香港大學今年頒授名譽博士予五位對社會有貢獻人士，其中前律政司司長黃仁龍獲頒名譽法學博士。他在致辭時提到要威脅自由和核心價值的警鐘已經響起，呼籲所有人起來捍衞法治，又提到中港融合引入巨額金錢帶來腐敗，以及本土主義抬頭造成的排他和歧視會令香港沉沒等，以下為黃仁龍的英文致辭全文，以及由港大撰寫的中文版撮要：

（中文版撮要）黃仁龍博士談到香港人最近常掛在口邊的一個問題：「香港是否變了？」。他認為，「變」是不能改變的事實，但有三項堅持守護著改變，令香港人可以正面地、勇敢地擁抱轉變，它們是：與核心價值尤關的事情，務必要團結一致捍衛；非核心的事情，務必要包容、擁抱多元價值；最後是要懂得慷慨施予。

黃仁龍博士指出，最近前明報總編輯、港大校友劉進圖遇襲受傷事件，已在香港社會響起警號，香港人一些共同的價值，正受到衝擊。

他說：「警號已經響起，我們要認真的警覺，捍衛我們所珍惜的共同價值不要被動搖。

「當暴力可以凌駕法律所保障的權利，整個公民社會也受到打擊，我們必須團結一致，譴責這些行為。社會一定要強烈回應，堅守法治，不能讓罪犯逍遙法外。」

他說社會所珍重的核心價值，而當中最重要的法治，務必要人人不惜代價去捍衛，不容些微被剝奪和侵蝕，而法治的基石司法獨立，更是必須要小心維護和捍衛。

黃仁龍博士續說「自由包容」，他說聽到社會上的聲音，說香港的年輕人害怕競爭，尤其是外來的競爭對手。

他說：「他們逃避，擁抱保護主義，躲在"本土文化"、"香港人身分"種種說法的背後，這些概念固然有其重要意義，但卻被用作擋箭牌，作為他們拒絕競爭的藉口。他們放棄全球化的廣闊思維，流於狹隘的族群觀念。」

一切歧視偏見，由此而生，尤其是對種族、文化差異的偏見，像野草般蔓延。在有限資源的情況下，這種種的差異，誘發種種的不耐煩、彼此埋怨、排他，甚至衝突。」

黃仁龍博士認為，包容才有真正的自由，對非核心的事情社會應有包容，互相尊重。不論種族，文化，來自甚麼地方，或不同人不同的想法，語言的差異，行為取向的不同，都應該彼此尊重。個人能對非核心的事情包容，接受不同人與事，接受差異，便能突破舊有的框框，突破自我，是創造力的泉源，也是推動個人前進的動力。

最後，黃仁龍博士期望大家能慷慨施予，多為別人、為社會大眾付出。

「如人人能夠慷慨施予，雖則面對種種的轉變與困惑，香港仍將是一片充滿希望的地土。」他說。

（英文版全文）Mr.Pro-Chancellor,ChairmanofCouncil,Vice-Chancellor,DistinguishedGuests,LadiesandGentlemen,

OnbehalfofalltheHonoraryGraduands,mayIextendtotheUniversityoursinceregratitudeforconferringuponustheseexceptionalhonours,andtoProfessorWilkinsonforyourkindwordsofcitations.

"HasHongKongchanged?"Itisaquestionweoftenhearnowadays.Changescanbringprogress.Changescanalsomeandecline.Butchangesareinevitable.TheUniversityisthecradlefortheforcesofchange.Itistheplacewhereouryoungpeopledevelopthereadinessandresiliencetofacechanges.Changesareinevitablebecauseofdiversityinlife.HumanInterestsarediverse;humanopinionsevenmoreso.Differentinterestsandviewsdividepeopleratherthanunitingthem.Whatholdsasocietytogetherisahigherandtranscendingconsensusintheformofasharedsetofvalues,uponwhichtheoperationofsocietyisfastened.

