FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1981
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FS: HK FACES PROBLEMS OF WEALTH
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HONG KONG IS A RICH COMMUNITY AND THE MANY PROBLEMS IT FACES IN PRACTICE ARE THE PROBLEMS OF WEALTH NOT POVERTY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE AWARD-GIVING CEREMONY OF THE DIPLOMA COURSE IN MANAGEMENT FOR EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID: +WHAT THE COMMUNITY REQUIRES CLEARLY IS A SUPPLY OF WELL-TRAINED, YOUNG AND ABLE CHINESE MANAGERS.+
THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED TO FACE THE PROBLEMS OF EXTRA MURAL EDUCATION AND THE SACRIFICES THAT ARE THUS INVOLVED ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY THE BEST BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST MOTIVATED PEOPLE WE CAN FIND, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ADDED.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID THAT IN A MERCANTILE COMMUNITY SUCCESS TENDED TO BE BASED ON PERSONAL FINANCIAL CRITERIA AND PEOPLE WOULD RESPOND TO MONEY INCENTIVES AFTER HARSH EDUCATIONAL SACRIFICE.
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THESE WERE NOT THE ONLY CRITERIA. +ALLOW YOURSELF FROM TIME TO TIME TO CONSIDER NOT ONLY WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU BUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY OF WHICH YOU FORM A PART, HE TOLD THE GRADUATES.
+HONG KONG WITH ALL ITS FAULTS HAS NOT BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN RECENT YEARS AS A RESULT OF RELIANCE ON MARKET FORCES. PLEASE DO NOT HOWEVER SUPPOSE THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER BASES ON WHICH THOSE WHO LEAD A COMMUNITY CAN BE JUDGED.
IT IS A FAIR CRITICISM OF HONG KONG TODAY THAT THE RELATIVELY SUCCESSFUL MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO POSSESS THE IMAGINATION TO REALISE WHAT LIFE LOOKS LIKE FROM THE WRONG END OF A RESETTLEMENT ESTATE,+ HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID THEY SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT HONG KONG CONSISTS OF OVER FIVE MILLION PEOPLE AND NOT MERELY 200 000 SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS.
+ IT IS INTELLIGENT TO SUPPORT THE LOCOMOTIVE THAT PULLS THE TRAIN. BUT NEVER FORGET THAT IS NECESSARY TO CONSIDER NOT ONLY THE ENGINE BUT ALL THE CARRIAGES THAT FOLLOW IT AS WELL, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
+HONG KONG IS A SMALL PLACE, AND WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. BE A LEADER OF WHOM THE COMMUNITY CAN BE PROUD AND NOT MERELY ENVIOUS, HE ADDED.
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