THURSDAL, MARUD 12, 1907

SIR PHILIP LATER VISITED THE COMMUNITY CENTRE OPENED OFFICIALLY BY HIM IN 1978 AND THE LIBRARY WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS MATERIALS IN THE FAR EAST WITH AN ACCUMULATED SIZE OF HALF A MILLION VOLUMES.

BESIDES MEETING SENIOR STAFF AND HEADS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, SIR PHILIP TALKED TO STUDENTS UNION OFFICIALS.

HE WAS HAPPY TO LEARN THAT TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNION ARE SERVING AS FULL MEMBERS ON THE ACADEMIC BOARD CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE POLYTECHNIC.

THE UNION IS ALSO REPRESENTED IN A NUMBER OF POLYTECHNIC COMMITTEES AND WORKING PARTIES, THE STUDENT OFFICIALS SAID.

FREE ECONOMY HELPS IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

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THE MINIMUM INTERFERENCE WITH HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM, TOGETHER WITH AN EFFICIENT BUREAUCRACY AND LOW TAXATION, HAS ENABLED THE TERRITORY TO KEEP UP IMPROVEMENT ON VARIOUS FRONTS THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

+ IT IS FROM THIS SIMPLE BUT STRONG MECHANISM THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE STEADILY WITH PROGRAMMES OF SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT, WELFARE AND EDUCATION, AND TO BUILD PUBLIC HOUSING FOR WELL OVER A MILLION PEOPLE, HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE 13TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KAM NGAN STOCK EXCHANGE, MR AKERS-JONES SAID HONG KONG HAD AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT WAS +PERHAPS THE LEAST INTERFERED WITH IN THE WORLD.+

+COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OPERATE FREELY WITHIN A FIRM AND DEPENDABLE SYSTEM OF LAW.

+OUR SYSTEM OF MINIMUM INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCIAL DECISIONS IS BACKED BY AN EFFICIENT BUREAUCRACY, WHILE LOW TAXATION PROVIDES AN INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE ENTERPRISE WHOSE REWARD IS PROSPERITY, HE SAID.

MR AKERS-JONES ADDED THAT THE PACE AND DIMENSION OF CHANGE IN THE PAST 13 YEARS HAD, BY ANY MEASURE, BEEN THE MOST REMARKABLE IN HONG KONG'S HISTORY.

HONG KONG HAS NOW BECOME THE THIRD AMONG THE WORLD'S FINANCIAL CENTRES AND THE SECOND LARGEST TRADING PORT IN THE WORLD.

+CERTAINLY THIS DEGREE OF SUCCESS OWES MUCH TO HARD WORK AND ENTERPRISE, AND AN ABILITY AND SENSITIVITY TO OPPORTUNITIES TO DO BUSINESS AROUND THE WORLD, HE SAID.

MR AKERS-JONES ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE KAM NGAN STOCK EXCHANGE WHICH HAD CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THIS +ECONOMIC MIRACLE+ AND HOPED IT WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.

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