刘晓明：相互尊重对中英关系至关重要（中英对照）

中文版：相互尊重对中英关系至关重要.doc 

英文版：For China and the UK, respect is key.doc

注：中英文并非一一对应。

相互尊重对中英关系至关重要

For China and the UK, respect is key

 

刘晓明

Liu Xiaoming

 

最近，关于中国拒绝英国议会下院外委会赴港“调查”事被炒得沸沸扬扬。英国媒体做了很多报道，但反映的大多是英方的观点。作为中国驻英国大使，我有责任让英国公众听到中国的声音，理解中国的立场。

 

There have recently been many reports in the British media about China denying a Commons Foreign Affairs Committee delegation entry into Hong Kong. But most of the reports are one-sided – they only tell the UK’s side of the story. As Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, I have a responsibility to help the British public hear China’s voice and appreciate my country’s position.

 

英国媒体引用了外委会主席奥塔威许多讲话，其中可能只有一句话我表示赞同，那就是“中英是朋友和伙伴，而不是敌人”。因此，我现在想以朋友和伙伴的方式谈一谈中方的看法。

 

Of all the comments from Sir Richard Ottaway, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, there is perhaps only one that I can agree with: “We are not enemies. We are friends and partners.” Therefore, in a manner that’s fitting for friends and partners, I want to share China’s side of the story.

 

首先，中方不能接受外委会搞涉港“质询”和赴港“调查”。道理很简单，香港已于1997年回归中国，成为中国的一部分，因此香港事务包括政改纯属中国内政，所谓“质询”和“调查”就是在干涉中国内政。外委会宣称要审核英国政府在香港政改特别是普选问题上的立场，人们不禁要问香港普选与英国有关吗？答案是否定的。即使在英方反复提及的中英联合声明中，“普选”一词也只字未提。所以英国政府一再声明，香港普选应由中国中央政府、香港特区政府和民众来决定。外委会要审核英国政府的涉港政策，难道不是企图否定英国政府上述立场和干涉中国的内部事务吗？

 

First of all, China cannot agree to the committee’s Hong Kong “inquiry” and its visit. The reason is simple: since the handover in 1997, Hong Kong has been, in every sense, part of China. Matters relating to Hong Kong, including political reform, are purely China’s internal affairs. The so-called inquiry amounts to interference in those affairs.

 

According to its statement, the committee wishes to examine the UK Government’s position on political reform in Hong Kong, especially universal suffrage. Does universal suffrage in Hong Kong have anything to do with the UK? The answer is no. Even the frequently invoked Sino-British Joint Declaration does not mention a word about universal suffrage, hence the UK Government’s reiteration that universal suffrage in Hong Kong is a matter for China’s Central Government, the SAR Government and the public of Hong Kong to decide. So it looks like the Foreign Affairs Committee intends to overturn the UK Government’s position by intervening in Hong Kong’s political reform.

 

第二，中方不希望英国议员现在跑到香港去火上浇油。当前香港“占中”违法活动还未结束，香港的法治和安宁受到严重威胁与破坏。在此背景下，英国议员打着“调查”的旗号去访问香港，将传递什么样的信息呢？这只会助长“占中”违法分子的气焰，让他们感觉来了“外援”。这样的访问有百害而无一利。

 

Right now, a visit to Hong Kong by British MPs would pour oil over fire. The illegal “Occupy Central” campaign is still ongoing and the rule of law and public order in Hong Kong is under severe threat. Against such a backdrop, what kind of message would British MPs bring to Hong Kong? They would only feed the arrogance of the illegal activists by giving them the illusion of external support.

 

第三，中方一直在通过对话方式向英方表达立场，希望他们重视中方的关切，取消赴港“调查”。过去几个月来，中方可谓苦口婆心，仁至义尽，但这些努力丝毫不见效果，他们仍是一意孤行。最后，中方不得不坦率地告诉外委会，他们不会被允许入境香港。

 

For months, the Chinese side has been explaining its position through dialogue. But means of communication were exhausted and persuasions met with disregard.

 

第四，中方的决定于法有据，完全符合中国宪法、香港基本法和国际法基本准则。无论任何人，包括外国议会议员，如果他们不顾中国政府和人民的强烈反对，不顾香港特区政府一再劝阻，执意要到香港去干涉中国内政，中国中央政府当然有权依法进行处置。事实上，拒绝入境这是任何主权国家都依法享有的权力。据我所知，就在上月英国政府就以维护公共利益为由宣布禁止一名美国公民入境。

 

China’s decision to deny the MPs entry into Hong Kong has a solid legal basis, with the full backing of the Constitution of China, the Basic Law of Hong Kong and the basic norms of international law.

 

When someone – even if it is the Foreign Affairs Committee of the parliament of a foreign country – disregards the strong opposition from the Chinese Government and people, and ignores the repeated dissuasion of the Government of Hong Kong SAR, China’s Central Government has the right to act as it sees fit. Likewise, to my knowledge, the UK Government banned an American citizen from entering the country only last month on grounds of the public interest.

 

因此，中方不是要羞辱议会外委会，而是要坚定维护自己国家的主权和安全；不是要与英方对抗，而是要坚守自己的原则和底线；不是要向外国访港代表团关上大门，而是要维护香港的稳定和繁荣。

 

The ban on entry was not intended to insult the committee. China was only safeguarding its national sovereignty and security. It was not intended to be a confrontational move. China was only holding to its principles and bottom line. It will certainly not close Hong Kong to foreigners. China was only acting to safeguard the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

 

中国有句老话，叫“客随主便”。英国议会外委会对英国政府是监督者，但对中国而言，他们只是要来香港访问的客人，没有任何监督的权利。主人完全有权决定邀请什么客人、在什么时间来访，这是人之常情，也是处世之道。客人如果在主人不邀请和不欢迎的情况下非要上门造访，这未免显得傲慢霸道；如果因主人拒绝而恶语相加，那就是歇斯底里了。

 

In China, we have an old saying: guests do as their host thinks fit. Members of the committee are only guests if they visit Hong Kong: they have no supervisory power. Naturally, it is always the host who decides whom to invite and when – a social etiquette almost anywhere. If uninvited or unwelcome guests insist on coming over, they would certainly be regarded as being arrogant. And to blame the host for refusing to extend his welcome would only be categorised as hysterical.

 

我们从未干预过英国的内部事务，也不希望英方干涉中国的内政。我希望英方一些人士能够冷静下来，换位思考。中方真诚地希望中英关系保持良好发展的势头，不断扩大双方的共同利益。我们愿与英国议会继续开展交流与合作，也欢迎英国议员去香港、去中国进行友好访问，多做有利于香港稳定和繁荣的事，多做有利于促进中英关系发展的事。

 

China has never interfered in the UK’s domestic issues. It is not too much for China to expect the same in return? I hope the latest episode will prompt people to calm down, and put themselves in other people’s shoes.

 

China wants good relations with the UK and will continue to work to expand our common interests. It is also ready to continue to engage Westminster in exchanges and co-operation. China, and indeed Hong Kong, is open to goodwill visits by British MPs. I hope they will come to do more things that are in the interests of Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity and in the interests of China-UK relations.