3 HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT The Council will resume.
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ME CLYDESDALE.
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Mr CLYDESDALE
: Sir, I hope that I may be forgiven if
economic and
financial information
I open my remarks on matters which, although directly relevant the budget proposals and the provided by the Financial Secretary, also have much wider implications for the Hong Kong economy, and perhaps, also, for our 11 political future. It is of course the case,
that economic and の financial development cannot easily be divorced from political and to make a few
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social development. [I should therefore, like
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general observations on Hong Kong's economic trade and industrial
15 development/ and on the essential factors which will permit
16 continued real growth in these sectors.
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I speak as the
representative of a business constituency, and if I speak without 18 euphoria or excessive optimism, that is because the business view towards most things tends to be conservative, cautious, and based
on logic rather than hope.
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There are certain fundamental factors
which affect, and often have a strong influence on the development 24 and growth of business operations. One of these is the level of confidence shown by principals, investors and shareholders;, that 26 is, those who finance, deal with and otherwise support the business function. If confidence is sustained at a high level, a great deal
more can be done by the business enterprise. I am sure this simple
observation will not be refuted. Confidence is the basis for all
genuine growth in any enterprise. Hong Kong is a a very large Again, I am sure that no member of
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31 business enterprise indeed.
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this Council will disagree when I say that business, and particularly international business, is the core, the very nucleus,
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the Hong Kong
Kong economy. Perhaps to a greater extent than virtually any other territory in the world, except perhaps, some of 36 the OPEC countries.