Press Release

 

 

Chief Executive's speech at ceremony for unveiling Reunification Monument

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Following is the Speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Ceremony for the Unveiling of the Monument in Commemoration of the Return of Hong Kong to China:

Honourable Vice President, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Today marks the Second Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). On this day of celebration, we are conducting the ceremony to unveil the Monument in Commemoration of the Return of Hong Kong to China. We are much honoured to have the name of the monument written in graceful calligraphy by President Jiang Zemin, and we are privileged that Vice-President Hu Jintao has accepted our invitation to officiate at today's ceremony. On behalf of the Government of the HKSAR and the people of Hong Kong, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to President Jiang and to extend a warm welcome to Vice- President Hu.

On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong returned to the Motherland. To commemorate this important and historical day, the Preparatory Committee for the HKSAR resolved prior to the Handover that a monument be established. The monument has now been erected on this vibrant territory in southern China. To the Chinese people, this signifies the prosperity of our country and marks an important step in the reunification of the Chinese nation; to over six million Hong Kong people, this represents the new era of "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy under the concept of "one country, two systems"; to our visitors, this serves as a prime tourist attraction from which they proceed to discover the impressive achievements of our city.

It has been two years since Hong Kong's return to the Motherland. With the total support of our country, we have fully and faithfully implemented "one country, two systems" in accordance with the Basic Law. For the very first time, Hong Kong is charting its own future and our long term development plans with great expectations. In the new millennium, we are committed to building Hong Kong as a modern, civil and knowledge-based society, the metropolis of the East which embraces innovation and technology and a bridge linking China with the rest of the world. As masters of our own destiny, we will meet every challenge. Amidst the Asian financial turmoil, we defended the Hong Kong financial system with decisive action. During the economic downturn, we adopted strategies to ride out the storm together with the people of Hong Kong and invested heavily in infrastructural developments and education to lay a solid foundation for our future. The worst is over. After a period of consolidation, our economy will thrive again.

We are going to have two major celebrations in 1999: firstly, the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China against the backdrop of momentous achievements in recent years as we move towards the new millennium; secondly, the return of Macau to our Motherland, which will be another significant milestone in the peaceful reunification of China. An exquisite picture which depicts the historical rejuvenation of a nation is unfolding before the world. I deeply realise that we are an active player in this historical picture, and not a mere bystander. The country has entrusted the future and destiny of Hong Kong to all of us in Hong Kong with the hope that we will be able to realise a broad vision and work towards a bright future with our own efforts and wisdom. I am absolutely confident that this vision will become a reality because the vast majority of Hong Kong people have this conviction: the people of Hong Kong are capable of administering Hong Kong well. With this conviction, we will strive to overcome any difficulty and make progress in furthering the cause of the Chinese nation.

Finally, on behalf of the Government of the HKSAR, I would like to express our hearty thanks to all the members of the Working Group on the Monument in Commemoration of the Return of Hong Kong to China and all members of the public who have participated in the meaningful work for the erection of the monument in one form or another. I would also like to extend once again our warmest welcome to Vice- President Hu Jintao, the principal officiating guest for the unveiling of the monument.

Thank you.

Photo:Photograph shows Vice-President Hu and Mr Tung unveiling the Monument.

End/Thursday, July 1, 1999

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