作者：蕭平
XIAO PING
資深時事評論員
「不忘初心，方得始終。」這是一個樸素的真理。香港「一國兩制」遭遇種種衝突和挑戰，最根本的原因是對「一國兩制」的理解發生扭曲，偏離了它的初心。因此，尋根溯源，回歸初心，對於今日之香港很有必要。
"A mission is accomplishable only if we remain committed to it」. This is a simple truth fully illustrated by the implementation of 「one country, two systems」 in Hong Kong. The ultimate reason why it has encountered so many conflicts and challenges over the years is that the understanding of 「one country, two systems」 has been twisted and corrupted beyond recognition. Therefore, it’s imperative for Hong Kong to recall its original intent.
歷史的時針撥回到1950年。解放軍吹響「解放全中國」的號角，揮師南下，風捲殘雲，卻在深圳河畔勒住戰馬。以戰爭的方式趕走英國殖民統治者，復疆雪恥，沒有人懷疑解放軍的戰鬥力。但中共中央定下了「長期打算」的方針，香港問題暫時擱置。歷史證明，這個方針是英明的。後來在新中國被西方長期封鎖的年代，香港成為中國與外部聯繫的通道。再後來在內地改革開放的進程中，香港又成為助力國家發展的重要引擎。
Back in 1950, the People's Liberation Army had taken control of South China and was very close to accomplishing the epic mission of 「liberating the whole country」, but stopped short of crossing the Shenzhen River into Hong Kong. No one was in doubt of the PLA's capability to defeat the British colonists and reclaim the city, but the central authorities decided to take it slow. In hindsight, that was no doubt a wise decision, as evidenced by the crucial role Hong Kong played throughout the formative years of the People's Republic amid ruthless attempts by Western powers to strangle the new China in its infancy. Hong Kong remained the only link between China's mainland and the outside world for decades, and became the most important source of overseas investment when the reform and opening-up drive began in the late 1970s.
事實上，中國政府解決港澳和臺灣問題、實現祖國完全統一的意志從未動搖。需要考慮的不是要不要統一，而是以什麼方式統一，哪種方式代價最小、能讓更多的人接受。鄧小平講得很清楚，「中國面臨的實際問題就是用什麼方式才能解決香港問題，用什麼方式才能解決臺灣問題。只能有兩種方式，一種是和平方式，一種是非和平方式。」「香港繼續保持繁榮，根本上取決於中國收回香港後，在中國的管轄之下，實行適合於香港的政策。」
In fact, the Chinese government is determined to achieve the complete reunification of the motherland by resolving the questions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in that order. It has never been a question of whether or not, but how to achieve that ultimate goal with minimum cost acceptable to most people. Deng Xiaoping put it very clearly: 「The real question for China is how to solve the question of Hong Kong and Taiwan. There are only two options — by peaceful means and otherwise.」 He also concluded: 「Whether Hong Kong will remain prosperous under China's jurisdiction ultimately depends on policies tailor-made for Hong Kong.」
什麼才是「適合於香港的政策」呢？經過深思熟慮，鄧小平開創性地提出了「一個國家、兩種制度」的偉大構想，從而為中國也為國際社會解決歷史遺留問題提供了一個全新而又可行的方案。這是中國對國家治理模式的大膽探索，對人類政治文明的巨大貢獻。
What is a 「suitable policy for Hong Kong」 then? After careful consideration, Deng came up with the great and innovative concept of 「one country, two systems」, a brand-new and feasible solution for the international community, as well as China, in resolving this kind of inherited problem. This is a bold experiment in national governance and a significant contribution to human civilization.
「一國兩制」最初是為解決臺灣問題提出的，卻首先在香港落地，這是歷史的機緣選擇。回歸20多年來，「一國兩制」由構想變為現實，得到國際社會的普遍認可，香港整體上保持了繁榮穩定，證明「一國兩制」是行得通、辦得到、得人心的。1997年美國《財富》雜誌曾斷言「香港已死」，十多年後不得不承認「我們錯了」。
「One country, two systems」 was originally designed to resolve the question of Taiwan but ended up being applied to Hong Kong first. The rest is history. More than 22 years after China resumed the exercise of sovereign rule over Hong Kong, the 「one country, two systems」 principle has proved its effectiveness in sustaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and gained recognition from the international community. Precisely because it proved workable, doable and popular, the US-based Fortune magazine, which declared not long before July 1, 1997 「Hong Kong is dead」, admitted more than a decade later, 「We were wrong.」
作為一種新模式，「一國兩制」在實踐中遇到衝突和挑戰在所難免。習近平主席說：「一個不知道自己來路的民族，是沒有出路的民族。」 回溯歷史有助於解釋和解決今天的問題。比如，為什麼選擇「一國兩制」而不是「一國一制」？為什麼是「行政主導」而不是「三權分立」？為什麼說中央對香港有全面管治權？香港回歸後什麼都沒變嗎？2047後還有「一國兩制」嗎？等等。
As a new governance format, the exercise of 「one country, two systems」 will inevitably encounter conflicts and challenges. President Xi Jinping pointed out: 「A nation that does not know where it came from has no idea where to go.」 Reflecting upon the past helps explain and resolve the questions at hand, including the questions of why the central government chose 「one country, two systems」 over 「one country, one system」; why the governance of the SAR is led by the executive branch instead of having a separation of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial; why the central government exercises overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong; whether it’s true that nothing has changed after China resumed sovereign rule over Hong Kong; and whether 「one country, two systems」 will prevail beyond 2047.
這些問題搞清楚了，澄清似是而非的誤解和混淆視聽的曲解，就知道該堅持和完善什麼，該糾正和摒棄什麼，「一國兩制」之路就會行穩致遠，越走越寬。
Once these questions are answered, misunderstandings clarified, and confusing misinterpretations debunked, people will know what should be maintained, improved, corrected or abandoned. Only then will we be able to implement 「one country, two systems」 consistently and surely with increasing confidence and ease for as long as necessary.
大道至簡。讓我們一起步入系列漫談，梳理「一國兩制」的脈絡，重溫「一國兩制」的初心。
The simplest way is usually the correct way. The next chapter of this series will discuss and straighten out the concept of 「one country, two systems」 by recalling its original intent.
原文刊登於4月6日《中國日報香港版》