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TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1974
"HONG KONG HAS ALSO BEEN IN THE NEWS ON ACCOUNT OF CORRUPTION.
TO MASTER THIS LONG-STANDING DISEASE,19 A DAUNTING TASK CALLING FOR GREAT EXPERTISE AND JUDGMENT AS WELL AS ENERGY AND INTEGRITY. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THE SPECIAL INDEPENDENT COMMISSION THAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE JOB IS HEALED BY SOME EXCEPTIONALLY ABLE AND, DEVOTED MEN AND VE VILL SPARE NO EFFORT OR EXPENSE TO SUPPORT THEA. THEY HAVE COT OFF TO A GOOD START, BUT WE ALL REALISE THAT THEY HAVE A LONG AND DIFFICULT WAY TO GO.
"IT SEEMS TO BE THIS SORT OF UNPLEASANT ISSUE ÎN KONG KONG WHICH IS MOST APT TO GET A HENTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM HEDIA. THE CRASH OF THE STOCK MARKET, DRUGS, HURDER, CORRUPTION. THE MAIN THRUST OF HONG KONG'S STRIKING DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT LEND ITSELF TO DAILY REPORTING, AND CAN ONLY BE COVERED IN AN OCCASIONAL SPECIAL ISSUE" - AS INDEED IT IS,
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"BUT ANYONE WHO COULD NOT PLACE THESE SPICY SNIPPETS AGAINST THE
BACKGROUND OF THE DYNAMIC PROGRESSIVE AND RAPIDLY CHANGING PLACE THAT HONG KONG IS, WOULD WONDER WHAT ON EARTH WAS GOING ON THERE
HONG KONG HAS SUFFERED GREATLY FROM MISCONCEPTIONS AS TO THE SORT OF PLACE IT IS. THE HONG KONG COVERNMENT IS DOING WHAT IT CAN TO CORRECT THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BAY HOU GRATEFUL I AM TO THOSE WHO TAKE THE LEAD IN PUTTING THESE MISCONCEPTIONS STRAIGHT. THE WORK OF QUESTION AND ANSWER IN DOTH HOUSES IS OF COURSE CRUCIAL. + REALISE THAT THE STAUUCH PERFORMANCE OF LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS AND HIS COLLEAGUE IN THE LOWER HOUSE MAY EARN MORE KICKS THAN POLITICAL HA'PENCE HERE. BUT I CAN SAY WITH UNAT INTENSE INTEREST AND APPRECIATION THEY ARE FOLLOWED IN KONG KONG. THE WORK OF THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP IS ALCO OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, AND I AM SO GLAD THAT BOTH THE CHAIRMAN, SIR PAUL BRYAN, AND THẾ VICE-CHAIRMAN, MR DAN JONES, ARE PRESENT.
"BUT I WOULD LIKE TO END THIS SPEECH BY SAYING WHAT VERY GREAT
VALUE WE IN HONG KONG ATTACH TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS ASSOCIATION IN ALL IT DOES TO PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT ADOUT HONG KONG, AND TO BRING THE FACTS WHENEVER APPROPRIATE TO THE NOTICE OF THOSE WHO OUGHT TO KNOW THEN, IT IS COMPOSED OF PEOPLE VIO KNOW HONG KONG WELL, AND MANY OF WHOM HAVE SERVED IT WITH THE HIGHEST DISTINCTION AND LEFT THEIR IMPRINT ON IT. IT MAINTAINS CLOSE LINKS WITH THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER AS WELL AS WITH HANY ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING ITS OWN DRANCH, IN HONG KONG. 178 WORK IS HIGHLY PRIZED IN KONG KONG, AND THE VERY LARGE NUMBER OF DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT IS A TRIBUTE TO THE RESPECT IT COMMANDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, HIGHT I SAY, SIR, HOU HUCH YOUR CHAIRHAUSHIP HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS, AS TO SO MANY OTHER INTERESTS OF HONG KONG.
THONG KONG IS INDEED FORTUNATE IN ITS FRIENDS. BUT IT DESERVES THEM. COURAGE AND ENERGY, IMAGINATION AND HUMOUR, REALISH AND PATIENCE, THE WILL TO SURVIVE. THESE ARE THE VIRŤVES THAT HAVE PRODUCED TIE VIVID DYNAMIC COSMOPOLITAN CENTRE THAT KONG KONG NOW IS. IT IS THESE VIRTUES THAT HAVE SO CAPTIVATED THE SUCCESSIVE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS GOVERMENT IN LONDON AND KONG KONG, AND VIIICH INSPIRE SUCH AN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH DEGREE OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN ITS OWN COMIENITY, THIS
THIS. GENTLENEN IS A TERRITORY WHICHI DESERVES ALL THE SUPPORT THE UNITED KINGDOM CAN GIVE IT, AND I AM SURE THAT ON THIS SUPPORT, EMPHATICALLY HONG KONG CĂN REPLY. • tr
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