双语：维护香港的繁荣稳定必须坚持法治原则

Full Text: The Rule of Law Must Be Upheld for Hong Kong’s Prosperity and Stability

19.7.25双语：张明大使在欧盟媒体发表题为《维护香港的繁荣稳定必须坚持法治原则》的署名文章

2019年7月25日，驻欧盟使团团长张明大使在《欧盟动态》网站发表署名文章《维护香港的繁荣稳定必须坚持法治原则》，全文如下：

On 25th July 2019, Ambassador Zhang Ming, Head of Chinese Mission to the EU, published a signed article titled “The rule of law must be upheld for Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability” at Euractiv. The full text is as follows:

维护香港的繁荣稳定必须坚持法治原则

The Rule of Law Must Be Upheld for Hong Kong’s Prosperity and Stability

近日，中国香港特别行政区的示威游行活动引发广泛关注，一些欧洲朋友关心香港的未来，希望长期繁荣稳定得到维护，这符合欧方的利益，也是中国中央政府和香港特别行政区政府为之不懈努力的方向。不过，部分欧洲人士的言论罔顾事实，是非不分，侵犯了中国主权，干涉了中国内政，也违背了基本的法治原则，我们必须坚决说不。

The recent demonstrations in China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have been closely watched by many. Some European friends care about Hong Kong’s future, and hope that its long-term prosperity and stability could be well maintained. Enduring prosperity and stability in Hong Kong is indeed in the interest of Europe, and is also what the Chinese Central Government and the HKSAR Government have been striving for all along. However, some voices in Europe, in disregard of abundant facts, have failed to tell the difference between right and wrong. Such voices constitute an infringement on China’s sovereignty, interference in China’s domestic affairs, and departure from the basic principle of the rule of law. To that, we must categorically say NO.

香港回归以来，“一国两制”得到切实贯彻落实，香港居民依法享有前所未有的民主权利和自由。但香港近期游行过程中发生的袭击伤害警察，打砸立法会大楼等严重违法行为，已远超和平表达诉求的底线。文明社会里，暴力从来都是众矢之的，不容姑息。一些欧洲人士对上述违法犯罪行径视而不见，反而要求特区政府取消对上述暴徒的指控，对警方执法行为展开调查，是典型的颠倒黑白，为虎作伥。香港暴力活动持续升级，甚至发生冲击中央驻港机构、囤积大量烈性炸药等恶性行为，这与外部势力的美化纵容、壮胆撑腰不无关系。

Since the return of Hong Kong, the policy of “one country, two systems” has been implemented in good faith. Hong Kong residents enjoy democratic rights and freedom in accordance with law as never before. However, the serious offences committed during the demonstrations, such as the assaults on the police and the ransacking into the Legislative Council building, went far beyond peaceful expression of views. In any civilized society, violence is always to be condemned and shall not be tolerated. Some in Europe have chosen to turn a blind eye to those offences, and have gone even so far as to call on the HKSAR Government to drop all charges against the offenders and to investigate into the police’s exercise of duties. This is a typical act of confounding white with black and inciting violence.

We have seen continued escalation of violence in Hong Kong, including such egregious behaviors as attacking the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong and hoarding extremely powerful explosives for ill purposes. One could hardly say that such developments have nothing to do with the connivance and support of external forces.

今年初，欧洲议会曾针对自家地盘上示威活动通过一份决议，但没有点任何一个欧洲国家的名，还反复强调警方和执法部门的职权，认为示威和言论自由并非没有边界，“必须根据《欧洲人权公约》，在法律许可的范围内行使”，“服从于警务执法的限制措施”。我本人在布鲁塞尔已经工作两年多，看到过欧洲的各种示威游行，也看到过欧洲警察对待示威中过激行为的执法方式。我们不会干涉他国内政。我们尊重别国的主权和司法。但我在想，如果香港的暴力行为发生在欧洲，欧洲的警察会如何处置？如果那些暴徒冲击欧洲议会，那些妄议香港形势的人是否还会姑息暴力行为？

Earlier this year, the European Parliament passed a resolution on the right to protest, considering what was happening in some parts of Europe around that time. The resolution did not single out any European country by name, and underlined duties of the police and law enforcement authorities. It argued that the right to protest and freedom of expression are not without boundaries, It cited the European Convention on Human Rights as stating that the freedom of assembly “shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on the exercise of these rights by members of the armed forces, of the police or of the administration of the state”, and that these rights could be subject to legitimate, proportionate and necessary police measures.

Since I arrived in Brussels about two years ago, I have seen various protests and demonstrations in Europe, as well as the way in which those violent protestors are dealt with by European police. We do not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. We respect other countries’ sovereignty and the judicial independence. Still I keep wondering what European police would do if the violence in Hong Kong took place in Europe. I also wonder if the European Parliament came under attack, would those who have made wanton remarks on Hong Kong applaud violence.

欧洲议会决议对香港广大民众要求维护和平法治的声音选择性失聪，反而指责香港特区政府的依法施政。一些欧洲政客口头上多次表示支持“一国两制”，但又鼓动在欧洲议会决议中写入欧盟对香港的民主“承诺”，“强烈谴责”中央政府对香港内部事务的“持续加剧干预”。针对这种公开明显的“双重标准”，我们不禁要问，他们居心何在？有议员在讨论决议时发言指出，“欧洲议会不是联合国”，“欧洲在教育别人之前，应先教育好自己”。这一客观声音，值得欧洲议会深思。

The European Parliament’s resolution on the situation in Hong Kong selectively turned a deaf ear to the public call for peace, law and order in Hong Kong, and even denounced the HKSAR Government for its law-based administration. Some European politicians, though having repeatedly voiced their support for “one country, two systems”, encouraged the European Parliament to write into a resolution such wordings as the EU’s commitment to democracy in Hong Kong and “strongly condemning” the constant and increasing interference by China in Hong Kong’s internal affairs. That is apparently “double standard”, and we cannot help but ask what they are really up to. In the urgency debate on the resolution, some MEPs said that the European Parliament is not the United Nations and that Europe should better teach itself before it teaches others. Such objective voices could provide some food for thought for the European Parliament.

香港早非“租界”之香港，更不是“殖民者”的香港。“一国两制”保护民主，更坚持法治。维护香港繁荣稳定需要和平理性。维护中欧关系需要恪守国际法和国际关系基本准则，切实尊重中国主权，这是原则底线。中方维护国家主权、安全和发展利益的决心坚定不移，维护香港繁荣稳定的决心坚定不移。这也是欧洲各国的利益所在，少数别有用心的欧洲政客挑拨香港社会内部对立的图谋不会得逞。我希望欧洲广大朋友和有识之士，继续同中方一起以实际行动共同维护香港繁荣稳定和中欧关系的健康稳定发展。

The days have long gone when Hong Kong was a concession or colony. The policy of “one country, two systems” aims to uphold democracy, and more importantly, the rule of law. Maintaining prosperity and stability in Hong Kong calls for a mind of peace and reason. Keeping China-EU relations on track calls for the observance of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and genuine respect for China’s sovereignty. This is a principle that we value and keep.

China has unwavering resolve to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, and to maintain prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. This is also in the interest of European countries. The very few European politicians with ulterior motives are doomed to fail in their attempt to instigate confrontation within Hong Kong’s society. I hope that the vast majority of people in Europe will continue to work with China to safeguard Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and to promote the sound and steady growth of China-EU relations.