Itsoundsalltoofamiliarandcliché.However,whenKevinLau,formereditorofMingPaoandfellowalumniofthisUniversitywasbrutallyattackedlastmonth,thecoreofthatsocietalconsensuswaswounded.Thebaselinefundamentalsarebeingshaken.Theshockwentbeyondthenaturalabhorrencetotheviolenceandcruelty.Thehorrendousacthasstirredupamuchgraverandwiderconcern:howcouldsuchdangersandthreatsstillexistinHongKongtodayterrorizingthosewhoarebutdedicatedtotheircalling?Thealarmbellisringingloud,culminatinginanequallyintensedeterminationtoensurethatnoneofourcherishedcommonvalueswillbeimpaired.AndasweseetheincreasingpolarizationofHongKong,withopposingcampsofdemonstratorsshoutingabusesateachotherandevendescendingintoscuffles,withmoreextremeandirrationalclashesamongdifferentgroupingsontheInternet,weknowthescopeofourhithertoprecariousconsensusisdwindlingfast.

Whatcanweholdontowhenchangescometooverwhelmusliketsunamis,orwhentheycometosoakusquietlylikeripples?Howdowetakechangespositivelyandcourageously,sothatwecanpickupthesurfboard,leavetheshore,andrideonthewavesofchanges?Onessentials,maywegoforintegrity;onnon-essentials,liberty,andonallthings,charity.

Onessentials,integrity

Thedeterminationbetweentheessentialandthenon-essentialisoftensubjective,controversialandevenphilosophical.However,theactivepursuitofthedemarcationbetweenthetwoisnecessaryforthewell-beingoftheindividualaswellasthecommunity.Becauseidentifyingandfortifyingsomethingasone'spersonalessentialcanhavefar-reachingconsequences,thetaskshouldbeundertakenwiththegreatestofcareandasacontinuousprocess.Taketheprotectionofrightsasanexample.Rightsarenotmeredesiresorneeds.EvenforrightsprotectedundertheBasicLawandtheBillofRights,somearemorefundamentalthanothers.AsheldbytheCourts,thedegreeofinviolabilitydiffersamongstthoserights,andthemarginofappreciationcanapplytosomebutnotothers.

"Corevalues"isperhapsoneofthemostcommonlyusedtermsthesedays."Corevalues"veryoftenareequatedwithacauseoranideology,andsometimeswithahostofrightsandfreedoms.Whatcanbeeasilyforgotten,however,isthis:Itisnotthecauseitself,butthepeoplewhoaresupposedtobenefitfromthiscause,thatisfarmoreimportant.Wedoneedpassionifwearetodoanythingwell.Yetpassionisbutthehorsepower;itcannotreplacetheengineitself.Theenginestillneedstoworkwithprecisionandaccuracy.Canthepeoplereallybenefitfromwhatweareadvocatingandfightingfor,orisitjustourownpassionbeingsatisfied,orourownbeliefbeingvindicated,orourownegobeingfeathered?

However,onceestablishedwithrigorousexaminationandfirmconviction,theessentialsmustbeguardedatallcosts.

First,wemustguardouressentialsagainstinvasion:whenKevinwasattacked,itwasnotjusttheelementarylawandorder,ortherighttolifeandsecurityoftheperson,thathavebeenviolated.Therighttothefreedomofopinionandofthepress,goingbeyondtheindividual'sinterests,hasbeensubjectedtointimidation.ToquotefromanancientEgyptianwordofwisdom,"Totakenonoticeofaviolentattackistostrengthentheheartoftheenemy.Vigourisvaliant,butcowardiceisvile."Whenviolencestrikestosubduelegitimaterights,itisstrikingattheveryfabricofourcivilsociety,andourcommunityhasrightlyrespondedwithunitedandstrongcondemnation.Thecommunitymustreactwiththestronghandsofthelaw:letnocriminalgounpunished.

