信的第一段说:“接受筹委会委任之初,阁下与本人均同意行政局与筹委会两职一旦扞格不入,自当请辞;尊意认为本人应卸任之时,亦必即刻照办。本人亦说明,倘若行政局其他议员指本人离任之日已到,不惜当机立辞。如今则自知辞职一事,此其时也。”第二段先说身负两责,利益殊难相容("There was always a conflict of interest in my two different duties")。接里九九藏书说:“本人一度希望在行政局多留一段时日,藉此关键时期,继续提出不同意见,以供斟酌。但是,事到如今,本人深知留守此职,实已毫无可为之处矣("But I had hoped that by staying on the Executive Council longer, I could continue to be an alternate voice during this cruc九九藏书ial period. However, at this stage, I do not believe I can serve any further purpose by staying on")”。这番话正是全信点睛之笔。董建华阅历不浅,世故甚深,本来不太可能动气,也不太可能流露激情。“关键时期”、“不同意见”、“毫无可为”等等,跟董先生温文的风度不甚相称,确有略失分寸之嫌。辞职信最后九九藏书说他的结论是必须立刻离职;还说他在任三年半,期间深切洞悉香港眼前所有问题之错综複杂("During those years, I have learned enormously about the complexity of all the issues facing Hong Kong")。收尾一句说他出任行政局议员,殊感荣幸。