Hong Kong Shines Brighter After 25 Years Since Its Return to the Motherland
廿五载风雨兼程，再出发前程似锦——庆祝香港回归祖国25周年
Consul General Zhou Limin Publishes a Signed Article about the 25th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return to China
周立民总领事就香港回归25周年发表署名文章
1 July 2022
2022年7月1日
July 1st of this year marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to its motherland, China.
7月1日，香港迎来回归祖国25周年。
Over the past 25 years, Hong Kong has gone through an extraordinary journey, and this Oriental Pearl continues to shine as brightly as ever.
25年来，香港走过非凡历程，“东方明珠”持续绽放耀眼光芒。
Hong Kong has successfully weathered the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2003 SARS epidemic, the 2008 international financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. It maintains a solid position as a global financial, shipping and trading center. For many years in a row, Hong Kong has been rated as the freest economy and the most attractive place to do business in the world.
25年来，香港成功抵御1997年亚洲金融危机、2003年非典疫情、2008年国际金融危机以及新冠肺炎疫情等冲击，始终保持国际金融、贸易、航运中心地位。香港连续多年被评为全球最自由经济体和最具营商吸引力地区，营商环境、法治指数排名稳居世界前列。
Some figures of the past and present can clearly reveal the remarkable changes in Hong Kong over the past 25 years.
一组今昔对比数字清晰揭示出香港回归25年来发生的巨大变化：
The economy continues to grow. Hong Kong’s GDP grew from 1.37 trillion HKD in 1997 to 2.86 trillion HKD in 2021, by an average annual increase of 2.7% in real terms, with GDP per capita rising steadily from 192,000 HKD before the return to 387,100 HKD in 2021.
经济持续发展。1997年香港本地生产总值为1.37万亿港元，2021年则达到2.86万亿港元，年均实质增长2.7%。香港人均GDP逐步提高，回归前为19.20万港元，2021年增至38.71万港元。
The livelihood of Hong Kong residents continues to improve. Hong Kong’s population has increased nearly a million in the past 25 years, jumping from 6.5m to 7.4m. In 2021, life expectancy of Hong Kong male residents was 83 years and female 87.7 years, an increase of respectively 6.2 and 5.5 years when compared with those in 1997. Life quality of Hong Kong residents consistently improves, with increasingly plentiful cultural, recreational and sports facilities built up and put in use.
民生不断改善。从1997年中到2021年中，香港人口总数从650.21万增至741.31万，25年来增长近百万。2021年香港人口平均预期寿命男性为83.0岁，女性为87.7岁，分别比1997年增长6.2岁和5.5岁。香港文化、康乐和体育设施数量大幅增加，人民生活质量不断提升。
Hong Kong’s interactions with the world becomes more active. Since 1997, the number of foreign consular missions in Hong Kong has increased from 88 to 119, inter-governmental organizations that Hong Kong joined reached 97, and Hong Kong’s overseas economic and trade offices grew to 14. Furthermore, Hong Kong has signed more than 600 bilateral agreements with foreign countries. More than 270 Chinese embassies and consulates all over the world are providing around-the-clock consular services to Hong Kong compatriots. Hong Kong people feel more secure and more confident when they are abroad because they know that the motherland will always have them back.
对外交往日益活跃。25年来，外国在港领事机构从88家增加到119家，香港参与的政府间国际组织达97个，海外经济贸易办事处增至14个，对外签署各类双边协定600余项。中国遍布全球的270多个驻外使领馆为香港同胞提供全天候领事保护与服务，一句“祖国在你身后”让香港居民走出国门更加安心、更加自信。
Over the past 25 years, “one country, two systems” has gone from theoretical design to successful practice in Hong Kong, demonstrating its strong vitality and advanced nature.
