There has been much coverage of the latest round of activity by students and government responses around the current situation in Hong Kong. While many governments, including that of the United States, will likely react in their own ways to the final resolution of the Hong Kong situation (e.g., U.S.--"What the US Is and Isn't Doing About Hong Kong"; H.R.3289 - Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019), it might be useful at this point to read carefully the statements of the core of the current Chinese leadership collective.
To that end I have provided below习近平：止暴制乱 恢复秩序是香港当前最紧迫的任务 [Xi Jinping: Stopping the storm and restoring order is Hong Kong's most urgent task at present] made available by Chinese state media organs on 14 November 2019. It is worth a careful read. Provided below is the official English and Chinese versions, along with a slightly different English translation of the original. Note as well the Chinese two thrust narrative strategy--first in controlling the interpretation and implications of action in Hong Kong, and second developing further the foreigner intervention rhetoric that has been evolving since June 2019. None of this is new but might be usefully read in light of changing conditions on the ground.
习近平：止暴制乱 恢复秩序是香港当前最紧迫的任务
新华社巴西利亚11月14日电 当地时间11月14日，国家主席习近平在巴西利亚出席金砖国家领导人第十一次会晤时，就当前香港局势表明中国政府严正立场。
习近平指出，香港持续发生的激进暴力犯罪行为，严重践踏法治和社会秩序，严重破坏香港繁荣稳定，严重挑战“一国两制”原则底线。止暴制乱、恢复秩序是香港当前最紧迫的任务。我们将继续坚定支持行政长官带领香港特别行政区政府依法施政，坚定支持香港警方严正执法，坚定支持香港司法机构依法惩治暴力犯罪分子。中国政府维护国家主权、安全、发展利益的决心坚定不移，贯彻“一国两制”方针的决心坚定不移，反对任何外部势力干涉香港事务的决心坚定不移。
The official English translation, made available today 18 November by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, follows. The difficulty with the official translation is the way that it flattens out some of the language as it appears in the original Chinese--and thus, to some extent, also flattens the meaning and message meant to be conveyed in the original to Chinese speaking populations.
Xi Jinping: The Most Urgent Task for Hong Kong at Present Is to End Violence and Chaos and Restore Order
2019/11/18
On
November 14, 2019 local time, President Xi Jinping made clear the
Chinese government's solemn position on the current situation in Hong
Kong when attending the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia, Brazil.
Xi Jinping noted, the continuous radical,
violent and criminal activities in Hong Kong have severely trampled on
the rule of law and social order, severely undermined Hong Kong's
stability and prosperity, and challenged the bottom line of "one
country, two systems" policy. The most urgent task for Hong Kong at
present is to end violence and chaos and restore order.
We will continue to firmly support Chief Executive in governing Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with law, and support
the Hong Kong police in strictly enforcing law, and support the Hong
Kong judicial organs in bringing violent criminals to justice according
to law. The Chinese government is determined to safeguard national
sovereignty, security and development interests, implement the "one
country, two systems" policy, and opposes any foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs.
Here is a slightly different version; notice the difference:
Xi Jinping: Stopping the storm and restoring order is Hong Kong's most urgent task at present.
Xinhua News Agency, Brasilia, November 14th Local time on November 14, when President Xi Jinping attended the eleventh meeting of the BRICS leaders in Brasilia, the current situation in Hong Kong shows the Chinese government's solemn position.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the persistent violent criminal acts in Hong Kong have seriously trampled on the rule of law and social order, seriously undermined Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and seriously challenged the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle. Stopping the storm and restoring order is Hong Kong's most urgent task at present. We will continue to firmly support the Chief Executive to lead the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with the law, firmly support the Hong Kong Police in law enforcement, and firmly support the Hong Kong Judiciary in punishing violent criminals. The determination of the Chinese government to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests is unshakable. The determination to implement the "one country, two systems" principle is unwavering, and the determination to oppose any outside forces' interference in Hong Kong affairs is unwavering.
No comments:
Post a Comment