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achieving an even higher standard of living than at present.
It is difficult to imagine the situation arising where
the Hong Kong textile and garment industry ceases to be
the leading activity here. On the other hand I doubt
if the construction industry will ever return to the boom
conditions of the early 1960's. No doubt many new
industries will arise fostered by the quick reactions
and drive of Hong Kong's businessmen and industrialists.
I think that the shortage of labour combined with increasing
competition, and the need to upgrade exports in overseas
markets, will cause Hong Kong to import ever more sophisticated
machinery for its industries, and this I hope is something
in which Britain can help.
Today's
All this of course depends on the maintenance of
peaceful and expanding conditions in world trade markets.
Hong Kong has been lucky in the last 20 years that these
desirable conditions have been maintained.
picture would, I think, be very different had the Colony
been unable to rely not only on the presence of the
garrison and the police force for internal security, but
also on the existence of peaceful conditions externally in
the world's main markets and trade routes. The se conditions
have been achieved without calling on the Colony to
contribute a large proportion of its annual Budget to
the maintenance of armed forces.
Similarly the aid programmes of Hong Kong's major
customers have greatly contributed to peaceful development
in countries less well placed than Hong Kong. I am often
asked why Britain does not "help" Hong Kong more by such
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