IntroductionTwentyfiveyearsagoIcametoHongKongasastudent
Theyearwas1985
DengXiaopingandMargaretThatcherhadrecentlysignedthehistoricJointDeclaration
TheremarkablestoryofthesuccessfulhandoverofHongKongandthegreatprogressHongKonghascontinuedtomakeisanexampletotheworldofwhatcanbeachievedwhentwocountriescooperateinconfidenceandwithmutualrespect
Sincethen,Chinahaschangedalmostbeyondrecognition
China’sNationalAnthemfamouslycallsonthepeopleofChinatostandupQilaiqilai(standup,standup)TodaytheChinesepeoplearenotjuststandingupintheirowncountrytheyarestandingupintheworld
Nolongercanpeopletalkabouttheglobaleconomywithoutincludingthecountrythathasgrownonaveragetenpercentayearforthreedecades
Nolongercanwetalkabouttrade…withoutthecountrythatisnowtheworld’slargestexporterandthirdlargestimporterAndnolongercan