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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1985
HE SAID THAT THE GREATEST SINGLE CONCERN HOWEVER MUST BE THAT OVER OUR IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM FUTURE.
+GIVEN THE FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF THE POLITICAL CHANGES WHICH ARE TAKING PLACE, BUSINESSMEN ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HONG KONG-CHINA RELATIONSHIP.
+THE LEVEL OF THE IR CONFIDENCE THAT THIS SITUATION CONTINUES TO IMPROVE WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE IR WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN THE LONG TERM PROJECTS ESSENTIAL TO OUR FUTURE SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT, + HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THE LEVEL OF THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT COMMITMENT HAD NOT BEEN SATISFACTORY.
MR CLYDESDALE SAID HE EXPECTED THAT EXTERNAL MARKET PROBLEMS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE RESOLVED AND THAT HONG KONG WOULD BE ABLE TO ADJUST TO CHANGES IN TRADING AND INVESTMENT PATTERNS AS THESE OCCURRED.
+PROVIDED WE CONTINUE TO ENJOY REASONABLE AND NON-DISCRIMINATORY MARKET ACCESS FOR OUR GOODS AND SERVICES, WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO EXPORT COMPETITIVELY.
+WE SHALL HOWEVER HAVE TO TAKE SUCH STRONG ACTION AS IS OPEN TO US TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS UNDER THE GATT AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS, WORKING ON OUR OWN ACCOUNT AND WITH OTHER LIKE MINDED TERRITORIES, + HE SAID.
IN THIS REGARD, MR CLYDESDALE SAID, THERE WAS NO DOBUT THAT WE MUST HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE INSTITUTIONAL ORGANISATION AND SYSTEM TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE OUR INTERNATIONAL MARKET ACCESS.
AS TO OUR MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE INDUSTRIES, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD A VERY CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY AND ROLE TO PLAY IN ACTIVELY CONTINUING TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING THE NECESSARY LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEMS WHICH SUPPORTED TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
+BUT IT IS THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF HONG KONG WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE ISSUES WHICH AFFECT BUSINESS CONF IDENCE IN HONG KONG.
+WE ARE IN A COMPLETELY NEW SITUATION TRAVELLING ALONG AN UNFAMILIAR ROAD AND MUST TAKE CARE THAT WE ARE NOT DIVERTED,+ HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN HELPING TO GUIDE THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY ALONG THIS CHOSEN PATH IN SUCH A WAY AND AT SUCH A PACE THAT CONFIDENCE COULD BE MAINTAINED AT THE PRESENT HIGH LEVEL.
/MR CLYDESDALE