Speeches from the British Farewell Ceremony
查尔斯王子在香港交接仪式上的讲话

Prince Charles: Governor, prime minister, ladies and gentlemen, I've 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 be involved with his 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 be associated with the prodigiously talented and resourceful people of Hong Kong who have built upon that foundation.

查尔斯王子：
总督、首相、女士们、先生们，我以女王陛下的名义宣读下列咨文：
　　从此时起的五小时后，联合王国的旗帜将落下，中国的旗帜将飘扬在香港的领空。一个半多世纪的英国统治即将结束。在那段时间里，香港由一个小的海滨殖民地发展成为全球主要城市和最重要的经贸城市之一。经历了牺牲、不幸和勇气，香港从战争的灰烬中站了起来，发生了不可思议的变化。香港接纳数以百万计的贫困移民，创造了地球上最成功的社会之一。不列颠因参与了这个成功的故事而骄傲和荣幸：为英国价值观和机构作为香港成功的支架而骄傲；为香港人民所享有的权利和自由而骄傲；为能与聪明机智的香港人民一起奠定了成功的社会基础而自豪。

***** Proverb *****
He who promises too much means nothing. 轻诺者寡信。
He who would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom. 千里之行，始于足下。

Unit Humor

Vegetable ? or A Duck!

　　Mrs. Brown had a small garden behind her house, and in the spring she planted some vegetables in it. She looked after them very carefully, and when the summer came, they looked very nice.
　　One evening Mrs. Brown looked at her vegetables and said, "Tomorrow I am going to pick them, and then we can eat them." But early the next morning, her son ran into the kitchen and shouted, " Mother, Mother! Come quickly! Our neighbor's ducks are in the garden and they are eating our vegetables!" Mrs. Brown ran out, but it was too late! All the vegetables were finished! Mrs. Brown cried, and her neighbor was very sorry, but that was the end of the vegetables.
　　Then a few days before Christmas, the neighbor brought Mrs. Brown a parcel. In it was a beautiful, fat duck, and on it was a piece of paper with the words, "Enjoy your vegetables!"