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DECEMBER 4
1901
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GOVERNOR WARNS OF INCREASED PROTECTIONISM
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WARNED TODAY (FRIDAY) OF THE PERILS OF INCREASED PROTECTIONISM+ FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, ON WHOSE ECONOMIES HONG KONG IS DEPENDENT.
IN AN OPENING ADDRESS TO THE 20TH ORIENT AND SOUTH-EAST ASIAN LIONS FORUM AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS INCREASED PROTECTION ISM IS INDUCED BY THE PRESSURES OF UNPRECEDENTED UNEMPLOYMENT IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
HE SAID THAT WHILE HONG KONG SYMPATHISES WITH THESE COUNTRIES OVER THE IR UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM, ITS CAUSES SELDOM HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IMPORTS FROM THIS REGION.
*THE CONNECTION MAY BE A DEPLORABLE POLITICAL CONVENIENCE, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A STATISTICALLY VERIFIABLE FACT, SIR MURRAY SAID.
+ IF SUCH PRINCIPLES OF SHORT-TERM POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY WERE ONCE ALLOWED TO DOMINATE INTERNATIONAL TRADE, THE RESULT WOULD BE AS CATASTROPHIC FOR DEVELOPED AS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.+
REFERRING TO THE CURRENT TALKS IN GENEVA OVER THE RENEWAL OF THE MFA. THE GOVERNOR WARNED THAT IT WOULD HAVE WIDE IMPLICATIONS FOR WORLD TRADE IF THE LIBERAL PRINCIPLES EMBODIED IN THE GATT THAT HAVE SERVED EVERYONE SO WELL FOR SO LONG DID NOT PREVAIL.
RECALLING HIS PREVIOUS ADDRESS TO THE LIONS INTERNATIONAL HERE IN 1974, SIR MURRAY SAID THIS REGION WAS THEN HEAVILY SHADOWED BY THE OIL CRISIS AND THAT HE HAD SPOKEN OF HONG KONG'S HOPES, FEARS AND ITS DETERMINATION.
+ IN THE EVENT, WHILE THERE WAS HARDSHIP, IT WAS MERCIFULLY SHORT-LIVED, AND WE WEATHERED THAT STORM REMARKABLY WELL.
+SINCE THEN, THE REGION AS A WHOLE HAS RECORDED EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH FIGURES. WHILE THESE HAVE BEEN THE ENVY OF THE REST OF THE WORLD, IT IS EASY TO FORGET THEY RESULT FROM HARD WORK, BRAVE INVESTMENT AND FLEXIBILITY IN FACING NEW SITUATIONS.+
THE GOVERNOR COMMENDED THE WORK OF THE LIONS INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER VOLUNTARY AND CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS,
HE NOTED THAT THESE ORGANISATIONS NOT ONLY TRY TO KEEP SUCH ISSUES (OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT) BEFORE GOVERNMENTS, BUT TO SUPPLEMENT AND EVEN LEAD OFFICIAL EFFORTS IN A PRACTICAL AND RESPONSIBLE WAY,+
HE ALSO SAID THAT IN MOST SOCIAL PROGRAMMES, WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE GREATEST RESTRAINTS ARE THOSE OF SHORTAGE OF TRAINED STAFF AND LACK OF COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING.+
/+THE FIRST