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Unofficials. Much good work in this respect is done by the Ward Offices of the Urban Councillors, and by individual members of the public. But the importance of UMELCO in the function of redressor of grievances and stimulant and check on the administration cannot be overstated. No one is more conscious than myslef of the immense amount of time involved for members, or the importance of the
work they do.
General aims
As Hon. Members know, in 1972 and '73 your Government undertook a wide ranging review of what would be necessary in order to eliminate the principal defects in our society within a time-scale of about ten years, and planned accordingly. To tackle and master all the many different problems we realised required more revenue, the overhaul of the administration, bold planning, and a radical new degree of contact and partnership between Government and governed. With the support of Hon. Members and of the public your government has persisted with these objectives inspite of the traumatic and wholly unexpected experience of the recession. From this experience Hong Kong has now emerged and, as it were, changed back into top- gear. I therefore propose to review what our economic possibilities are in the period of renewed growth into which we have moved, and how this can best be used to
strengthen our economy, improve living standards and attain our social targets.
Relations with China
I do so against the background of reassuring relations with China. Anglo- Chinese relations have continued to be excellent during this past year, and within this framework practical contacts over Hong Kong have likewise been friendly and help- ful. Recent sad events in China have no bearing on this satisfactory situation which
I am confident will continue.
ECONOMY
When I spoke to you last year there were clear signs that the economy was past its worst, that we were beginning to recover from the recession and that in 1975
as a whole we would probably do slightly better than in 1974. As it turned out the