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The following is Mr. John Swire's speech --
"First, Sir, I would like to thank you for proposing the
toast of Hong Kong tonight. It is clear that, like so miny of us
who have lived in Hong Kong, you consider yourself an adopted citizen,
and because of this, and because of your personal knowledge of the
place, you have left me very little to say in response on behalf of
Hong Kong.
"This may well be a relief to those here tonight, but I
would, if I may, like to add to your reminiscences by saying that I,
too, remember your visit in Coronation Year. You had just required
a new camera, and, doubtless, like the rest of us, you took many
photographs of Hong Kong as it was in those days.
"I have recently been looking at my own photographs of
central Hong Kong in the early 50's, and what' strikes mo in particular
is the change in the appearance of the people since those daya.
Then all that stood out were a few Chinese women in their white or
bluo pyjama-like suits - I believe they are called 'Eri Kum Sam'
and even fewer girls, both Chinese and foreign, locking undeniably
dowdy, in what must have been the 'New Look'.
"And here I never cease to wonder how it is that the hair
of the Chinese girls was always imaculate, whereas, before the days
of air conditioning in home and office, I must admit th: t the foreign
heads appeared to be covered in some species of dank sucwood
-
but
all that apart, the clothes of the very great majority of those in
the street, both men and women, betrayed poverty in some degree,
"Today a street scene, particularly in Central District,
shows a milling throng of smart suits, white pressed shirts and
every conceivable variation of jeans as worn by the fashion-conscious
boy and girl the world over.
/"There wi5,