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RECOVERY HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO GET BACK ON TO THE TARGETS FOR OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMMES WITH ALL THE HOPE THAT THIS IMPLIES FOR ELIMINATING THE MAIN DEFICIENCIES IN OUR CITY BY THE EARLY '80S. THIS REPRESENTS A NEW CHALLENGE TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE WHICH MUST IMPLEMENT THEM, I KNOW ITS MEMBERS WILL RISE TO IT. THEY CONSTITUTE A FINE SERVICE, SECOND TO NONE! HAVE KNOWN: THIS CHANCE TO CHANGE GEAR, PUT FRUSTRATIONS BEHIND THEM AND GET ON WITH THE JOB IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT.
YOU WILL HAVE NOTED THAT TO THESE PROGRAMMES I HAVE ADDED A NEW AND SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LABOUR LEGISLATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE. THE RECESSION IS BEHIND US, BUT DO NOT LET US FORGET ITS LESSONS. THE MUTUAL COMPREHENSION BETWEEN THE SHOP FLOOR AND THE BOARD ROOM WAS A CREDIT TO HONG KONG. BUT NEVERTHELESS
THE RECESSION HIT THE SHOP FLOOR MUCH HARDER THAN THE BOARD
ROOM. A NEW EFFORT NOW TO PROVIDE FURTHER SAFEGUARDS FOR THE WORK FORCE AND LOW INCOME GROUP IS THEREFORE TIMELY, RIGHT FOR OUR SOCIETY, AND BUT COMMON JUSTICE.
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IT IS YOUR GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO BUILD INTO OUR SOCIETY A BALANCE. ON THE ONE HAND THERE MUST BE REASONABLE FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE WEALTH AND INCREASE INCOMES AT ALL LEVELS, AND BECAUSE OF OUR NEED TO RETAIN AND INCREASE INVESTMENT TO EMPLOY OUR POPULATION, TO A COMPARATIVELY GREATER EXTENT THAN IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. ON THE OTHER HAND THERE MUST BE EASE OF MIND FOR ALL PEOPLE THROUGH CERTAINTY THAT ALL MAY COUNT ON THE ESSENTIALS OF LIFE - EDUCATION: MEDICAL SERVICES: HOUSING: WHERE NECESSARY RELIEF THROUGH SOCIAL WELFARE: PROTECTION THROUGH ADEQUATE LABOUR LEGISLATION: AND OF COURSE PERSONAL SAFETY. THE FIRST SIDE OF THE BALANCE COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC FREEDOM - IS PERFECTLY COMPATIBLE WITH SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE KNOW THIS IS SO, AND WE MUST KEEP IT SO. THE OTHER SIDE - SOCIAL PROVISION IS EQUALLY COMPATIBLE WITH HONG KONG'S TRADITIONAL VIRTUES OF REALISM, WILL TO WORK, AND SELF-RELIANCE. THESE TOO ARE PRECIOUS AND
Our
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