实际上，五十年只是一个形象的讲法，五十年后也不会变。
Such being the case, how can we change our policy towards Hong Kong?
As a matter of fact, 50 years is only a vivid way of putting it.Even after 50 years our policy will not change either.
前五十年是不能变，五十年之后是不需要变。
That is, for the first 50 years it cannot be changed, and for the second there will be no need to change it.
在过渡时期要稳定，中国恢复行使主权以后，香港人执政，香港也应该稳定。
It must be maintained not only during the transition period but also afterwards, when the people of Hong Kong are administering the region after China resumes its exercise of sovereignty.
我说过，现在香港的政治制度就不是实行英国的制度、美国的制度，今后也不能照搬西方的一套。
As I have said, at present Hong Kong has a political system that is different from the ones in Britain and the United States, and it will not copy any Western system in future either.
要吸收国际的经验
WE SHOULD DRAW ON THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES
我们是在一个贫穷的大国里进行改革的，这在世界上没有先例。
We are carrying out reform in a vast, poor country, and there is no precedent for this anywhere in the world.
我们搞建设有三十九年，有成功的经验，也有失败的教训。
During the past 39 years of economic development, we have learned from both our successes and our failures.
中国要谋求发展，摆脱贫穷和落后，就必须开放。
To develop its economy and shake off poverty and backwardness, China must open to the outside world.
开放不仅是发展国际间的交往，而且要吸收国际的经验。
By opening up, we mean not only making more contacts with other countries but also drawing on their experience.
我们从一九五七年以后，耽误了二十年，而这二十年又是世界蓬勃发展的时期，这是非常可惜的。
Unfortunately, we wasted 20 years after 1957, while during those two decades the world developed rapidly.
但另一方面也有一点好处，二十年的经验尤其是“文化大革命”的教训告诉我们，不改革不行，不制定新的政治的、经济的、社会的政策不行。
On the other hand, this was useful to us in a way.
The experience gained during those 20 years -- particularly the lessons of the ``cultural revolution'' -- taught us that we could not proceed unless we carried out reform and formulated new political, economic and social policies.
十一届三中全会制定了这样的一系列方针政策，走上了新的道路。
Accordingly, at the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the CPC, we formulated a series of principles and policies and thus took a new path.
这些政策概括起来，就是改革和开放。
These policies can be summarized as reform and opening up.
改革和开放是手段，目标是分三步走发展我们的经济。
Reform and opening up are the means by which we shall develop our economy in three stages.
第一步是达到温饱水平，已经提前实现了。
The goal of the first stage is to ensure that the people have adequate food and clothing, and this has been accomplished ahead of time.
第二步是在本世纪末达到小康水平，还有十二年时间，看来可以实现。
The goal of the second stage is to enable the people to live a relatively comfortable life by the end of this century.
There are still twelve years left, and it seems that we shall be able to reach that goal.
第三步是下个世纪再花五十年时间，达到中等发达国家水平，这是很不容易的。
And the goal of the third stage is to reach the level of moderately developed countries by the middle of the next century.
That goal will be hard to achieve.
关键是本世纪内的最后十年，要为下个世纪前五十年的发展打下基础，创造比较好的条件和环境。
The last decade of this century will be crucial for laying a foundation and creating good conditions for economic development in the first half of the next.
改革没有万无一失的方案，问题是要搞得比较稳妥一些，选择的方式和时机要恰当。
There is no perfect programme for reform.
The important thing is to act prudently, apply proper methods and choose the right timing.
不犯错误不可能，要争取犯得小一点，遇到问题就及时调整。
It is impossible not to make mistakes, but we should try to avoid serious ones and modify the programme if problems arise.
同时，我们要把工作的基点放在出现较大的风险上，准备好对策。
At the same time, we should base our work on the possible emergence of serious problems and prepare for them.
这样，即使出现了大的风险，天也不会塌下来。
In this way, even if the worst should happen, the sky will not fall.
为什么说五十年不变？
Why 50 years?
There is a reason for that.
Not only do we need to reassure the people of Hong Kong, but we also have to take into consideration the close relation between the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the strategy for the development of China.
这是有根据的，不只是为了安定香港的人心，而是考虑到香港的繁荣和稳定同中国的发展战略有着密切的关联。
Why 50 years?
There is a reason for that.
Not only do we need to reassure the people of Hong Kong, but we also have to take into consideration the close relation between the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the strategy for the development of China.