Governors have lived for Hong Kong. One or two have literally died for Hong Kong. But all have found Hong Kong, in and out of office, an all-consuming interest. Retired to our grey and green island, past Governors have watched from afar with keen-eyed interest and, doubtless, occasional frustration as Hong Kong's history has unfolded. I shall do the same, carrying with me one frustration, gnawed by one anxiety, comforted by one certainty.
For me the frustration, the greatest in this job, is that I have not been able to put my personal view of Hong Kong's best interests to the test which legitimizes leadership in most free societies, the test of the ballot box. But Hong Kong has been promised that its government will develop so that that can happen one day, a day I hope I shall see and a day that I shall be delighted to put down to China's credit and to the credit of those in this territory who have stood up bravely for the people of Hong Kong.
My anxiety is this: not that this community's autonomy would be usurped by Peking, but that it could be given away bit by bit by some people in Hong Kong. We all know that over the last couple of years we have seen decisions, taken in good faith by the Government of Hong Kong, appealed surreptitiously to Peking - decisions taken in the interests of the whole community lobbied against behind closed doors by those whose personal interests may have been adversely affected. That is damaging to Hong Kong because it draws Chinese officials into matters which should fall squarely within the autonomy of Hong Kong. If we in Hong Kong want our autonomy, then it needs to be defended and asserted by everyone here - by businessmen, politicians, journalists, academics and other community leaders, as well as by public servants.
And what of that truth which more than anything else gives me confidence in Hong Kong? The truth is this. The qualities, the beliefs, the ideals that have made Hong Kong's present will still be here to shape Hong Kong's future.
Hong Kong, it seems to me, has always lived by the author, Jack London's credo:
"I would rather be ashes than dust, I would rather my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze,
Than it should be stifled in dry rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor,
With every atom of me in magnificent glow,
Than a sleepy and permanent planet."
Whatever the challenges ahead, nothing should bring this meteor crashing to earth, nothing should snuff out its glow. I hope that Hong Kong will take tomorrow by storm. And when it does, History will stand and cheer.
For me the frustration, the greatest in this job, is that I have not been able to put my personal view of Hong Kong's best interests to the test which legitimizes leadership in most free societies, the test of the ballot box. But Hong Kong has been promised that its government will develop so that that can happen one day, a day I hope I shall see and a day that I shall be delighted to put down to China's credit and to the credit of those in this territory who have stood up bravely for the people of Hong Kong.
My anxiety is this: not that this community's autonomy would be usurped by Peking, but that it could be given away bit by bit by some people in Hong Kong. We all know that over the last couple of years we have seen decisions, taken in good faith by the Government of Hong Kong, appealed surreptitiously to Peking - decisions taken in the interests of the whole community lobbied against behind closed doors by those whose personal interests may have been adversely affected. That is damaging to Hong Kong because it draws Chinese officials into matters which should fall squarely within the autonomy of Hong Kong. If we in Hong Kong want our autonomy, then it needs to be defended and asserted by everyone here - by businessmen, politicians, journalists, academics and other community leaders, as well as by public servants.
And what of that truth which more than anything else gives me confidence in Hong Kong? The truth is this. The qualities, the beliefs, the ideals that have made Hong Kong's present will still be here to shape Hong Kong's future.
Hong Kong, it seems to me, has always lived by the author, Jack London's credo:
"I would rather be ashes than dust, I would rather my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze,
Than it should be stifled in dry rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor,
With every atom of me in magnificent glow,
Than a sleepy and permanent planet."
Whatever the challenges ahead, nothing should bring this meteor crashing to earth, nothing should snuff out its glow. I hope that Hong Kong will take tomorrow by storm. And when it does, History will stand and cheer.
