SECRETARY OF STATE'S ARTICLE TO THE ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS
Anniversaries are good times for looking back on what has been achieved and also for looking ahead to new challenges.
In the 25 years since the first edition of the Oriental Daily
News appeared, Hong Kong's achievements have been spectacular.
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The economic success story is well-known. But on my visits to
Hong Kong I am also struck by how much else has improved: schools and universities, better public housing, higher standards of health care, new parks and roads and a rich
cultural life.
All this has been made possible through the hard work of Hong Kong people. It has become part of Hong Kong's way of life. The challenge for the years ahead will be to preserve that way of life and to put Hong Kong in the best possible position to continue its success under new sovereignty and in a new
century.
There were bound to be difficult moments during the transition period. But with goodwill and the Joint Declaration as our guide, we shall find our way through. We remain committed to the Joint Declaration which is the basis for Hong Kong's
future success under Chinese sovereignty. Our task now is to turn the concept of one country two systems into a living and working reality.
The Governor's constitutional reforms set out in his policy address to LegCo were designed to help secure Hong Kong's way of life on the basis of the Joint Declaration. Some changes have already been implemented and are working well. I know
that the Governor's proposals on the next round of elections
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