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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1974
+WHILE PARTS OF THIS ADDRESS MAY HAVE STRUCK A NOTE OF UNCHARACTERISTIC CAUTION, I AM GREATLY ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF CAREFUL AND DETAILED STOCK-TAKING, WHICH HAS OCCUPIED SO MUCH OF OUR TIME THIS YEAR, HAS CONFIRMED OUR ABILITY, AS THINGS STAND AT PRESENT, AND WITH THE CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THE HON. MEMBERS, BROADLY TO SEE THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMES.+
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE WAS IMPRESSED NOT BY THE DEGREE OF REPHASING THAT HAD BEEN DEEMED PRUDENT, BUT BY THE BROAD FRONT OF IMPROVEMENT ON WHICH WE THOUGHT IT RIGHT AND REALISTIC TO ADVANCE.
HE POINTED OUT THAT CAREFULLY CONCEIVED PLANS FOR HOUSING, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, AND SOCIAL WELFARE WERE ALL GOING FORWARD.
OTHER PROJECTS COULD ALSO START AT THE SAME TIME, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, TOO, WOULD BE EMBARKING ON SOME DRAMATIC PROJECTS SUCH AS THE NEW BERTHS FOR THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER TERMINAL AND THE KAI TAK CARGO TERMINAL AND OTHERS.
FINALLY HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE INDUSTRIALIST, WHO HAD BEEN +STRIVING FOR CONTRACTS AND FINANCE, AND TO THE WORKER, WHO HAD BEEN STRIVING TO MAINTAIN HIS LIVELIHOOD AND THAT OF HIS FAMILY,+ ADDING THAT +THESE PEOPLE ARE THE TRUE, THE PRINCIPAL ASSET OF HONG KONG.+
+I HAVE WATCHED WITH ADMIRATION THE ABILITY, INGENUITY AND · REALISM PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAVE SHOWN IN THE DIFFICULT YEAR THAT HAS PASSED, AND WITH THESE QUALITIES I AM SURE THAT WE WILL WEATHER THE YEAR AHEAD,+ THE GOVERNOR SAID.
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