近日，在一场庆祝澳门回归20周年的公开活动中，一位曾在香港生活多年的英国金融界元老仗义执言，反对外部干涉、呼吁止暴制乱，让在座中外宾客无不动容。
这位当场向港人发出“灵魂三连问”的英国老人，就是英国恒安标准人寿保险董事长格雷姆斯通爵士（Sir Gerry Grimstone）。
这位生于1949年的老爷子业界地位显赫，曾任英国巴克莱银行（Barclays Bank）董事长，还是德勤会计事务所（Deloitte）的独董。
他与中国缘分匪浅，中文名字叫秦智涛，经常往来于两国之间，活跃于中英、中欧经贸合作领域。
16日，老爷子在中国驻英大使馆庆祝澳门回归20周年招待会上致辞，开场寒暄完，便话锋一转：
“Even though this evening is about Macao, because of Macao’s closeness geographically and emotionally to Hong Kong, I thought it would not be inappropriate to make a few remarks about Hong Kong.”
“虽然今天晚上主题是围绕澳门的，但因为澳门在地理上、情感上与香港相近，所以我觉得说几句有关香港的话也不失妥当。”
摄影：中国日报 张陨璧
他回忆到自己1997年曾出席见证了香港回归的仪式，并指出“一国两制”是“真正富有想象力的构想”（a truly imaginative concept）。
接下来，他说了句大实话：
“Hopes were high and the opportunities available to Hong Kong and Macao were profound. They had the benefits of their two Systems. They could continue with the many aspects that make Hong Kong and Macao such special places but they were also part of the great nation that is China.”
“人们对香港、澳门寄予厚望，两地有着巨大的机遇，享受着‘两制’带来的好处。香港和澳门可以继续享有这些特殊之处，但它们也同为中国这个伟大国家的一部分。”
“The future looked bright. Unfortunately, as far as Hong Kong is concerned, that may no longer be the case.”
“它们原本前景一片光明。可惜，对香港来说，情况可能不再如此。”
回望过去六个月，老爷子厉声说道：
“The social problems that Hong Kong has faced over the last six months are destroying the credibility of Hong Kong.”
“香港在过去半年所面对的社会问题，正在摧毁香港的信誉。”
他说：
“I find it very sad that some people in Hong Kong do not seem to realise the consequences of what is now happening and that some external people do not understand that their interventions are only making matters worse.”
“我感到非常难过的是，香港有些人似乎没有意识到现在发生的这些事有什么后果，一些外界人士也不明白他们的干预只会让情况变得更糟。”
针对营商环境，老爷子发出的“灵魂第一问”是：
“Instead of international firms seeing Hong Kong as the gateway to Chinese mainland, they are wondering if some in Hong Kong are trying to close the door.”
“跨国公司以往将香港视为通往中国内地的门户，而今他们想知道，香港的某些人是否要关上（开放的）大门？”
针对港人心态，老爷子发出的“灵魂第二问”是：
“Hong Kong people should ask themselves the question ‘what is Hong Kong without China?’”
“香港人应该扪心自问：没有中国，香港是什么？”
谈到粤港澳大湾区，秦智涛对澳门大加赞赏：
“The changes that are happening in the Greater Bay Area are profound and I see Macao taking full advantage of them.”
大湾区正在发生深刻的变化，而我看到澳门充分发掘利用了这些变化。
说起大湾区，他如数家珍：你现在坐火车从香港到深圳，只需20分钟；你可以在30分钟内开车到珠海，然后再到澳门……
转回香港，他语重心长地慨叹：
“Hong Kong should be relishing the opportunities that this gives them.”
“香港应该好好享受这（大湾区）给他们带来的机会。”
对于暴徒的乱港行径，老爷子旗帜鲜明：
“Violence, as we have seen in Hong Kong, as a means to an end, is utterly unacceptable.”
暴力，正如我们在香港看到的，作为达到目的的手段是完全不能接受的！
针对乱港暴徒，老爷子发出的“灵魂第三问”是：
“How would British police respond if petrol bombs were thrown at them?”
“如果有人向英国警方投掷汽油弹，他们会作何反应？”
答案他也给出来了：“他们不可能也绝不会容忍！”（They could and would not tolerate it.）
老爷子是明眼人，不点名批评了香港有些人对于“法治”光说不练的“假把式”和“挂羊头卖狗肉”：
“The rule of law is a cherished matter. Hong Kong’s prosperity depends on Hong Kong people not just recognising this but embracing it whole heartedly.”
“法治是需要悉心呵护的。香港的繁荣不仅仅有赖于香港人嘴上承认法治，而且也需要全心全意拥护法治。”
这意思很明确了：别光挂在嘴上，要行动！
谈到英国企业与香港，老爷子说，我们正再一次将目光投向全球，这里的商界人士希望分享香港与澳门的繁荣。
“I say again, that is impossible without Hong Kong being part of the China Miracle. That is the basis on which British and other international firms have invested there.”
“我再说一遍，香港一定是‘中国奇迹’的一部分。这是英国和其它国际公司在那里投资的基础。”
“So I hope and pray that normal life will return to Hong Kong and that, as in Macao, people can again go about their daily lives again without fear and worry.”
“因此，我希望并祈祷香港的正常生活能够恢复，也希望人们可以像在澳门一样重新开始他们的日常生活，而不会感到恐惧和担忧。”
“As we sit back to enjoy this wonderful evening, let’s trust that Macao and Hong Kong side by side continue to prosper from One Country Two Systems and take full advantage of the opportunities that this givesthem.”
“当我们坐享这个美好的夜晚时，让我们相信，澳门和香港将继续依靠‘一国两制’繁荣发展，并充分利用‘一国两制’给他们带来的机遇。”
演讲完毕，台下掌声雷动。
中国驻英国大使刘晓明在招待会上说得好：
“我们希望澳门作为捍卫不干涉内政原则的明灯，照亮香港前进的道路，让各界看清外来干涉的危害性，共同反对和抵制外来干涉。”
衷心希望香港能早日恢复和澳门一样的安宁。
记者：张陨璧
中国日报欧洲分社出品
栏目主编：顾万全 文字编辑：宋彦霖 题图来源：视觉中国 图片编辑：苏唯