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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1983
LEGCO THANKS LANDS AND WORKS SECRETARY
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, PAID TRIBUTE TO THE RETIRING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON DAVID MCDONALD, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SIR EDWARD SAID MR MCDONALD HAD CONTRIBUTED IMMEASURABLY THROUGHOUT HIS 28 YEARS OF SERVICE, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE PAST NINE YEARS, TO THE PLANNING AND PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S HOUSING PROGRAMME AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.
+MUCH THAT IS BEST IN THE LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT OF MODERN HONG KONG HAS BEEN CREATED UNDER HIS CREATIVE INFLUENCE. IN THIS CHAMBER, HE HAS BEEN A SPIRITED PERFORMER, AND A MEMBER WHO HAS BORNE HIS FULL SHARE OF THE LOAD OF THE COUNCIL'S WORK, WITH UNFAILING GOOD HUMOUR, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR ADDED: +1 AM SURE WE WOULD ALL WISH TO RECORD OUR THANKS TO HIM ON HIS RETIREMENT, AND OUR APPRECIATION OF HIS MOST VALUABLE SERVICES. WE WISH HIM AND MRS MCDONALD A VERY LONG AND HAPPY RETIREMENT. +
THE HON ROGER LOBO, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, SAID MR MCDONALD'S TIME HAD SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANY NEW TOWNS, CROSS-HARBOUR AND ABERDEEN TUNNELS, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY AND THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, SEVERAL SPAGHETTI JUNCTIONS, TO NAME BUT A FEW OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS WHICH HAD COME TO FRUITION UNDER HIS GUIDANCE IN RECENT YEARS.
HE SAID THE DEFEDERALISATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WHICH HAD EXISTED FOR 140 YEARS MUST HAVE BEEN A MOST DIFFICULT, IF NOT PAINFUL, TASK FOR HIM.
+BUT THE SUCCESS OF THIS OPERATION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SIX DEPARTMENTS WHICH NOW OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY UNDER THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH HEADED BY HIM IS A GREAT TRIBUTE TO HIS MANAGEMENT SKILLS, MR LOBO SAID.
HE ADDED MR MCDONALD'S HELPFUL AND FORTHRIGHT RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES IN THIS COUNCIL IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. WE KNOW HIM WELL IN THE UMELCO OFFICE, IN THIS CHAMBER, AS WELL AS AT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE, AND HIS PATIENT EXPLANATION OF COMPLEX ISSUES HAS BEEN OF GREAT BENEFIT TO US.
+HE HAS DISCHARGED A MOST DIFFICULT AND DEMANDING JOB WITH DISTINCTION, AND WE SHALL MISS HIM VERY MUCH BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER.+
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