CO129-629-2 Arrangements for the reception of the Hong Kong delegation to the British Industries Fair 1-4-1950 - 31-7-1950 — Page 16

SPEECH AT THE LUNCHE

IN HUNDUR OF THE

HONG KONG DELEGATION TO TI: BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR

2nd MAY, 1951

You

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I am grateful to Mr. Chairman, for inviting me here

today and giving me this opportunity to welcome such a strong

contingent from Hong Kong to the British Industries Fair, and

I am glad to that this is lar. U Tat Chee's third visit to

the United Kingdom in this connection and this makes me believe

that these visits prove genuinely useful and I hope enjoyable to

our visitors. I hope that they may also have the time and

inclination to visit the restival of Britain and perhaps to take

part in the more light hearted activities which form one side

of that Festival.

Ge

2. I have great admiration for the energy and resouros which

the people of Hong Kong, and the business community in particular,

have shown in dealing with the considerable problems which have

followed the war, resulting from the unsettled conditions in the

Far Cast. One of the more pressing during 1950 was the great

inor ase in the population of Hong Kong which rose during the year

to over 2,300,000 the highest in the history of the Colony.

This has, of course, caused a pressing demand for housing and in

this connection I am particularly happy to hear that ár. U Tat

Chee has set an excellent example by sponsor.ng a non-profit

making housing scheme. I have looked with interest at the

excellent pamphlet produced by the Development Company of which

he is Chair:an. I would also like to congratulate r. U Tat Chee

on his appointment to the Court of Hong Kong University, and I am

pleased to note that the University are going ahead with their

rehabilitation programme and that His Majesty's Government's

rant of £500,000 will materially assist in this work.

habilitation of the University is but one aspect of Hong Kong'a

remarkable recovery in the field of education in which the number

of children attering school has risen from a mere 4,000 in 1945,

to well over 150,000 in 1950 with further expansion being provided

for. Other encouraging and creditable signs of the great step

/forward

The re-