We-andparticularlythosewhoareinthefrontlineexercisingthoserights-mustreactcourageously.Respondwiththeconfidencethateventheironknifewillbreakinthebarebutrighteoushandsjoinedtogether.Respondwithretributionbutnotrevenge,respondwithareneweddeterminationtoexerciseourrightsevenmoreresponsiblyandtoperformourdutiesevenmorediligently.Thisisbyfarthemoreeffectivewaytoprotectanyrightweadvocate,sothattheinherentvirtueoftherightorfreedombeingprotectedcanbeseen.Theconquestisnotbybattlealonebutmorebythedemonstrationoftrustworthycustodianship.Thathasoftenbeenoverlookedand,sadly,theexcessiveandabusiveuseofrightsbysometurnedouttobethemostdestructiveagentofthosecherishedrights.

Secondly,wemustguardtheessentialsagainstthemoresubtleerosion.Integrityisthevigilanceandresistanceagainstthegradualabrasion.Integrityisthemoralstrengthtoresisttemptations,toputtheessentialsaboveoneselfandone'sinterests.InthewisecounseloftheProverbs1:"Aboveallelse,guardyourheart,foritisthewellspringoflife."Don'tbecome,asC.S.Lewisdescribed,"menwithnochest",whoaredeficientinthemoralforcetoturnhisheadknowledgeofvirtuesintopracticalpowertoovercomehisanimalinstincts.

Theruleoflawisnotonlytheframework,buttheentireenvironment,inwhichbasicrightsandfreedomsaresafeguarded,andbywhichfairnessandjusticearebeingmaintained.Likethenaturalenvironment,itisvulnerabletoslowandgradualchanges.WehavetobeparticularlyvigilantinourunprecedentedconstitutionalorderofOneCountryTwoSystems,whereinterfacesbetweenthetwodifferentlegalsystemsbetweentheMainlandandHongKonghavegeneratednovelissueswithimmenselegalintricaciesandprofoundpoliticalimplications,andwherejudicialadjudicationofanyconstitutionaldebatesisrequiredtosimultaneouslysatisfyboththeBasicLawandthecommonlaw,aswellasthejusticeofthecase.TheheightenedvigilancetoprotecttheruleoflawisalsonecessitatedbytherapidintegrationbetweenHongKongandtheMainlandinthesocialandeconomicrealms.Temptationsaboundwithbigmoneysflowingin.Havingoverseenpublicprosecutionsfor7yearsandnowbackinprivatepracticeinthecommercialfield,Icantestifythatmoneycorruptsandalotofmoneycorruptsmassively.

Wewillbethebestguardiansoftheruleoflaw,theindisputableessential,whenpeoplelessfamiliarwithitcanseethatwewillnottradeitforanypersonalgainorconvenience.Thevalueswechampioncanbebestrealisedandkeptifweembracetheminoureverydaylife:showingrespectforthelaw,insistingonfairplay,stickingtohonesty,andbeinghonourableinthefieldsofbusiness,vocation,competition,andotherformsofhumaninteractions.Therealchallengeisnotsomuchdenouncingtheplainandmonstrousevil.Therealworryliesinourpropensitytopermitthelesserevilstoslipingradually.Thelawisnotobservedmerelyasformalitybutsubstance.Theruleoflawistrulyobservedwhenweourselvesarenotbeingobserved.

Furthermore,cherishandguardourjudicialindependence.Thatisthebedrock.Whilenoindividualjudgesareinfallibleandthehighqualityofthejudiciarymustbemaintained,thepublicmustrespectthejudiciaryasaninstitutionandasthegatekeeperoftheruleoflaw.Judicialdecisionsmaynotalwaysbepopularorpoliticallycorrect.Itwillbeaverysaddayiftheyare.AstheChiefJusticesaidattheOpeningoftheLegalYear,althoughdisputesbetweenthepartiesbeforetheCourtmayhavepolitical,economicorsocialconsequences,suchasthosecasesinvolvingmattersofgovernmentpolicy,atalltimesthecourtslookonlytothelegalissuesthatdividetheparties.

