香港自古以来就是中国的领土，一八四零年鸦片战争以后被英国占领。
Hong Kong has been part of the territory of China since ancient times; it was occupied by Britain after the Opium War in 1840.
一九八四年十二月十九日，中英两国政府签署了关于香港问题的联合声明，确认中华人民共和国政府于一九九七年七月一日恢复对香港行使主权，从而实现了长期以来中国人民收回香港的共同愿望。
On 19 December 1984, the Chinese and British Governments signed the Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong, affirming that the Government of the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong with effect from 1 July 1997, thus fulfilling the long-cherished common aspiration of the Chinese people for the recovery of Hong Kong.
为了维护国家的统一和领土完整，保持香港的繁荣和稳定，并考虑到香港的历史和现实情况，国家决定，在对香港恢复行使主权时，根据中华人民共和国宪法第三十一条的规定，设立香港特别行政区，并按照“一个国家，两种制度”的方针，不在香港实行社会主义的制度和政策。
Upholding national unity and territorial integrity, maintaining the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and taking account of its history and realities, the People's Republic of China has decided that upon China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be established in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, and that under the principle of "one country, two systems," the socialist system and policies will not be practised in Hong Kong.
The basic policies of the People's Republic of China regarding Hong Kong have been elaborated by the Chinese Government in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
国家对香港的基本方针政策，已由中国政府在中英联合声明中予以阐明。
Upholding national unity and territorial integrity, maintaining the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and taking account of its history and realities, the People's Republic of China has decided that upon China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be established in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, and that under the principle of "one country, two systems," the socialist system and policies will not be practised in Hong Kong.
The basic policies of the People's Republic of China regarding Hong Kong have been elaborated by the Chinese Government in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
根据中华人民共和国宪法，全国人民代表大会特制定中华人民共和国香港特别行政区基本法，规定香港特别行政区实行的制度，以保障国家对香港的基本方针政策的实施。
In accordance with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the National People's Congress hereby enacts the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, prescribing the systems to be practised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in order to ensure the implementation of the basic policies of the People's Republic of China regarding Hong Kong.
第一条 香港特别行政区是中华人民共和国不可分离的部分。
Article 1 The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the people's Republic of China.
第二条 全国人民代表大会授权香港特别行政区依照本法的规定实行高度自治，享有行政管理权、立法权、独立的司法权和终审权。
Article 2 The National People's Congress authorizes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to exercise a high degree of autonomy and enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
第三条 香港特别行政区的行政机关和立法机关由香港永久性居民依照本法有关规定组成。
Article 3 The executive authorities and legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be composed of permanent residents of Hong Kong in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Law.
第四条 香港特别行政区依法保障香港特别行政区居民和其他人的权利和自由。
Article 4 The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall safeguard the rights and freedoms of the residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and of other persons in the Region in accordance with law.
第五条 香港特别行政区不实行社会主义制度和政策，保持原有的资本主义制度和生活方式，五十年不变。
Article 5 The socialist system and policies shall not be practised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years.
第六条 香港特别行政区依法保护私有财产权。
Article 6 The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall protect the right of private ownership of property in accordance with law.
第七条 香港特别行政区境内的土地和自然资源属于国家所有，由香港特别行政区政府负责管理、使用、开发、出租或批给个人、法人或团体使用或开发，其收入全归香港特别行政区政府支配。
Article 7 The land and natural resources within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be State property.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be responsible for their management, use and development and for their lease or grant to individuals, legal persons or organizations for use or development.
The revenues derived therefrom shall be exclusively at the disposal of the government of the Region.
第八条 香港原有法律，即普通法、衡平法、条例、附属立法和习惯法，除同本法相抵触或经香港特别行政区的立法机关作出修改者外，予以保留。
Article 8 The laws previously in force in Hong Kong, that is, the common law, rules of equity, ordinances, subordinate legislation and customary law shall be maintained, except for any that contravene this Law, and subject to any amendment by the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
第九条 香港特别行政区的行政机关、立法机关和司法机关，除使用中文外，还可使用英文，英文也是正式语文。
Article 9 In addition to the Chinese language, English may also be used as an official language by the executive authorities, legislature and judiciary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
第十条 香港特别行政区除悬挂中华人民共和国国旗和国徽外，还可使用香港特别行政区区旗和区徽。
Article 10 Apart from displaying the national flag and national emblem of the People's Republic of China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may also use a regional flag and regional emblem.
香港特别行政区的区旗是五星花蕊的紫荆花红旗。
The regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a red flag with a bauhinia highlighted by five star-tipped stamens.
香港特别行政区的区徽，中间是五星花蕊的紫荆花，周围写有“中华人民共和国香港特别行政区”和英文“香港”。
The regional emblem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a bauhinia in the centre highlighted by five star-tipped stamens and encircled by the words "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" in Chinese and "HONG KONG" in English.
第十一条 根据中华人民共和国宪法第三十一条，香港特别行政区的制度和政策，包括社会、经济制度，有关保障居民的基本权利和自由的制度，行政管理、立法和司法方面的制度，以及有关政策，均以本法的规定为依据。
Article 11 In accordance with Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the systems and policies practised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, including the social and economic systems, the system for safeguarding the fundamental rights and freedoms of its residents, the executive, legislative and judicial systems, and the relevant policies, shall be based on the provisions of this Law.
香港特别行政区立法机关制定的任何法律，均不得同本法相抵触。
No law enacted by the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall contravene this Law.
第二章 中央和香港特别行政区的关系
Chapter II Relationship Between the Central Authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
第十二条 香港特别行政区是中华人民共和国的一个享有高度自治权的地方行政区域，直辖于中央人民政府。
Article 12 The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be a local administrative region of the People's Republic of China, which shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central People's Government.
第十三条 中央人民政府负责管理与香港特别行政区有关的外交事务。
Article 13 The Central People's Government shall be responsible for the foreign affairs relating to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
中华人民共和国外交部在香港设立机构处理外交事务。
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China shall establish an office in Hong Kong to deal with foreign affairs.
中央人民政府授权香港特别行政区依照本法自行处理有关的对外事务。
The Central People's Government authorizes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to conduct relevant external affairs on its own in accordance with this Law.