PRESS RELEASE

Royal Visit @

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1986

GIFT OF GOLD FOR THE QUEEN AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

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AS A MEMENTO OF HER SECOND VISIT TO HONG KONG, THE QUEEN WAS TODAY PRESENTED WITH A SET OF 14 GOLD COINS, THE FIRST OF WHICH WAS STRUCK 11 YEARS AGO TO COMMEMORATE HER FIRST VISIT TO THE TERRITORY.

THE PRESENTATION WAS MADE BY THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE HON OSWALD CHEUNG AT A LUNCHEON AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE WHERE SOME 140 GUESTS WERE PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

PRESENTING THE COINS, MR CHEUNG REFERRED TO THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO CHINA AND SAID BRITAIN'S FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH PEKING WERE A SOURCE OF GREAT COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE FOR HONG KONG.

HE SAID THAT IN THE EARLY PART OF THIS DECADE AND PARTICULARLY DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS ON ITS FUTURE, HONG KONG WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY.

+HOWEVER, HE ADDED, +FOLLOWING THE SIGNING AND RATIFICATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IN MAY 1985, HONG KONG HAS EMBARKED ON A NEW ERA OF DEVELOPMENT.

+ THE JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDED A SOUND BASIS FOR LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG A GOOD FRAMEWORK FOR REPRESENTATIVE ADMINISTRATION AND A SPRINGBOARD FROM WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN ACTIVELY AND CONFIDENTLY PARTICIPATE IN THE FAST-GROWING ECONOMY OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC REGION AND, IN PARTICULAR, IN THE MODERNISATION OF CHINA.

+THE FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR HONG KONG ARE BRIGHT AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT, UNDER THE ABLE AND DEDICATED LEADERSHIP OF OUR GOVERNOR, WE SHALL MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG.

+TO COMMEMORATE THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION, THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG HAS ISSUED A COMMEMORATIVE GOLD COIN, AS IN 1975 WHEN YOUR MAJESTY MADE YOUR FIRST VISIT. THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG HAS MEANWHILE ISSUED A SERIES OF 12 GOLD COINS TO MARK THE LUNAR YEARS, EACH OF WHICH IN CHINESE TRADITION IS SYMBOLISED BY AN ANIMAL. NINETEEN-EIGHTY-SIX IS THE YEAR OF THE TIGER. THE 12TH COIN IN THE SERIES WILL BE ISSUED IN 1987, THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT.+

'EARLIER THE

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