WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1982
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THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, COULD AND WOULD HELP IN TWO PARTICULAR WAYS -- FIRSTLY, BY PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF BACK-UP SERVICES AND INDUSTRIAL AND SUPPORT FACILITIES, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIMARY STANDARDS, AS WELL AS BY TRADE AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION BY THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT; AND SECONDLY, BY THE PROMOTION OF TECHNICAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
THE GOVERNOR PUT MUCH FAITH IN THE NEW VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND THE EXPANDED TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT WILL HELP DIRECT.
HE ALSO BELIEVED A SECOND POLYTECHNIC TO BE A MUST. +THE PRINCIPLE IS ACCEPTED. WE ARE NOW ONLY DISCUSSING THE HOW AND THE WHERE.+
SIR MURRAY ALSO REFERRED TO THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH CHINA AND TO THE NEED TO CONSTANTLY CULTIVATE THE STRONG AND GROWING ECONOMIC LINKS WITH THE UK.
IN HIS VIEW, OUR FUTURE MUST BE BASED ON TWO INTERCONNECTED ENDEAVOURS:
*
TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND DEEPEN THE TRADITIONAL MEANS OF OUR PROSPERITY BASED ON EXPORT, FINANCE, TOURISM AND COMMUNICATIONS (ALL WORLDWIDE ÎN NATURE AND EXTERNALLY ORIENTED), AND
AT THE SAME TIME EXPAND OUR TWO-WAY LINKS WITH GUANGDONG AND OTHER PARTS OF CHINA WHEREVER MUTUAL BENEFIT CAN BE FOUND.
THESE TWO ENDEAVOURS, THE GOVERNOR SAID, ARE INTERRELATED BECAUSE WITHOUT THE PROSPERITY AND PURCHASING POWER DERIVED FROM OUR WORLDWIDE ROLE, OUR TRADE WITH CHINA WOULD DWINDLES AND WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF STRONG MUTUAL COOPERATION AND TRUST WITH CHINA THE CONFIDENCE ON WHICH OUR WORLDWIDE INTERESTS ARE BASED MIGHT FAIL.
+SO THESE ARE THE LINES ON WHICH I AM SURE HONG KONG SHOULD DEVELOP. WE CAN DO SO FROM A SOUND INDUSTRIAL, FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL BASE, AND EXPERIENCE ACCUMULATED IN A HARD SCHOOL.
+ AM SURE THAT IN THIS WAY YOU MAY FACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, SIR MURRAY SAID: I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW SAD MY WIFE AND I ARE TO LEAVE HONG KONG THESE YEARS HERE HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRATION AND A PRIVILEGE. THOUGH OUR FUTURE PLANS ARE VAGUE, CERTAINLY HONG KONG WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR THOUGHTS, WE HOPE TO KEEP ABREAST OF DEVELOPMENTS HERE, AND IF THERE IS ANY WAY IN WHICH WE CAN HELP AT ANY TIME WE WILL DO 50.
EARLIER IN HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE FEDERATION, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT MUCH OF THE CREDIT FOR HONG KONG'S ANNUAL AVERAGE GROWTH RATE OF 10 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS OVER THE PAST DECADE WAS DUE T THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS.
/+I HAVE