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FAREWELL SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR
SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE
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"NOT IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 28th APRIL 1982
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Before the Council adjourns this afternoon, I would
like to record my admiration for the way official and
unofficial members make this Council the efficient and
effective organ of government that it is.
Over the last 10 years there have been many
changes and I think that of the original members I faced
with such trepidation in 1971, only one still remains.
Since then the size of the Council has doubled
and in consequence the spread of personalities, knowledge
and age is much wider, and more able to speak with direct
or indirect experience of the problems and wishes of the
diverse elements of our community, and of the factors that
govern their prosperity.
At the same time, the work of UMELCO has enormously
increased and has been supported by an expanded professional
staff. The net result has been that the scrutiny of
government bills has become more intense, and the work
of liaison with the public and the role of ombudsman has
matured, and the influence exerted by members through advisory
committees also greatly increased. I am certain that the
work of government has greatly benefited.
During the years that we have worked together
Hong Kong has had an average growth rate of 10% per year in real terms. Full marks to our workforce, entrepreneurs and bankers and those responsible for managing our economy for making this possible during worldwide economic conditions
which were for the most part sluggish or recessional.
But a government which could not make something out of
such prolonged growth would be contemptible. The question is, did we do the right things, at the right speed, with the
assets we were so fortunate to have. With the knowledge of hindsight, I think that generally speaking we did do the right things, though the emphasis and speed and details in
some fields might have been varied.
/However. . . . .