FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1986
ENGINEERS THANKED FOR CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG
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THE CONTRIBUTION THAT THE PROFESSIONS MADE TO THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY OF HONG KONG WAS BEYOND QUESTION, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TONIGHT.
AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS CONTRIBUTION THAT 12 DIRECTLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF KEY PROFESSIONS HAD TAKEN THE IR SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE, HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE 11TH ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SIR DAVID NOTED THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROFESSION, AND SAID THAT IT WAS REASSURING TO EVERYONE IN HONG KONG THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT SEEING DRAMATIC EVIDENCE OF CONTINUING PROGRESS.
*THE ENGINEERING PROJECTS OF RECENT YEAR, TO WHICH YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART, HAVE CAPTURED THE ENVY AND ADMIRATION OF THE WORLD. ENVY THAT WE HAVE HAD THE ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO EMBARK UPON AND COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS AND ADMIRATION THAT, DESPITE ALL THE PROBLEM OF AN UNCOMPROMISING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH SO MANY PEOPLE ARE CROWDED TOGETHER. WE HAVE SURMOUNTED THESE PROBLEMS AND THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE.
+OUR THANKS TONIGHT, THEN, GO TO YOU, THE ENGINEERS OF HONG KONG,+ SIR DAVID SAID.
SIR DAVID DESCRIBED SOME OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF HONG KONG IN THE 11 YEARS SINCE THE INSTITUTION WAS FORMED IN 1975, AND SAID THAT THEY HAD BEEN YEAR OF CHANGE AND IMPROVEMENT, BUT NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF CONCRETE AND STEEL HONG KONG IS NOW CLEANER AND GREENER. +
AND THERE HAD ALSO BEEN GROWTH IN THE STRENGTH OF LOCAL PROFESSIONALS - LAWYERS, ARCHITECTS, DOCTORS, DENTISTS, SURVEYORS, ENGINEERS, ACCOUNTANTS AND OTHERS.
+THIS TOO GIVES HONG KONG GREAT INTERNAL STRENGTH AND SELF RELIANCE, AND IT IS AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF STRENGTH THAT MANY OF OUR PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED EITHER INITIAL OR FURTHER TRAINING IN OTHER COUNTRIES, SIR DAVID SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE ENGINEERS NOW STAND AT A MID-POINT BETWEEN THE 11 YEARS SINCE YOUR INSTITUTION WAS FORMED AND LOOK FORWARD THROUGH THE NEXT 11 YEARS AND SURVEY THE WORK THAT LIES AHEAD TO TURN THE BLACK AND WHITE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF HONG KONG PROVIDED IN IT INTO A REALITY.+