businessmen seem to manage in their dealings with Chinese
counterparts. Ingrained Chinese suspicions will always make that an uphill struggle. But we must persevere. And, with every passing year, China's vested interest in the success of Hong Kong grows stronger. The recent sale of another 10% of Cathay to Chinese interests is a case
in point. All this must, as you have said in your own speeches, give grounds for optimism about the future.
I agree that we can be proud of our record in
Hong Kong. You join a line of distinguished Governors
who have brought the highest standards of administration
and justice to the Territory, and have created a framework in which the wonderful dynamism of the Hong Kong people has flourished. In the remaining five years, we must complete with honour the work that you and your predecessors have done to bring Hong Kong so successfully to the brink of its new life as a Special Administrative
Region. This will indeed be a tough task. But I agree
that we can succeed. We shall continue to depend on you to bring to bear your wisdom and experience from your vantage point in Another Place.
DOUGLAS HURD
Youry,
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