which are available.
4
In all these fields we are confident that we compare
favourably with any of the large ports of the world.
HONG KONG'S ATTITUDES
We now provide, through the vision and resource of private enter-
prise, with little more than gentle guidance from a government which is
reluctant to meddle in matters which are best left to those who are experienced
in them, all that is necessary for the efficient conduct of a great port. Its speedy and economical operation are vital to a huge overseas trade which
places us, by value of our exports, among the twenty leading traders of the
world.
But I believe that our success as a port, and as a leading manu-
facturing centre, are due not only to the facilities which we provide and
to the quality of the goods which we produce, but also to the atmosphere
which we have sought to encourage an atmosphere in which the developer, the
trader, the industrialist and the businessman will flourish.
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He will flourish because he knows that he is wanted here; because
he is operating in a community which believes in initiative and thinks it
right that a man should retain a fair proportion of the fruits of his labour
and ingenuity; because he knows that we regard the free movement of capital
and goods as essential to our growth; because he may feel confident that we shall strive to maintain our free port status and our low-tax structure.
:
Above all he is aware that we believe firmly in the benefits of vigorous trade, free from artificial barriers, and in the ability of the
trader to operate in the way which will be of the greatest benefit to himself,
to his employees and to the community in general.
HONG KONG AND THE SE...
As I indicated earlier, it is appropriate that Hong Kong should serve as the venue for a conference on international shipping. For the
/conception