THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1982
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A MATTER OF CONFIDENCE
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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REGARD BOOSTING THE CONFIDENCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AS ITS FIRST AND FOREMOST TASK, THE HON WONG LAM SAID.
HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE WAS NEEDED IF HONG KONG WERE TO MAINTAIN ITS PROSPERITY.
+IT IS ONLY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN INVEST AND SETTLE DOWN TO WORK, HE SAID.
MR WONG SAID IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SET GREAT STORE BY THE CONTINUING PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AND ITS CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHINA,
+THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT FACTORS,+ HE STRESSED.
+ IF HONG KONG CONTINUES TO ENJOY PROSPERITY, ITS FUTURE WILL BE BRIGHT BE THERE A NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN OR NOT.
+BUT, IF HONG KONG NO LONGER ENJOYED PROSPERITY, EVEN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES WOULD BE NO GUARANTEE AGAINST CHANGES WITHIN THESE 15 YEARS.+
WHILE SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT POLICY +TO INVEST VIGOROUSLY IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE,+ MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT SOME INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS WITH WHICH THE PUBLIC WERE GREATLY CONCERNED, HAD COME TO A STANDSTILL BECAUSE OF VARIOUS REASONS.
HE QUOTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW AIRPORT AND THE SECOND CROSSING OF THE HARBOUR AS EXAMPLES OF MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PLANS WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAD TALKED ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS WITHOUT MAKING ANY SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS.
+I BELIEVE THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT IS READY TO IMPLEMENT OR ADVANCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH LONG-TERM PROJECTS.
+THESE PROJECTS, BEING INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS REQUIRING MORE TIME TO FULFILL, HAVE FAR-REACHING INFLUENCE AND WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A DIRECT BEARING ON THE STRENGTHENING OF PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE AND THEIR DESIRE TO INVEST.+
HE SAID HE APPRECIATED THAT, UNDER THE PRESENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE, IT WAS QUITE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO EMBARK ON DIFFERENT MAJOR PROJECTS AT THE SAME TIME.
+HOWEVER, MR WONG SUGGESTED, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD AT LEAST CONSIDER PROCEEDING WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ONES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW AIRPORT.+
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