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SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: 29-30 JUNE
BRIEF NO 7: MEETING WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL : OPENING STATEMENT
I am very glad that one of my first visits as Foreign and Commonwealth
Secretary outside Europe should be to Hong Kong. I was last here in
1973 when I was Secretary of State for Defence. I am sure that I
shall find a great many changes.
I should first like to say something about the way my colleagues and
I in the Conservative Government look at Hong Kong.
I want you to be quite clear about one thing. We are fully aware
of our special responsibilities towards Hong Kong and will discharge
them to the best of our ability. I hope you will accept our swift
response to the Governor's request for reinforcements for the
garrison as concrete proof of that.
We regard Hong Kong as a success story. You have no natural
advantages apart from your splendid harbour, and no resources
other than your talented and hard-working people. Yet the Hong
Kong economy has grown at a pace which is the envy of European
nations; your exporters are second to none in efficiency and
resourcefulness; and Hong Kong has grown into one of the world's
financial centres. We also have great admiration for the progress
you have made in providing homes, schools and hospitals, and a
better life for all who live here.
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