Keynote Speech by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Young Icebreakers 11th Anniversary Dinner: Fully and Faithfully Implementing "One Country, Two Systems" is Key to Sustained Prosperity and Stability in Hong Kong

尊敬的48家集团俱乐部主席佩里先生，

“青年破冰者”们，

女士们，先生们，朋友们，

　　大家晚上好！

　　很高兴再次出席“青年破冰者”年度晚宴。“青年破冰者”组织成立11年来，为中英友好书写了朝气蓬勃的篇章，为中英合作做出了独具特色的贡献。在此，我向大家表示衷心感谢！我出任驻英大使9年多来，与“青年破冰者”结下不解之缘，一直坚持与大家“年年有约”。

Chairman Stephen Perry,

Young Icebreakers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends:

Good evening!

It is a great pleasure to be back at the Young Icebreakers Anniversary Dinner.

In the past 11 years since it was launched, "Young Icebreakers" club has written a chapter in China-UK friendship that is full of youthful vigour. You have made your unique contribution to China-UK cooperation, for which I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks!

I personally feel bonded with "Young Icebreakers". In my more than nine years as Chinese Ambassador to the UK, I have never missed a single Young Icebreakers anniversary dinner.

　　今年是新中国成立70周年，也是中英建立代办级外交关系65周年。65年来，中英关系历经风雨，取得了不少成绩，也克服了不少困难。回顾两国关系历史，我们得出一条重要经验，那就是要相互尊重，相互尊重主权和领土完整，互不干涉内政和平等互利。这些都是中英建交公报确立的原则，在后来中英许多重要文件中得到重申，它们构成中英关系的基础。实践证明，只要这些原则得到遵守，中英关系就向前发展；反之，则遭受挫折，甚至倒退。香港问题曾是影响中英关系发展的障碍。近来，随着香港的暴力活动持续不断，香港问题在中英关系中再次突出。英国一些政客借“修例风波”，指责中国违反“一国两制”原则，支持“反中乱港”分子，给特区政府施压，英国政府和议会发布所谓香港问题报告，干预香港事务和中国内政，给中英关系带来严重冲击和损害。今天，我想借此机会，谈一谈香港问题，重点回答四个问题：

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is also the 65th anniversary of China-UK diplomatic relationship at the chargé d'affaires level.

The past 65 years have seen China-UK relationship going through winds and rains. There have been numerous obstacles overcome as well as remarkable successes achieved.

One important lesson we have learned from the history of China-UK relationship is mutual respect. This means we should respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs, and carry out equal-footed and mutually-beneficial cooperation.

These principles were laid down in the Joint Communiqué when China and the UK established full diplomatic relations. They form the bedrock of China-UK relationship and have been reiterated in many ensuing important documents signed by China and the UK.

History proves that when these principles were upheld, China-UK relationship would move forward; otherwise, this relationship would suffer setbacks or even backpedal.

The Hong Kong question was once an obstacle to the development of China-UK relationship. Regrettably, this question now stands out again in China-UK relationship as violence in Hong Kong continues.

Some politicians in this country have taken advantage of the differences of views concerning Hong Kong's ordinance amendments to accuse China of "going against the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle". They also support activists who are anti-China and aimed at destabilising Hong Kong in order to increase pressure on the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The British Government and Parliament published so-called reports on the Hong Kong question and interfered in China's internal affairs as well as the affairs of Hong Kong. This has severely disrupted and undermined China-UK relationship.

Today, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my views on the Hong Kong issue by answering four questions.

　　首先，如何正确认识和准确理解“一国两制”？“一国两制”是邓小平先生首次提出，中国政府以《宪法》的形式将其确定为基本方针政策，并通过《基本法》予以实施。“一国两制”是一个完整的概念，是一套完整的方针政策。“一国”意即香港是中国的一部分，中国对香港拥有主权。《基本法》第1条和第12条规定“香港特别行政区是中华人民共和国不可分离的部分”，“香港特别行政区是中华人民共和国的一个享有高度自治权的地方行政区域，直辖于中央人民政府”。“一国”是根本，是“两制”的前提和基础。“两制”从属和派生于“一国”并统一于“一国”之内。没有一国，就没有“两制”。中国政府在“一国”基础上，尊重“两制”差异，支持“港人治港”、高度自治，这一立场是明确的、一贯的。

The first question is, how should we correctly and accurately understand "One Country, Two Systems"?

"One Country, Two Systems" was first proposed by Mr. Deng Xiaoping. It is a basic policy of the Chinese Government established according to the Constitution of China and implemented through the Basic Law. It is one complete concept consisting of a complete set of policies.

"One Country" means Hong Kong is part of China, and China has sovereignty over Hong Kong.

Article 1 of the Basic Law stipulates that "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China."

Article 12 stipulates that "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be a local administrative region of the People's Republic of China, which shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central People's Government."

"One Country" is the foundation. It is the precondition and basis for "Two Systems". "Two Systems" is subordinate to and derived from "One Country". Without "One Country", "Two Systems" will no longer exist.

As long as "One Country" is upheld, the Chinese Government respects the differences between the two systems, and supports "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy. This position has been clear and consistent.