ON
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1984
THEREAFTER, HE ADDED, THE DISTRICT BOARDS WILL ELECT REPRESENTATIVES TO SIT ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
*THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE ROLE AND CHARACTER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG WILL HAVE BEGUN, HE SAID.
+WE HAVE TIME TO ACHIEVE THIS AS WELL AS TO MAINTAIN STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN THE PROCESS, PROVIDED WE BEGIN IN SUFFICIENT TIME AND PROVIDED WE APPROACH THE PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF CALM AND STEADINESS AND WITH AN ACTIVE AND DYNAMIC ATTITUDE.+
+THE OBJECTIVES OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID HONG KONG WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE ENJOYED A PEACEFUL AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR MANY YEARS.
+WE HAVE ENJOYED POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY - CONSISTENT GOVERNMENT ABSENCE OF CONFRONTATION AND CONTROVERSY AMONG THE PEOPLE AND ABSENCE OF SERIOUS CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT.
+OF COURSE THERE HAVE BEEN BRIEF MOMENTS OF TENSION DURING THE PAST 17 YEARS BUT THESE EXPERIENCES, WHICH HAVE QUICKLY PASSED, HAVE SERVED TO REMIND US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EVEN AND SENSIBLE APPROACH TO OUR PROBLEMS.
+WE HAVE ENJOYED SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH OVER A LONG PERIOD AND EVEN WHEN THE WORLD WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERE ECONOMIC DISRUPTIONS, IN THE MID-70S, WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS IN HONG KONG JOINED HANDS TO OVERCOME THIS TEMPORARY SETBACK, + HE SAID.
STEADINESS, CERTAINTY AND PEACE WERE THE +ABIDING CHARACTERISTICS OF STABILITY AND THESE WERE THE ELEMENTS TO WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG LOOKED FORWARDS, HE ADDED.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE GREAT UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE HAD BEEN REMOVED AND THE ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL TO HONG KONG'S LIFE-STYLE HAD, FOR THE FIRST TIME, BEEN WRITTEN DOWN IN ONE DOCUMENT.
+EVERY PERSON, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY ORGANISATION NOW KNOW THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH THEY CAN SAFELY.PLAN THEIR FUTURE,+ HE SAID.
+FOR HONG KONG, THESE PLANS, IF WE ARE TO HAVE STABILITY, MUST INCLUDE A CONTINUATION OF THE EFFORT TO PROVIDE WORK THROUGH ECONOMIC EXPANSION, PROGRAMMES OF SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, MAINTENANCE OF OUR LEGAL SYSTEM AND RESPECT FOR THE LAW, FREEDOM AND SECURITY,+ HE SAID.
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