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The conception, the birth, the growth to maturity of this
remarkable place called Hong Kong have been dominated by our ability to
provide a safe haven and efficient, reliable services for trading vessels
operating in this part of the world. In the past 30 years we have
transformed ourselves from a transhipment port to a major manufacturing
Wherever one looks one is reminded that our very existence depends
upon the sea and that directly or indirectly, shipping plays a dominant
role in the lives of all who live here.
centre.
As you have rightly said, Mr Chairman, Hong Kong is no longer
just a dot on the map; by value of exports we are amongst the 18 leading
traders of the world. In consequence, we have had to develop to the full
those facilities which the shipping industry requires. Major container
terminals have been built which handle nearly 50 per cent of our imports
and exports. Although this percentage may well increase, we shall continue
to retain, our capacity to deal by traditional methods with the remainder of
our cargoes with the skill, speed and economy which have been an outstanding
feature of the port for more than 100 years. These facilities and services
have been provided largely through the vision and resources of private
enterprise, with only gentle guidance from a Government which is reluctant
to meddle in matters which are best left to those who both are experienced
in them, and willing through professional institutes to ensure the highest
standards of operation.
But our success as a port and as a manufacturing centre is 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,
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an atmosphere in which the developer, the trader, the industrialist and
the businessman will flourish. He will flourish because he knows that he is
wanted here, because he is operating in a community which believes in
initiative, in hard work and thinks it right that a man should retain a
fair proportion of the fruits of his labour and ingenuity, because he
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knows that we regard the free movement of capital and goods as essential
/to our