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THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1987
+WE HAD GONE THROUGH A DECADE OF ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION IN THE 1950'S. OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE 1960'S, AND OF RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE 1970'S,+ HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE 1980'S SAW THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE IN THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION IN WHICH SIR DAVID WILSON TOOK AN IMPORTANT PART.
SIR S.Y. SAID DESPITE ITS SIZE AND ABSENCE OF NATURAL MATERIAL RESOURCES, HONG KONG WAS NOW AMONG ONE OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS AND STABLE TERRITORIES IN THE WORLD.
+WE ACHIEVED A HIGH REAL GROWTH RATE OF NINE PER CENT IN GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT LAST YEAR AND EXPECT AN EQUALLY
PERSONAL INCOMES RESPECTABLE GROWTH OF SIX PER CENT IN 1987. ARE CONTINUING TO RISE IN REAL TERMS.
+THESE COUPLED WITH LOW RATES OF INFLATION, PRACTICALLY NO UNEMPLOYMENT AND AN EVER IMPROVING STANDARD OF LIVING HAVE ENABLED US TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF OUR OWN LABOUR.
+WE ALSO ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF FREEDOM, A LOW CRIME RATE, A PROUD RECORD OF PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE, HE ADDED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT ALL THE ACHIEVEMENT OF HONG KONG TODAY WERE THE RESULT OF A HARDWORKING AND ENTERPRISING PEOPLE, AND THE PRESERVATION OF ALL THESE WAS THE OVERRIDING CONCERN OF THE PEOPLE HERE.
PLEDGE TO CONTINUE 'REMARKABLE PROGRESS'
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HONG KONG'S NEW GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TODAY (THURSDAY) PLEDGED TO DO ALL HE COULD TO ENSURE THAT OUR +REMARKABLE PROGRESS CONTINUES AND THAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY SHARE THE FRUIT OF OUR SUCCESS+.
SPEAKING AT HIS SWEARING-IN CEREMONY AS HONG KONG'S 27TH GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID SAID TO RETURN AS GOVERNOR WAS +A GREAT PRIVILEGE AND A GREAT HONOUR+.
+HONG KONG HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY EVEN IN THE SHORT SPACE OF FIVE AND A HALF YEARS SINCE I LAST LIVED HERE,+ HE SAID.
GREAT AS THE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN, SIR DAVID SAID THE WORK TO BUILD THE HONG KONG OF TOMORROW WAS ALL AROUND US.
/+WE MUST