-
· 12 ·
-
The Governor's RTHK broadcast
t
The following is the full script of the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten's RTHK broadcast on the 1995 Policy Address today (Wednesday):
Earlier this afternoon I delivered my fourth annual Policy Address to the Legislative Council. It was the first time in Hong Kong's history that a Governor has addressed an entirely elected legislature, a legislature elected by more voters than ever before in a further step towards the greater democracy Hong Kong was promised in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.
-
In partnership with the Government, this legislature will carry heavy responsibilities, and I believe that all of us in the Council Chamber today were conscious that the community will be watching us - and depending on us to work together to make a success of the remaining months of the transition to Chinese sovereignty.
Nor must any of us forget that as we move closer to 1997, the eyes of the world will focus on Hong Kong to see whether it can survive and prosper. Provided we continue to combine economic opportunity with human dignity and freedom, then I believe it can.
And if past success is a pointer to the future, I am confident that we are in pretty good shape to meet whatever challenges lie ahead. Just think of the economic achievements of the last 3 years:
* We've had real economic growth of 18%.
* Our fiscal reserves have grown by 57%. They now total a massive $151
billion.
*Tax rates have been cut to the benefit of nearly everyone who pays salaries
tax.
So our economy is fundamentally strong. That's the message that comes out loud and clear from all those international experts who think we're one of the best places, one of the most competitive places, to do business.
One of the reasons for our success is that Hong Kong has always lived within In other words, we do not will not - allow government spending to
-
its means. increase faster than that of the long term growth rate of the economy.
Page 20Page 21