SPEECH AT THE LUNCHE
IN HUNDUR OF THE
HONG KONG DELEGATION TO TI: BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR
2nd MAY, 1951
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I am grateful to Mr. Chairman, for inviting me here
today and giving me this opportunity to welcome such a strong
contingent from Hong Kong to the British Industries Fair, and
I am glad to that this is lar. U Tat Chee's third visit to
the United Kingdom in this connection and this makes me believe
that these visits prove genuinely useful and I hope enjoyable to
our visitors. I hope that they may also have the time and
inclination to visit the restival of Britain and perhaps to take
part in the more light hearted activities which form one side
of that Festival.
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2. I have great admiration for the energy and resouros which
the people of Hong Kong, and the business community in particular,
have shown in dealing with the considerable problems which have
followed the war, resulting from the unsettled conditions in the
Far Cast. One of the more pressing during 1950 was the great
inor ase in the population of Hong Kong which rose during the year
to over 2,300,000 the highest in the history of the Colony.
This has, of course, caused a pressing demand for housing and in
this connection I am particularly happy to hear that ár. U Tat
Chee has set an excellent example by sponsor.ng a non-profit
making housing scheme. I have looked with interest at the
excellent pamphlet produced by the Development Company of which
he is Chair:an. I would also like to congratulate r. U Tat Chee
on his appointment to the Court of Hong Kong University, and I am
pleased to note that the University are going ahead with their
rehabilitation programme and that His Majesty's Government's
rant of £500,000 will materially assist in this work.
habilitation of the University is but one aspect of Hong Kong'a
remarkable recovery in the field of education in which the number
of children attering school has risen from a mere 4,000 in 1945,
to well over 150,000 in 1950 with further expansion being provided
for. Other encouraging and creditable signs of the great step
/forward
The re-