Page 652 - SELECTED WORKS OF JIANG ZEMIN Volume Ⅰ.indd

SPEECH AT THE CEREMONY FOR
THE HANDOVER OF HONG KONG HELD BY

THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS

July 1, 1997

Your Royal Highness Prince Charles,
Prime Minister Tony Blair,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The national flag of the People’s Republic of China and the regional
flag of the HKSAR of the People’s Republic of China have now been
solemnly raised over Hong Kong. At this moment in time, the eyes of the
people in all countries of the world are now focused on Hong Kong. The
governments of China and Britain are holding this ceremony for the hand-
over of Hong Kong as scheduled in the Sino-British Joint Declaration on
the Question of Hong Kong to mark China’s resumption of its exercise of
sovereignty over the region and the official establishment of the HKSAR.
This is a grand occasion for the Chinese nation, as well as a victory for the
cause of world peace and justice.
July 1, 1997 will go down in history as an unforgettable day. The re-
turn of Hong Kong to the motherland after enduring a century of drastic
changes marks a new beginning for our Hong Kong compatriots as true
masters of this Chinese land and for Hong Kong itself as the beginning of
a new era of development.
History will remember Mr. Deng Xiaoping for his creative concept of
“one country, two systems.” It was precisely by following the course clearly
laid out by this great concept that we have successfully resolved the Hong
Kong question through diplomatic negotiations and finally achieved Hong
Kong’s return to the motherland.
On this solemn occasion, I would like to express my thanks to all the
people from both China and Britain who have contributed to the settlement
of the Hong Kong question and to all the people in the world who have
shown their concern and support for Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.
On this solemn occasion, I would like to extend my cordial greetings
and best wishes to our more than six million Hong Kong compatriots who

634