Speech at the Signature Ceremony of the Joint Declaration on the Future of Hong Kong
玛格丽特·撒切尔 / Margaret Thatcher
玛格丽特·撒切尔（1925— ），生于英格兰林肯郡格兰瑟姆市。1943年进入牛津大学萨默维尔女子学院攻读化学。大学时代加入保守党，并担任牛津大学保守党协会主席。1953年被林肯律师协会批准为律师。1959年当选为保守党下院议员。1961年任年金和国民保险部政务次官。1964年任下院保守党前座发言人。1970年任教育和科学大臣。1975年2月当选为保守党领袖。1979年5月出任首相，成为英国历史上第一位女首相。1983年6月和1987年6月连任首相。1990年11月辞去首相职务。1992年6月被封为终身贵族。1993年5月任威廉—玛丽学院第二十一任名誉院长。曾4次访问中国，1984年在北京代表英国政府与中国政府签署了《关于香港问题的联合声明》。
Practicing fo Better Learning
Read the following speech carefully, and answer the question below.
According to this spech, what influences will the Anglo-Chinese bring to China and England?
This is a historic occasion. And I am particularly pleased to see that Chairman Deng Xiaoping is able to be present. The Joint Declaration on the Future of Hong Kong, which we have just signed on behalf of our two governments, is a landmark in the life of the territory, in the course of Anglo-Chinese relations, and in the history of international diplomacy. The Agreement establishes a firm basis for confidence in Hong Kong after 1997 and beyond, and for its continued stability, prosperity and growth.
I remember with pleasure my last visit to China in September 1982 and my discussions with Chinese leaders. At my meeting with Chairman Deng Xiaoping on that occasion, we agreed to open talks on the future of Hong Kong. Our common aim was to maintain the territory’s stability and prosperity. It is in a spirit of pride and of optimism about the future that I now return to sign the agreement, which is the result of those talks.
I think you will agree that the negotiations were not always easy. At certain points there were difficult decisions to be made on both sides. There were moments of tension. To overcome these difficulties we needed to draw on a shared fund of goodwill; on friendship; and on a common commitment to Hong Kong’s future. This was what made success possible. I should like to pay tribute to the dedication of the two negotiating teams and all their sup-porting staff. It is thanks to the imagination and resource which they showed that we can sign an agreement today.
The Agreement fully meets the political requirements of Britain and China, as well as the interests of the Hong Kong people. It provides the framework in which, as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong will maintain its economic system and way of life for 50 years after the first of July 1997.
It gives Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy: Hong Kong people will administer Hong Kong and the Special Administrative Region will pass its own legislation. It allows Hong Kong to continue to decide its own economic, financial and trade policies and to participate as appropriate in international organizations and agreements. It preserves Hong Kong’s familiar legal system and the rights and freedoms enjoyed there. In short, it provides the assurances for the future which Hong Kong needs, in order to continue to play its unique role in the world as a trading and financial center.
The negotiation itself has brought our countries closer together. It has increased our mutual understanding, respect and trust. I am convinced that as we work together in the future we shall be laying the foundation for an even closer and deeper relationship. That is good for Britain, good for China and good for the world. Above all it is good for the people of Hong Kong.
We are privileged today to take part with our Chinese friends in the unique occasion. The circumstances are unique, the Agreement is unique. It is right that we should feel a sense of history, of pride and of confidence in the future.
参考译文
这是一个历史性的时刻。见到邓小平主席出席，我感到犹为高兴。我们刚刚代表各自政府签署的《关于香港未来的联合声明》，是香港领土历史上、中英两国关系进程中，以及国际外交史上的一个里程碑。此协议为1997年前、后香港的持续稳定、繁荣和发展奠定了坚实的信心基础。
我上一次访问中国是在1982年9月，回想那次访问以及与中国领导人的会谈，我感到很高兴。在与邓小平主席的那次会晤中，我们双方同意就香港的未来问题进行商议，维持香港领土的稳定性和繁荣是我们共同目标。带着无比自豪和对香港未来发展乐观的精神，我再次回到这里签署这份协议，即那些商议的成果。
通常，谈判不是一件容易事，我想这点你们一定会赞同。在某些问题上，双方很难决定如何取舍，谈判存在紧张的时候。为了解决这些难题，我们需要从双方共同利益、两国友谊和对香港未来发展的共同责任方面加以考虑，这也使得磋商成功成为了可能。我想对两支谈判组，以及所有支持我们工作的人致以我崇高的敬意。感谢想象力和他们所表现出的才智，使协议在今天得以签署。
协议完全切合中英两国的政治需要和香港人民的利益。这一协议提出了中华人民共和国特别行政区的政治构想，自1997年7月1日后的50年里，香港原有的经济体系和生活方式将维持不变。
“港人治港，特别行政区自主立法，它允许香港继续制定自己的经济、金融和贸易政策，并且合法地参与国际组织和协会。此协议保留了香港原有的法律体系，维护了人们享有的权利与自由。简而言之，此协议为使香港作为一个世界贸易和金融中心继续发挥其独特作用，为香港未来的发展提供了必需的保证。
谈判的过程使我们两国的关系更加密切，我们相互之间的理解、尊重与信赖也随之加强。我深信，随着我们在未来的合作进程，我们一定能建立更为亲密、更为深厚的友谊基础。这既有益于英国，也有益于中国，更有益于全世界。最重要的是，有益于香港人民。
在这样一个特殊的时刻，今天我们荣幸地能与中国朋友们站在一起。境况是独特的，协议也是独特的。的确，我们应有一种历史感，一种自豪感，一种对未来的自信感。
历史链接
本文是撒切尔夫人于1984年12月在中英两国政府关于香港问题联合声明签字仪式上的讲话节录。演讲体现了一个政治家理性、严峻的个人性格，同时用词筒洁，分寸把握适中，成为在重大历史事件上，代表一个国家政府宣讲自己政策的典范之作。
Learning for Better Understanding
negotiate ＆ negotiation
negotiate
作动词：
（1）谈判，协商，磋商
negotiate with sb. about sth.
例：The authorities will not negotiate with the terrorists for any conditions.
政府不会和恐怖分子就任何条件谈判。
（2）商定，达成协议
to negotiate a contract/settlement 商定合同/解决措施
negotiation
作名词：谈判，磋商，协商
例：They are going to begin another round of negotiations tomorrow.
他们明天要进行新一轮的谈判。
Chunks in Practice
In short, it provides the assurances for the future which Hong Kong
needs, in order to continue to play its unique role in the world as a
trading and financial center.
(1)in short 简而言之，总之
(2)provide sb. with sth. / provide sth. for sb. 为某人提供某物
(3)which Hong Kong needs 这是一个有which引导的定语从句，修饰assurances。
(4)in order to continue to play its unique role in the world as a trading and financial center 是由in order to引导的一个目的状语。
Now a Try
Translate the following sentences with the expressions in the article.
1. 我们双方同意就香港的未来问题进行商议，维持香港领土的稳定性和
繁荣是我们共同目标。
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2. 是我们双方的共同利益和两国友谊和对香港未来发展的共同责任使得
磋商成功成为了可能。