曾荫权在香港特区成立13周年酒会上的致辞

各位嘉宾、各位同事、各位市民：

Distinguished guests, colleagues, fellow citizens,

今日是中华人民共和国香港特别行政区成立十三周年的大日子，我很荣幸在这里与各位一同庆祝这具有历史意义的一天。

Today marks the 13th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. I am honoured to celebrate this historic occasion with you all.

一个星期前，立法会刚通过了香港回归以来其中一项最重要的议案，就是修正二○一二年行政长官和立法会的产生办法，增加民主成分。我亦在两日前正式同意了有关的修正。今次政改是标志香港的民主发展向前踏出坚实的一步，向二○一七和二○二○年双普选目标迈进。这实在是香港民主发展上重要里程碑，更加是许多香港人共同努力的成果，是庆祝香港回归纪念的一份最好礼物。

Just a week ago, the Legislative Council passed one of the most important motions since our reunification with the Mainland, that is, the amendments to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and for forming the Legislative Council in 2012 to make them more democratic. I gave my formal consent to the amendments two days ago. The passage of the political reform package marks a decisive step towards democracy and the goal of universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020. It lays down a milestone in our democratic development and is indeed the result of concerted efforts by many Hong Kong people. It is the best gift as we celebrate our reunification.

过去一年充满机遇和挑战。我们克服了金融海啸带来的影响，经济回复增长；人类猪流感袭港，我们全力控制疫情；去年底我们举办东亚运动会，香港运动员出色的表现令人振奋；经济上香港与内地日渐融合，我们为香港把握每个机会，包括拓展人民币业务，又和广东签订了“粤港合作框架协议”，推进与广东的全方位合作。

The past year has been a time of challenges and opportunities. Our economy has picked up following the global financial tsunami. We did our very best to contain the spread of human swine influenza. Our athletes achieved their best ever results in the East Asian Games staged here in Hong Kong at the end of last year. We seized every opportunity arising from our ever-growing economic integration with the Mainland. For example, we have been expanding renminbi business in Hong Kong and we have signed the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong / Guangdong Cooperation to enhance collaboration between the two places on all fronts.

在我们面前，仍然有很多经济民生议题需要我们齐心解决。政府会用心聆听市民大众的诉求，令施政更切合市民所需。

Still, there is much work left for us to do in addressing economic and livelihood issues. The Government will listen carefully to the community and respond to the aspirations and the needs of our citizens.

早前，我在SOHO区遇到一位餐厅老板娘。她告诉我管理餐厅的心得，最重要是“用心来做事”。她语重心长的说话，大大触动了我。她令我更加相信，只要我们每个人都用心做好每件事，坚守岗位，香港的未来是充满希望的！

The other day, I spoke to a woman who operates a restaurant in SoHo. She told me the key to success in running her business is to "work with one's heart". Her words touched me. They're enforced my belief that if all of us do every task with all our heart and give our best, we can look forward to a very promising future.

现在，请大家和我一起，为香港和国家更美好的将来而干杯！

Now, please join me in a toast. To a better and brighter future for Hong Kong and our country!