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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1986
GOVERNMENT PRESSING AHEAD WITH ITS PROGRAMMES
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THE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS MADE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S TIME AND ENERGIES ARISING FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION HAD NOT DEFLECTED THE GOVERNMENT FROM PRESSING AHEAD WITH ITS MANY PROGRAMMES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
NOR HAD THE GOVERNMENT BEEN DEFLECTED FROM CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF ITS SERVICES. SIR EDWARD SAID IN HIS ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION.
THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS CLEAR AND SPECIFIC POLICY OBJECTIVES.
+FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE OBJECTIVE OF ENSURING THAT HONG KONG REMAINS PROSPEROUS AND STABLE,+ HE SAID.
+THIS MEANS CONTINUING TO FOSTER AN ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ENTERPRISE CAN FLOURISH, THERE IS SUFFICIENT EMPLOYMENT AND HARD WORK REAPS REWARDS. IT MEANS VIGOROUS DEFENCE OF OUR TRADING INTERESTS OVERSEAS, AND PRUDENT, BUT FIRM SUPERVISION OF OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AT HOME.
+IT MEANS MAINTAINING LAW AND GOOD ORDER, NOT JUST ON THE STREETS BUT IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE CONDUCT OF OUR AFFAIRS.+
POLITICAL STABILITY WAS ALSO REQUIRED, HE SAID.
+THERE HAS BEEN AND IS ROOM FOR HEALTHY DISSENT AND DEBATE. BUT THE DRAMATIC PROGRESS WHICH HONG KONG HAS MADE OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES WAS NOT BUILT ON CONFLICT AND TURBULENCE. IT WAS BUILT ON A CONSTANT SEARCH FOR CONSENSUS,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.
IT WAS ONLY A SOCIETY WHICH WAS BOTH PROSPEROUS AND STABLE WHICH COULD OFFER THE MEANS, CONTINUOUSLY, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THE MEANS TO ENSURE THAT DECENT HOUSING WAS AVAILABLE FOR ALL, THE MEANS TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND WELFARE SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES.
+ONLY WITH PROSPERITY AND STABILITY CAN WE MAINTAIN A STRONG, CARING AND COHESIVE SOCIETY, CONFIDENT IN ITSELF AND ITS INSTITUTIONS- AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH IS FAIR, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+ONLY THUS CAN WE PROVIDE THE RESOURCES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, SIR EDWARD SAID.
/EARLIER IN