hong Kong to overcome difficulties and challenges; it also presents a reservoir of opportunities for Hong Kong to break new ground, foster new driving force and create new space for development. When our country does well, Hong Kong will do even better.
同胞们、朋友们！
Fellow Compatriots,
Dear Friends,
正如香港一首流行歌曲中唱到，“自信好要紧，应该放开胸襟，愿望定会一切都变真”。只要我们相信自己、相信香港、相信国家，坚持全面准确贯彻落实“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的方针和香港特别行政区基本法，聚精会神搞建设，一心一意谋发展，齐心协力、团结奋斗，就一定能够开创香港更加美好的明天。
A popular song in Hong Kong has this line: “Self-confidence is so important. Open up your mind and your dream will come true.” We should have full confidence in ourselves, in Hong Kong and in our country, fully and faithfully implement the policies of “One Country, Two Systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy, abide by the Basic Law of the HKSAR, and make focused and concerted efforts to pursue development. By doing so, we can certainly deliver an even brighter future for Hong Kong.
我提议：
To conclude, I wish to propose a toast:
为国家繁荣富强和中华民族伟大复兴，
To a prosperous and strong China and the great renewal of the Chinese nation;
为香港长期繁荣稳定，
To the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong; and
为在座各位朋友及家人的健康，
To the health of all the friends present and your families.
干杯！
Cheers!