Onnon-essentials:Liberty

Nowontonon-essentials,quitetheopposite.Forapplyingthesamehard-edgedregimentonon-essentialsmakesoneobstructive,destructiveandanunnecessarystumblingblocktothefosteringofanymeaningfulconsensus,agreementorcooperation.

Reluctancetochangewithtimes,duetoinsecurity,ignorance,idiosyncrasies,orsheeridlenessleadstostagnation.ForaneconomylikeHongKong,grandeurordeclinedependsonhowresilientandadaptableweare.HongKongcannotaffordtobeinwardlookingorself-complacent.Libertyonnon-essentialsallowsustorespect,evenifwecannotembrace,peoplewhoaredifferent,peopleofdifferentraces,culturesorplacesoforigin,peoplewhothinkdifferently,speakdifferentlyorbehavedifferently.Ihaveheardlamentationsthatsomeofouryoungpeopletodayshuncompetition,particularlycompetitioncomingfromoutsideofHongKong.Theyresorttodifferentformsofprotectionismorescapism,andcamouflagethembygrandfacade.The"indigenousculture"and"theHongKongidentity",whichareofcoursepreciousinthemselves,areunfortunatelydeployedasaconvenientexitfromtheracethatmustberun.Insteadofseeking"globalization",somehaveretiredinto"tribalization".Onthistypeofsoil,prejudiceanddiscrimination,particularlyonaccountofrace,cultureorbackground,springuplikeweeds.Legitimatedifferences,fannedbysomeunfortunatescrambleforlimitedresources,escalateintocausesforintolerance,blame,repulsion,andevenopenconflicts.ThatwillcertainlybringHongKongdown.Libertyonnon-essentialsalsobreakstheinertiatochangeswithinoneself.Itisthelifelinetocreativity.Itpreparesthemindtobestimulateduponencounteringdifferencesandchanges.Itsetsthemindfreetodepartfromtheoldandconformistways.Itistheenergyinthenewwavesthatworkspowerfullywithintheperson.

Onallthings:Charity

Finally,whatunderpinsintegrity?Whatrefinesthemoralsteel?Whatsummonscourage?Whatmotivesthepursuitofgoodnessaboveselfinterests?Conversely,whatbreedsviolence?Whatspawnshatred?Whatbringsaboutdiscrimination?Whatgivesbirthtocowardice?Whatresultsincompromise?Ismyhomeacastleorisitarefuge?Aremypossessionspersonaltakingsoraccessibleresources?AmI"theoneandonly"oramIjust"oneofthemany"?Somuchdependsontheattitudeoftheindividualsandthecultureofthecommunitytheybuild:keentograbordaretogive.

Looktothemovies(thegoodonesImean):therearecertainuniversaloreternalthemesorendingsthatbringcomfort,warmthandaverysatisfyingsenseofwellness.Why?Becausetheyareinlinewithwhatthehumansoullongsandaspiresfor.Thesesoothingthingsneednotbeconfinedtoproductionsofthe"DreamFactory".Dreamscangiverisetolong-termgoalsandshort-termobjectives.Therearestillmany"realpeopleandrealthings"inHongKongthattouchourhearts:"MingGor"whorunsthe"CanteenforthePoor"inShamshuipo;thelateDr.ChungChi-yungofShueYanUniversitywhogaveupherallforthegroomingoftheyoung;andmanymorearoundyouandme,whohavegoneunnoticed.

Manyofthe"realthings"wedonotsee,andthereforeweplaynopartinthem,becausewearealltoobusywithourlives,ourbusiness,ourcareer,ourfamily,ourchildren,andourownpursuitofexcellenceofonekindoranother.Ontopofthepursuitofexcellence,perhapsweshouldemphasizemorethepursuitofthepurposeofattainingexcellence.Inthisraceoflife,iftheultimateprizecannotbeshared,itisoflimitedvalue.Ifthecrowndoesnotcomewiththecallingtoserve,itisbutacorruptibleone.

Amidstthechangesanduncertainties,ifweadornallthingswithcharity,thereisstilltremendoushopeforHongKong.
（全文完）