25年来，“一国两制”在香港从理论设计成为成功实践，展现出强大生命力与先进性。
The central government of China has always fully and faithfully implemented the principle of “one country, two systems”, under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy. It has upheld the rule of law in Hong Kong, upheld the constitutional order of the HK Special Administrative Region as stipulated in China’s Constitution and the Basic Law, supported the orderly development of democracy in Hong Kong, and ensured that Hong Kong residents exercise their democratic rights in accordance with the law. In May this year, the election of the 6th Chief Executive of the HKSAR was held in a fair and orderly manner in accordance with law and regulations. Mr. Li Jiachao was elected by a wide margin, which once again demonstrates the success of democratic development with Hong Kong characteristics.
中国中央政府始终全面准确贯彻落实“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的方针，坚持依法治港，维护宪法和香港基本法确定的香港特别行政区宪制秩序，支持香港民主循序发展，保障香港居民依法行使民主权利。今年5月，香港特别行政区第六任行政长官选举依法依规、公平公正有序举行，李家超先生高票当选，再次彰显了香港特色民主发展的成功。
To ensure the steady and sustained implementation of “one country, two systems”, we must fully and accurately understand the relationship between “one country” and “two systems” and make sure that it is not misinterpreted or distorted in practice. “One country” is the basis and prerequisite of “two systems”, and the implementation of “two systems” must not be at the expense of “one country”.
要推动“一国两制”行稳致远，必须全面准确理解“一国”和“两制”之间的关系，确保实践中不变形、不走样。“一国”是“两制”的基础和前提，实行“两制”绝不能以牺牲“一国”为代价。
In recent years, particularly since the unrest over the amendment bill took place in Hong Kong in 2019, anti-China agitators in Hong Kong have colluded with external malignant forces, blatantly crossing the bottom line of “one country, two systems”, obstructing constitutional order and government administration in Hong Kong, wrecking overall social stability of Hong Kong as well as undermining China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
近几年来，特别是2019年香港发生“修例风波”以来，反中乱港分子与境外反华势力相互勾结，公然挑战“一国两制”底线，严重冲击香港宪制秩序和管治秩序，严重危害国家主权、安全、发展利益，严重破坏香港社会大局稳定。
To promptly put an end to violence and chaos, the central government took the decisive actions to adopt the National Security Law, improve Hong Kong’s electoral system and fully implement the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”. These measures have restored the order and dignity of the rule of law in the HKSAR, and laid the foundation for Hong Kong’s development and prosperity. According to the Global Financial Centers Index report released in March 2022, Hong Kong returned to the third place before the “amendment bill unrest”. Hong Kong has achieved a major transition from chaos to governance, and is now at a crucial stage of governance and prosperity.
为及时止暴治乱、拨乱反正，中央政府果断制定实施香港国安法，完善香港选举制度，落实“爱国者治港”原则,恢复了香港特别行政区管治秩序和法治尊严，保障了香港发展和繁荣的基础。2022年3月发布的《全球金融中心指数》报告显示，香港排名重返“修例风波”前的第三位。香港已实现由乱到治的重大转折，正处在由治及兴的关键时期。
Hong Kong’s future has always been closely linked with the motherland. China is deepening opening-up at a high level. With a mega-sized market, a complete and stable industrial chain and an improved business environment, China has continued to deliver dividends to the world, injecting strong momentum into Hong Kong’s development. The 14th Five-Year Plan, the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will provide Hong Kong with greater space for development.
香港的命运一直同祖国紧密相连。中国深入推进高水平对外开放，以超大规模的市场、完备稳定的产业链和不断优化的营商环境持续向世界释放红利，为香港发展持续注入强劲势能。“十四五”规划、“一带一路”倡议以及粤港澳大湾区建设，将为香港提供更广阔的发展空间。
The 25th anniversary marks a starting point from where Hong Kong sets out afresh. With the strong support of the central government of China and concerted efforts made by local government and people from all walks of life, there is no doubt that Hong Kong will enjoy greater economic prosperity, social harmony, better democracy and rule-of-law as well as a happier life for its people. The Oriental Pearl shall shine even brighter!
在回归25周年之际，香港正站在新的历史起点上，将抖擞精神、整装再出发。我们相信，在中央政府的大力支持下，在香港特区政府和社会各界的共同努力下，香港一定会成为经济更加繁荣、社会更加和谐、民主更加优质、法治更加完备、人民更加幸福的璀璨明珠！