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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1986
TRIBUTE BY MISS LYDIA DUNN
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+SIR,
+ THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL JOIN YOU, SIR, IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO OUR LATE PRESIDENT, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND IN OFFERING OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO LADY YOUDE AND THE FAMILY.
+ WE HAVE NOW HAD TIME TO ABSORB THE NEWS WHICH ONLY LAST FRIDAY SHOCKED AND SADDENED THE WHOLE TERRITORY. WE HAVE MOURNED THE LOSS OF AN ACCOMPLISHED STATESMAN, AN INSPIRED LEADER, AND A KIND AND PATIENT FRIEND. HIS PERIOD OF OFFICE AS GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG SPANNED ONLY 4-1/2 YEARS. BUT WHAT MOMENTOUS YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN. AND IN THAT BRIEF TIME HE ACHIEVED SO MUCH.
+SINCE HE FIRST STEPPED ASHORE AT QUEEN'S PIER THAT BLUSTERY DAY IN MAY 1982, HE STEERED THIS TERRITORY THROUGH MANY ROCKY SHOALS AND HEAVY SEAS.
+ IN THE ANXIOUS AND UNCERTAIN YEARS, UP TO THE END OF THE NEGOTIATIONS HE NEVER WAVERED IN HIS DETERMINATION TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE BASIS FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE THAT WOULD ENABLE ITS PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN THE WAY OF LIFE.
+HIS LONG ASSOCIATION WITH CHINA AND HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOPES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG LED US TO A BETTER AGREEMENT THAN WE HAD EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
+NOW WE PREPARE CONFIDENTLY FOR A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS FIITURE, A FUTURE IN WHICH WE, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HAVE BEEN GUARANTEED A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY IN THE RUNNING OF OUR CITY. ALL OF US, OUR CHILDREN, AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN CAN LIVE TO ENJOY WHAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO SECURE.
+EVEN DURING THE MOST STRENUOUS STAGES OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS, WHEN HE TRAVELLED FARTHER AND FASTER THAN ANY OF HIS PREDECESSORS, SIR EDWARD DID NOT NEGLECT THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF GOVERNMENT OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS POLICIES.
+HE WAS AN ABLE, DILIGENT AND DECISIVE LEADER WITH A PRODIGIOUS APPETITE FOR WORK. UNDER HIS GUIDANCE WE PROGRESSED TO A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, WIDER PARTICIPATION IN MAKING DECISIONS, AND A LARGER AND MORE BROADLY-BASED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+THIS WAS THE OUTCOME OF HIS STRONGLY-HELD CONVICTION THAT THE OPINIONS AND PREFERENCES OF THE ORDINARY MAN AND WOMAN HAVE AN ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE TO THE WORK OF A SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENT.
/+HE WAS