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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
GOVERNOR CONFIDENT OF CONTINUING PROSPERITY FOR H.K.
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THE GOVERNOR, REVIEWING THE AFFAIRS OF HONG KONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, EXPRESSED HIS RENEWED CONFIDENCE IN CONTINUING PROSPERITY, AND DETERMINATION BOTH TO MAINTAIN IT AND TO USE IT FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS.
IN THIS CONNECTION, SIR MURRAY SAID, IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO BUILD INTO OUR SOCIETY A BALANCE BETWEEN COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND SOCIAL PROVISION, ON WHICH LIES OUR BEST PROSPECT FOR PROSPERITY, SOCIAL HARMONY AND INTERNATIONAL RESPECT.
+ON THE ONE HAND, HE ADDED, THERE MUST BE REASONABLE FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE WEALTH AND INCREASE INCOMES AT ALL LEVELS, AND BECAUSE OF OUR NEED TO RETAIN AND INCREASE INVESTMENT TO EMPLOY OUR POPULATION TO DO SO TO A COMPARATIVELY GREATER EXTENT THAN IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.+
+ON THE OTHER HAND THERE MUST BE EASE OF MIND FOR ALL PEOPLE THROUGH CERTAINTY THAT ALL MAY COUNT ON THE ESSENTIALS OF LIFE EDUCATION; MEDICAL SERVICES HOUSING WHERE NECESSARY RELIEF THROUGH SOCIAL WELFARE- PROTECTION THROUGH ADEQUATE LABOUR LEGISLATION- AND OF COURSE PERSONAL SAFETY, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT DURING THE RECESSION, THE MUTUAL COMPREHENSION BETWEEN THE SHOP FLOOR AND THE BOARD ROOM WAS A GREAT CREDIT TO HONG KONG+,
+BUT NEVERTHELESS THE RECESSION HIT THE SHOP FLOOR MUCH HARDER THAN THE BOARD ROOM, HE ADDED.
ALTHOUGH THE RECESSION WAS NOW BEHIND US, HE SAID, WE MUST NOT FORGET ITS LESSONS.
*A NEW EFFORT NOW TO PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE WORK FORCE AND LOW INCOME GROUP IS THEREFORE TIMELY, RIGHT FOR OUR SOCIETY, AND BUT COMMON JUSTICE, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
IN THE LIGHT OF THIS, HE SAID, A NEW AND SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LABOUR LEGISLATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE GOVERNMENT'S SOCIAL PROGRAMMES.
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