INTRODUCTORY REWRKS TO UNOFFICIALS
This is my first visit to Hong Kong. I am very glad to
have the opportunity of visiting the Colony and of learning
something at first hand about Hong Kong affairs.
I was already avare, of course, before I landed at Kai Tak
last Friday, of the remarkable progress Hong Kong has made in
recent years - progress in all fields, in a Government housing
programme covering a million and a half of the population and in
providing useful and satisfying employment for the population
generally, in developing a rapidly growing economy which seems
to break new records every year (I wish we could do the same in
Britain) and in creating a broadly based structure of social
services, in the fields of health and education in particular.
What I have already seen of your many fine buildings and of the
general air of bustle about the streets more than confirms the
accounts I have had of that might be called the "miracle" of
Hong Kong; and I would like to pay tribute to Sir David Trench,
whose wise and ablc guidance of affairs has contributed so much
to the prosperity and well-being of the people of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has undoubtedly made an impact on international
trade, particularly in the textile field. I recognise, however,
that there may on occasion be a conflict between the trading
interests cf Britain and those of Hong Kong. Neither you nor
I can avoid that. But I willingly give the assurance that
Hong Kong's interests can never be ignored by Britain in her
efforts to seek fair and reasonable solutions to problems that
may