（譯文）
歷任總督無不為香港鞠躬盡瘁，其中一、兩位更名副其實，死而後已。歷任總督無論是在任期間還是離任之後，都對香港充滿熱忱。即使回到那灰濛濛的青葱島國後，還是滿心關切（雖然有時也會感到失望），遙遙關注香港的種種發展。我也不會例外，只是心裏存着一份遺憾、一點憂慮和一個使我感到安慰的事實。
對我來說，任內的一大憾事，是未能把我個人認為最能保障香港利益的構想，通過投票來加以證驗，而大多數自由社會的領導階層，都是經由投票確認的。不過，香港已獲得許諾，日後政體會不斷發展，終有一天能夠實現這個目標。但願我能有幸目睹這天來臨，屆時中國和那些敢於挺身為香港市民請命的人，都應各記一功
我感到憂慮的─我要盡力強調這點─我感到憂慮的，不是香港的自主權會被北京剝奪，而是這項權利會一點一滴地斷送在香港某些人手裏。大家都知道，我重複，大家都知道，過去幾年來，一直有人暗中上告北京，要求推翻一些由香港政府真心誠意作出的決定，也有人因為一己私利受損，而進行閉門游說，設法推翻一些符合社會整體利益的決定。這種做法會使中國官員介入明確屬香港自主範圍的事，因而貽害香港。假如香港人要保持自主，那麼每一個人，不論來自商界、政界、新聞界、學術界，或是其他社會領袖，以至公職人員，都必須群起捍衞自主、堅持自主。
最能使我對香港信心十足的事實又是甚麼呢？那便是港人的優良特質、信念和理想，不僅為香港奠下了今天的基業，而且必會繼續為香港開創美好明天。
在我看來，香港一直在生活中實踐作家傑克˙倫敦（Jack LONDON）的信條：
「寧化飛灰，不作浮塵。
寧投熊熊烈火，光盡而滅；
不伴寂寂朽木，默然同腐。
寧為耀目流星，迸發萬丈光芒；
不羨永恒星體，悠悠沉睡終古。」
前路不管有何挑戰，都不會，我重複，都不會使這顆流星飛墜，光華從此消逝。我深願香港能奮然而起，征服未來，那時候，歷史也必為之動容，起立喝采。
歷任總督無不為香港鞠躬盡瘁，其中一、兩位更名副其實，死而後已。歷任總督無論是在任期間還是離任之後，都對香港充滿熱忱。即使回到那灰濛濛的青葱島國後，還是滿心關切（雖然有時也會感到失望），遙遙關注香港的種種發展。我也不會例外，只是心裏存着一份遺憾、一點憂慮和一個使我感到安慰的事實。
對我來說，任內的一大憾事，是未能把我個人認為最能保障香港利益的構想，通過投票來加以證驗，而大多數自由社會的領導階層，都是經由投票確認的。不過，香港已獲得許諾，日後政體會不斷發展，終有一天能夠實現這個目標。但願我能有幸目睹這天來臨，屆時中國和那些敢於挺身為香港市民請命的人，都應各記一功
我感到憂慮的─我要盡力強調這點─我感到憂慮的，不是香港的自主權會被北京剝奪，而是這項權利會一點一滴地斷送在香港某些人手裏。大家都知道，我重複，大家都知道，過去幾年來，一直有人暗中上告北京，要求推翻一些由香港政府真心誠意作出的決定，也有人因為一己私利受損，而進行閉門游說，設法推翻一些符合社會整體利益的決定。這種做法會使中國官員介入明確屬香港自主範圍的事，因而貽害香港。假如香港人要保持自主，那麼每一個人，不論來自商界、政界、新聞界、學術界，或是其他社會領袖，以至公職人員，都必須群起捍衞自主、堅持自主。
最能使我對香港信心十足的事實又是甚麼呢？那便是港人的優良特質、信念和理想，不僅為香港奠下了今天的基業，而且必會繼續為香港開創美好明天。
在我看來，香港一直在生活中實踐作家傑克˙倫敦（Jack LONDON）的信條：
「寧化飛灰，不作浮塵。
寧投熊熊烈火，光盡而滅；
不伴寂寂朽木，默然同腐。
寧為耀目流星，迸發萬丈光芒；
不羨永恒星體，悠悠沉睡終古。」
前路不管有何挑戰，都不會，我重複，都不會使這顆流星飛墜，光華從此消逝。我深願香港能奮然而起，征服未來，那時候，歷史也必為之動容，起立喝采。
港英末代總督彭定康任內最後一份施政報告結語（1996年10月2日）
《Hong Kong : Transition》- Policy Address by the Governor Christopher Patten, 2 October 1996 (Ending)
