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"As we look ahead, we can draw encouragement from the fact that we have succeeded in making as much progress over the last three years as, arguably, in any other three-year period since the signing of the Joint Declaration. But I should add, so we should have done, for time is getting short."
End/Wednesday, October 11, 1995
Unique session begins, says Governor
The Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, believes that Hong Kong will be clearer and more confident about the future by this time next year.
Concluding his policy address to the Legislative Council today(Wednesday), he said: "By the time I address this Council next year, Hong Kong will be a very different place."
He is confident that Hong Kong economy will go on growing and the Civil Service will continue to raise both its sights and its standards in fulfilling this year's policy commitments.
"With the appointment of the Preparatory Committee, and the Chief Executive (Designate), a great deal of the speculation about the future should end," he said.
"This time next year, therefore, I will have a different task in my policy address. I will have to focus on how we are handing over Hong Kong in good order, with its stability intact and its prosperity secure. So today's speech is the last of its kind that I will make."
"I am confident that, whatever the difficulties, we will achieve as much progress in the final 21 months to July 1997 as we have achieved since 1992. This confidence is founded on the way that this community responds to all the challenges that it encounters," he added.
"It has been my hope that the men and women of this community would feel that they have a personal contribution to make to Hong Kong and its well-being.
"All our efforts to make the Government more open and accountable, to develop our civic institutions in line with our economic and social progress, have been based on the firm belief that individuals can make a difference."