XN000022-1972-08-02 — Page 25

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Wednesday, August 2, 1972

"Might I also pay a tribute to the Public Works Department

who have laboured mightily to get their massive approach complexes ready

in time.

"Mr. Marden has said that this tunnel demonstrates confidence in

the future of Hong Kong. I heartily agree. But I should like to add

a rather different point. The construction of this tunnel shows what

can be done in Hong Kong to solve problems when we all really set our

minds to it. International and local business and finance, the Government,

engineers, technicians, and workers of many skills, and the right economic

and political climate - all have combined to work together and so the

insoluble has been solved, and in a remarkably short space of time,

There are many other problems in Hong Kong just as urgent, just

as large, just as exciting, just as apparently insoluble, as this once seemed,

"We should surely take heart from this achievement to believe that

if this can be done, so too can many other things.

"It is with this thought, that I have the greatest pleasure in

declaring this tunnel open."

Release time: 7.00 p.m.