PERORATION
22.
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MY LORDS, I HOPE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THAT THE
INTERESTS OF HONG KONG ARE OF THE DEEPEST CONCERN TO
THE GOVERNMENT. MY RT HONOURABLE AND LEARNED FRIEND
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY WILL BE PAYING A VISIT TO HONG
KONG EARLY NEXT MONTH. HE WILL WANT TO HEAR THE VIEWS
OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND TO SEEK TO REASSURE THEM
OF OUR CONTINUING COMMITMENT AND DETERMINATION TO WORK
FOR THEIR PROSPEROUS AND STABLE FUTURE.
23.
MY LORDS, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TODAY ABOUT THE
PRACTICAL CHALLENGES FACING HONG KONG AND OUR EFFORTS
TO FIND PRACTICAL ANSWERS. WE ALL KNOW THAT THESE ARE
NOT THE ONLY FACTORS INVOLVED. THE INTANGIBLE BUT
OVERWHELMINGLY IMPORTANT QUESTION OF CONFIDENCE IS ALSO
CRUCIAL TO OUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS.
24.
CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG HAS TAKEN A BAD BUFFETTING
IN RECENT WEEKS. IT IS NOT THE ONLY ROUGH PASSAGE HONG
KONG HAS BEEN THROUGH, BUT IT IS A SEVERE ONE AND LIKE
NO OTHER IN ITS PARTICULAR COMPLICATIONS. HONG KONG
HAS THE STRENGTH TO SURMOUNT IT, BUT NOT WITHOUT HELP,
AND NOT EASILY.
/25. CONFIDENCE CANNOT