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51
rapid.
Unemployment was at a record low and
inflation remained relatively moderate.
Investment
in construction and in plant and machinery was high.
Steady improvements are being made in education,
health and other social programmes and in tackling
environmental problems. The Sino-British Joint
Liaison Group and the Land Commission are continuing
to register practical and solid achievements in a
co-operative manner. 1988 will be a significant year
for the territory in that decisions will need to be
made on possible further steps to develop its
institutions of representative government following
the public consultations on the Green Paper in 1987.
71.
There are strong indications, also, that
confidence in the future of Hong Kong remains high.
Internationally there is no doubt of this, reflecting
as it does a growing perception of Hong Kong's role
as a gateway to China and as an international
manufacturing, commercial and financial centre in its
own right. There are a number of signs, as well,
which indicate that the local community is, for the
most part, retaining its confidence in the future of
the territory. They are, for instance, continuing to
GF 323
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