Fellow Compatriots, Dear Friends,

Today, we gather here on a joyous occasion to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong' return to the motherland. First of all, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Central Government and people of all ethnic groups across the country, cordial greetings to all the people of Hong Kong. I wish to offer warm congratulations to Mr. Leung Chun-ying, the fourth chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), his team and members of the Executive Council who have just been sworn in. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to all the fellow Chinese both at home and abroad and foreign friends who have cared about Hong Kong and have contributed to its smooth return and to its continued prosperity and stability!

The return of Hong Kong to the motherland will go down as a great achievement in the annals of Chinese history; it will be remembered as a historic event at the end of the last century that has a major international significance. Since the very moment of its return, Hong Kong has entered a new era and begun a new journey. Over the past 15 years, the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have been fully implemented. Our compatriots in Hong Kong are now masters of their own fate and manage, on their own, affairs that fall within the autonomy of the SAR. Never before have Hong Kong residents enjoyed the range of democratic rights and freedoms as they do now. Despite the impact of the international financial crisis, Hong Kong has registered steady economic growth and has remained an international financial, trade and shipping center. It has all along been considered as the most free and open economy and one of the most competitive and dynamic regions of the world. Hong Kong has enjoyed all-round social development, continued high employment level and significantly improved social security. Its exchanges with the mainland have expanded across the board, with much stronger economic and trade ties and deepened cooperation in various areas. Hong Kong has continued to make unique contribution to the reform, opening-up and modernization drive in the mainland of China, and at the same time it has gained more and more opportunities and endless impetus for its development from the mainland. Our compatriots in Hong Kong enjoy a growing sense of identity and closeness with the country and the nation. In the face of serious disasters, our Hong Kong compatriots and people on the mainland have stood together and supported each other, fully demonstrating that we are kith and kin and blood is thicker than water. Also in these 15 years, Hong Kong has been more active in its external contacts and has seen its international influence further expanded.

同胞们，朋友们：

今天，我们怀着喜悦的心情在这里隆重集会，庆祝香港回归祖国15周年。首先，我代表中央政府和全国各族人民，向全体香港市民，致以诚挚的问候！向刚刚宣誓就职的香港特别行政区第四任行政长官梁振英先生和第四届政府主要官员、行政会议成员，表示热烈的祝贺！向所有关心香港、为香港顺利回归并保持繁荣稳定作出贡献的海内外同胞和国际友人，表示衷心的感谢！

香港回归祖国是彪炳中华民族史册的伟大业绩，也是上个世纪末具有重大国际影响的历史事件。从回归祖国那一刻起，香港就进入了新的时代、开启了新的航程。15年来，“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的方针得到全面贯彻落实。香港同胞当家作主，自行管理特别行政区自治范围内的事务。香港居民享有的民主权利和自由比历史上任何时候都更为广泛。在经历了国际金融危机等冲击后，香港经济平稳发展，继续保持国际金融、贸易、航运中心的地位，一直被公认为全球最自由开放、最具竞争力的经济体和最具发展活力的地区之一。香港社会事业全面进步，就业水平持续提高，社会保障明显改善。香港同祖国内地的交流全方位扩展，经贸关系更加紧密，各领域合作不断深化。香港继续为国家改革开放和现代化建设作出独特贡献，并从祖国内地获得越来越多的发展机遇和源源不断的发展动力。香港同胞对国家、民族的认同和感情与日俱增，在各种严重灾难面前与祖国内地人民同舟共济、守望相助，充分体现出血浓于水的同胞亲情。香港对外交往更为活跃，国际影响进一步扩大。