Full Speech on Hong Kong Handover: Farewell Hong Kong, Convergence of History and Future

Learning English is not just about mastering grammar and vocabulary, but more importantly, being able to use it naturally in real situations. However, textbook sentences are often too formal and differ greatly from expressions used in everyday life. To speak authentic, natural English, one needs exposure to real conversational contexts. Here, we have carefully selected commonly used daily English expressions covering social, work, and travel scenarios to help you move beyond 'textbook English' and learn what native speakers truly use. Below is the content of this session "Episode 60: Farewell Hong Kong." Consistent accumulation will make your English closer to real life!

Hong Kong has been a place of meeting and a place of refuge. Here merchants and teachers, architects and artisans have built one of the world's greatest cities. Here East and West have joined together in free and peaceful partnership. We are gathered now in this place between the mountains and the sea with the eyes of the world upon us and standing all about us great buildings that declare Hong Kong's vigor and achievement. As we think of the wonders of this city, let us welcome those for whom it is held in trust—the children who will inherit what has been built, whose hopes and dreams and talents will chart new courses and create new wonders. Your Royal Highness, Prime Minister, distinguished guests, people of Hong Kong, for Hong Kong as a whole, today is cause for celebration, not sorrow, but here and there perhaps there will be a touch of personal sadness as is true of any departure, a point to which I shall return.

History is not just a matter of dates. What makes history is what comes before and what comes after the dates that we all remember. The story of this great city is about the years before this night and the years of success that will surely follow it. Of course, Hong Kong's story is not solely that of the century and a half of British responsibility, though it is the conclusion of that chapter that we mark tonight. This chapter began with events that, from today's vantage point at the end of the following century, none of us here would wish or seek to condone. This is a Chinese city, a very Chinese city with British characteristics. No dependent territory has been left more prosperous, none with such a rich texture and fabric of civil society—professions, churches, newspapers, charities, civil servants of the highest probity and the most steadfast commitment to the public good. I have no doubt that with people here holding on to these values which they cherish, Hong Kong's star will continue to climb.

I said that tonight's celebration will be tinged for some with sadness. So it will be for my family and myself, and for others who, like us, will soon depart from this shore. I am the 28th governor, the last governor. Like all the other governors and their families, my wife, my children and I will take Hong Kong home in our hearts. You have been kind to us. You have made us welcome. It has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life to share your home for five years and to have some responsibility for your future. Now Hong Kong people are to run Hong Kong. That is the promise and that is the unshakable destiny.

Governor, Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, I have been asked by Her Majesty the Queen to read the following message. Five hours from now the Union Flag will be lowered and the flag of China will fly over Hong Kong. More than a century and a half of British administration will come to an end. During that time Hong Kong has grown from a small coastal settlement into one of the leading cities and one of the greatest trading economies in the world. There have been times of sacrifice, suffering, and courage. As Hong Kong has risen from the ashes of war, a most dramatic transformation has taken place. Millions of destitute immigrants have been absorbed, and Hong Kong has created one of the most successful societies on earth. Britain is both proud and privileged to have been involved with this success story—proud of the British values and institutions that have been the framework for Hong Kong's success, proud of the rights and freedoms which Hong Kong people enjoy, privileged to have been associated with the prodigiously talented and resourceful people of Hong Kong who have built upon that foundation.

The British flag will be lowered and British administrative responsibility will end. But Britain is not saying goodbye to Hong Kong. More than three and a half million Hong Kong residents are British nationals. Thousands of young Hong Kong men and women study in Britain every year. We share language and the English common law. And thousands of Britons too have made their homes in Hong Kong. The shared legacy of family and of friendship, trade and investment, culture and history runs strong and deep. Britain is part of Hong Kong's history, and Hong Kong is part of Britain's history. We are also part of each other's future. We are confident that the ties between us will not only endure but will continue to develop. The eyes of the world are on Hong Kong today. I wish you all a successful transition and a prosperous and peaceful future.

The above content has been organized by Qicai.com for Episode 60 "Farewell Hong Kong," hoping it will be helpful to you!