尊敬的来宾们，

　　女士们、先生们：

　　今天，澳大利亚各界在此隆重集会，纪念华人来澳200周年。

　　联邦总理、联邦反对党领袖以及各州州长都分别为纪念大会发来了贺信，以“全家福”的方式体现了“全澳一家亲”；在大会举办地悉尼，新南威尔士州上议院议长、州长代表、州反对党领袖和其他政要，以及来自我们祖籍国中国驻澳使领馆的官员们亲自出席本次大会；澳大利亚学界的精英、以及来自澳大利亚其它地区的朋友们，也齐聚一堂。

　　今天，在这里，我们看到了一个团结的澳大利亚、一个友爱的澳大利亚、一个昂扬向上的澳大利亚！我们不分种族、不分肤色、不分信仰、不分政治派别，在此共同缅怀澳大利亚伟大而艰辛的历史，共同展望澳大利亚美好而灿烂的明天！

　　200年前的1818年，来自广东的麦世英在杰克逊港下船，成为有记载的最早一批来澳华人移民之一。自此，华人成为澳大利亚最早的建设者之一，与原住民和谐相处，与来自世界各地的其他族裔共同努力，为建设一个繁荣、富足、和谐的澳大利亚做出了巨大的贡献。在2016年的人口统计中，华裔澳大利亚人已超过120万,占人口总数超过5%。

　　更为难能可贵的是，在早期的华人开拓者中，也涌现出了像梅光达那样的华人领袖，不仅在推动华人社区建设、推进澳中两国关系发展方面发挥了重要的作用，也成为澳大利亚主流社会的各项事业进步的重要推动者之一，赢得了澳洲各族裔民众的共同爱戴。

　　今天，麦世英家族与梅光达家族的后人，也与我们共聚一堂，共同缅怀先辈们的功绩与荣光。

　　尽管华人勤奋刻苦、天性温和，却依然与其他非欧裔族群一起，遭遇过“白澳政策”的迫害，这成为澳大利亚伟大历史上不可忽视的污点。即便在“白澳政策”的阴影下，所剩不多的华人，依然为澳大利亚做出了巨大的贡献乃至牺牲。比如，在艰苦卓绝的反法西斯战争中，华人与其他族裔的澳洲同胞一道，抛头颅、洒热血，为捍卫澳大利亚奉献了自己的一切。

　　1975 年《反种族歧视法》正式实施，宣示所有澳大利亚人，不论其肤色种族一律平等，享有同样的基本权利与机会，宣告“白澳政策”终结。时任总理惠特拉姆认为“这是一部历史性的重要法律，它将提升我们国家的尊严，以信赖、同心同德将民族大家庭团结起来”。这部伟大的法律与宪法一道，成为当代澳大利亚的立国之本。

　　《反种族歧视法》实施40多年来，在包括华人在内的各族裔的共同努力下，澳大利亚成为世界上推行多元文化、实现族群和谐最为成功的典范，这显示了澳大利亚伟大的包容性，值得我们所有人为此自豪。

　　热爱澳大利亚，同时珍惜与祖籍国的情感，是澳大利亚各个族裔共享的美好情感，是打造多元文化、建设共同家园的根基，华人当然也不例外。200年来，澳洲华人大力弘扬中华优秀文化、优良传统和伟大品格，赢得了其他族裔的认可与尊重，令中华基因成为澳大利亚最可珍惜的精神财富之一。

　　本月初，《纽约时报》发表文章，回顾华人来澳的历史，标题就是《200年后，澳大利亚华人仍在证明他们属于这里》。是的，华人来澳200年，是坚忍奉献的200年，是奋斗开拓的200年，是积极融入的200年，是团结协作的200年。

　　200年的历史，令我们有充分的理由对澳洲华人的未来充满信心！对澳大利亚这个美好家园的未来充满信心！！

　　谢谢。

Keynote Speech on Gala Night in Commemoration of
the 200th Anniversary of Chinese Migration to Australia 　

Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, friends from all over Australia gather here to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Chinese migration to Australia.

The Prime Minister, Federal opposition leader, premiers and chief ministers of every state and territory have sent their congratulatory messages to this gala to demonstrate their unanimous support. The President of the Legislative Council, Representative of the premier, opposition leader and other politicians of New South Wales and officials from the Chinese embassy and consulate generals have joined us in Sydney. We also have leading academics and other friends from all over Australia gathering here to celebrate this special occasion.

Today, in this theatre, we see a united, friendly and progressive Australia. Regardless of race, skin colours, faith or political beliefs, we are here to commemorate the greatness and hardship in Australian history and look forward to a bright future for Australia as a nation.

200 years ago, in 1818, Mr Mak Sai Ying from Guangdong landed at Port Jackson here in Sydney and became the first known documented Chinese migrant to Australia. Since then, Chinese people became one of the first developers of Australia and lived in harmony with the indigenous people of Australia. Chinese migrants worked with other ethnicities and contributed immensely in building a prosperous, affluent and harmonious Australia. By the 2016 Census, more than 1.2 million Australians had Chinese ancestry, which is more than 5% of the total population.

Very importantly, among the early Chinese migrants, we had leaders like Mr Mei Quong Tart, who promoted the development of Chinese communities and played an important role in building relations between Australia and China. He also made a significant impact on the social and political scene of mainstream society, which earned him wide support from various ethnicities in Australia.

Today, we are honoured to have the descendants of both Mr Mak Sai Ying and Mr Mei Quong Tart with us to commemorate the contribution and glory of our forefathers.

Although the early Chinese migrants were hard working and moderate in nature, they suffered under the “White Australia” policy with other non-European ethnicities and this became a significant taint on the great history of Australia. Even under the shadow of “White Australia” policy, the remaining Chinese migrants still contributed immensely and even sacrificed their lives for this country. For example, in the brutal war against fascism, Chinese migrants fought alongside other ethnicities of Australia and defended Australia with their blood and lives.

The implementation of the Racial Discrimination Act in 1975 declared that all Australians have the same rights and opportunities regardless of their skin colour or ethnicity and spelt the end of the “White Australia” policy. Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam said at the time that “this is a historic and important measure. It will further enhance our country’s reputation and, bring the ‘family of the nation’ closer together in trust and comradeship.”This Act joined the Constitution in becoming the foundation of what makes Australia a great, modern nation.

More than four decades after the implementation of the Racial Discrimination Act, all ethnicities, including Chinese Australians, have worked together in making Australia the most successful model of multiculturalism and racial harmony. This reflects the tolerance of Australian society and it is something we should all be very proud of.

We love this great nation, at the same time we cherish our bonds with our country of origin; this is a natural feeling shared by all ethnicities across Australia, including Chinese Australians and is part of multiculturalism in our common homeland. For 200 years, Chinese Australians promoted the brilliant culture, tradition and character of China and won recognition and respect from other ethnicities. Chinese culture has become one of the most cherished spiritual heritages of Australia.

Earlier this month, an article appeared in The New York Times looking back at the history of Chinese migrants in Australia, titled: ‘200 Years On, Chinese Australians Are Still Proving They Belong’. Yes, Chinese migrants have been in Australia for 200 years – two centuries of perseverance, contribution, struggles, pioneers, integration, unity and working together.

200 years of history provides ample reasons to make us extremely confident about the future of Chinese Australians and the future of Australia more broadly, our beautiful common homeland.

Thank you.