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Such a date must mean much to all of mankind,
signalling as it does the ringing out not of the old year, or
even the old century, but of the second thousandth year of
civilisation since the birth of Christ.
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It will be a time of momentous celebration,* ï am
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and let us hope that will also be a time of peace on
earth and goodwill to all men, signalling a watershed in
man's history when there truly will be peace and concord on
earth with all races and creeds linked together by the bonds
of freedom, fellowship and friendship.
And, getting closer to home, let us hope that this
momentous year will see Hong Kong as prosperous as ever, as
dynamic, as progressive, and as bustling for that is the
kind of Hong Kong that we know, and the kind of Hong Kong
that is known to the world.
By the year 2001 we can predict that our population
will be approaching 7 million. I would hope also that these
Hong Kong families will all properly be housed in modern
flats, and that the New Towns will by then have become fully
integrated satellite cities where most of our population will
be living in comfort and security.
Further, in the urban areas, I can say without
hesitation that the wide range of facilities and services
already provided by the Urban Council will be widened and
extended, so that the quality of life in Hong Kong will be
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