CONFIDENTIAL
A
17.
163427
MDHOAN 6680
HONG KONG IN THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH HISTORY HAS PLACED US. THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE A SPIRIT OF MATURE CO-OPERATION IN THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN STERILE PARTISANSHIP.
20. TO GOVERN IS TO CHOOSE AND CHOICE IS INVARIABLY DIFFICULT. GOOD POLITICAL LEADERSHIP INVOLVES FACING UP TO HARD DECISIONS, TAKING THEM, SETTING OUT CLEARLY WHAT HAS TO BE DONE WHEN ALL THE TALKING IS OVER, AND WINNING CONSENT FOR THE COURSE THAT HAS TO BE PURSUED.
21. THAT IS WHY I WISH, WHILE PRESERVING THE AUTHORITY AND DIGNITY OF MY OFFICE, TO MAKE MY GOVERNORSHIP AS OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE. BUT THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP RESTS WITH ME, IN WHAT IS AND WILL REMAIN AN EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT.
-
(NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) SECONDLY, OUR PERSONAL AND
COLLECTIVE AMBITIONS AND PROSPECTS ARE INEVITABLY LINKED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ECONOMY IN WHICH WE WORK. HONG KONG KNOWS BETTER THAN ANYWHERE THAT IT CANNOT REST ON LAURELS WON IN THE PAST.
WE HAVE TO STRIVE CONTINUOUSLY TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE OUR COMPETITIVENESS FOR TOMORROW'S WORLD, CERTAIN ONLY OF ONE THING
THAT OUR COMPETITORS WILL DO THE SAME. WE CANNOT STAND STILL. WE MUST CONTINUE TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE. THAT IS WHY THE NEW
AIRPORT AND ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT ARE SO IMPORTANT. THAT IS ONE REASON WHY THE PRIME MINISTERS OF
BRITAIN AND CHINA HAVE BOTH EXPRESSED THEIR PERSONAL COMMITMENT
TO THIS EXCITING WORK. IT IS A GREAT UNDERTAKING WORTHY OF THE
GREAT CITY AND TERRITORY IT WILL SERVE.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
SINGLE COPIES
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
DISTRIBUTION
9
MR HUM
HKD//HD
PS/MR PATTEN
NEWS D//MS EVERETT
PAGE
4
CONFIDENTIAL