WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1986
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SIR DAVID HOPES FUND WILL EXCEED $50 MILLION
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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE HOPED THAT WELL OVER $50 MILLION WOULD BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE HONG KONG EXPORTERS' ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON, HE SAID: +PEOPLE CAN SEND IN MONEY STRAIGHT AWAY. THERE'S NO PROBLEM ABOUT THAT, AND PROVIDED THEY MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS EARMARKED FOR THE FUND, BUT IT WILL TAKE SOME WEEKS TO PASS THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH THE FUND.+
WHEN ASKED IF HE WOULD CONSIDER THE HEUNG YEE KUK'S PROPOSAL FOR HIM TO DELAY HIS RETIREMENT NEXT YEAR, SIR DAVID SAID IF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WANTED HIM TO GO ON WORKING, HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO SO.
ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW GOVERNOR, HE REITERATED THAT +WE MUST BE PATIENT ABOUT THIS. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION, NOT TO MAKE THE DECISION QUICKLY, BUT TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.+
TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE SETTING UP OF AN ASSESSMENT OFFICE FOR NEXT YEAR'S POLITICAL REVIEW, THE ACTING GOVERNOR SAID: +WE'VE CERTAINLY GOT TO DECIDE HOW TO EVALUATE PUBLIC OPINION ONCE THE GREEN PAPER IS PUBLISHED. WE'RE GIVING SERIOUS THOUGHT TO THIS AT THE MOMENT BUT HAVEN'T FINALLY MADE OUR DECISION.+
AS TO THE SETTING UP OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO EVALUATE THE PUBLIC'S RESPONSE TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PAPER ON THE FUND, AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT COULD DECIDE HOW TO GO FORWARD.
Q
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