6
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1986
+HE WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND MANY RECENT POLICY INITIATIVES. YOU HAVE REMINDED US THAT HIS CONCERN FOR ADVANCING EDUCATION HAS BORNE FRUIT IN THE PLANS FOR A THIRD UNIVERSITY, AND IN THE DEBATES NOW UNDERWAY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
+WHILE OTHER COUNTRIES GRAPPLED WITH INFLATION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL UNREST, HONG KONG, UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, ENJOYED FULL EMPLOYMENT, RISING STANDARD OF LIVING, AND A DECLINING CRIME RATE.
+DURING A PERIOD WHEN, IN SPITE OF ITS OWN UNIQUE PROBLEMS, HONG KONG HAD TO MAKE ITS WAY IN A WORLD OF ECONOMIC RECESSION AND INCREASING PROTECTIONISM, HE WAS A STEADFAST ADVOCATE OF FREE TRADE AND OPEN COMPETITION.
+YOU MENTIONED, SIR, HIS TOURS OF THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN, CHINA AND BRITAIN TO PROMOTE HONG KONG'S REPUTATION AND TO FOSTER TRADING LINKS. THESE INSPIRED HONG KONG TO BE PROUD OF ITS PRODUCTS AND OF ITS PLACE IN THE WORLD.
+ALL THESE ACHIEVEMENTS IN SO SHORT A TIME ARE THERE FOR HISTORIANS TO RECORD. THEY WERE POSSIBLE BECAUSE HE WAS THE MAN FOR THE TIMES: A DISTINGUISHED DIPLOMAT WHO UNDERSTOOD HOW BEST TO BRING TOGETHER THE INTERESTS OF BRITAIN, OF CHINA AND OF HONG KONG A SUPERBLY SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATOR WHO KNEW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.
+HE HAD THE TIRELESS DEVOTION TO DUTY WHICH IS THE HALLMARK OF THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT. HE COULD ALWAYS SEE THE WOOD AND THE TREES. AND ALWAYS FOUND THE PATH THROUGH THE WOOD WHEN OTHERS HAD LOST THEIR WAY.
+AS A PERSON, SIR EDWARD NEVER LET THE PRESSURES AND DIFFICULTIES OF HIS WORK AFFECT HIS WARM AND CHEERFUL NATURE. HIS HUMILITY, HONESTY, AND UNFAILING CHARM AND GOOD HUMOUR MADE HIM APPROACHABLE TO EVERYONE. AND THIS ENABLED HIM TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE ORDINARY PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. HE SHOWED THIS WHEREVER HE WENT.
+AND LET US NOT FORGET THAT LADY YOUDE SELFLESSLY TOOK ON A FULL SHARE OF PUBLIC DUTIES AND PARTICIPATED IN A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITY. THEY WILL BOTH BE REMEMBERED THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THIS TERRITORY WITH AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE.
+SIR EDWARD TOLD US IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE COUNCIL AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SESSION TWO MONTHS AGO THAT THE ABILITY OF THIS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION CONSTRUCTIVELY, AND WITH DUE DESPATCH, WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN ASSURING THE FUTURE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG'.
/+HE, MORE