XN000022-1975-01-16 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1975.

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INCREASING RESPECT FOR HONG KONG PRODUCTS ******

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING PRAISED THE TECHNICAL SKILLS AND CREATIVE ABILITY OF HONG KONG.

SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR HONG KONG DESIGN AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HE SAID THOSE PRODUCTS ON VIEW TODAY SHOWED THAT HONG KONG'S INDUSTRY HAD COME A LONG WAY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

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+THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE HONG KONG MARK IS CONTINUING TO GAIN INCREASING RESPECT,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.

THE GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE YEAR WHICH HAD JUST PASSED WAS A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT ONE FOR HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURERS.

LIKE THOSE ELSEWHERE, THEY WERE FACED WITH RISING COSTS AND WEAK MARKETS.

SIR MURRAY SAID THAT THESE CONDITIONS, THOUGH WOULD NOT LAST FOREVER, +WOULD REMAIN WITH US FOR SOME TIME YET.+

IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAID, WE MUST DO ALL THAT ENERGY AND IMAGINATION CAN TO CONTRIVE THAT WHEN THE UP-TURN COMES. AS COME IT WILL, HONG KONG WILL BE THE FIRST TO CLIMB OUT OF THE TROUGH AND RESUME ITS FORMER EXPANSION TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL ITS CITIZENS.

THE DESIGN COMPETITION WAS ORGANISED BY THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES. THERE WERE 60 ENTRIES.

THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD WAS WON BY ARVIN (HONG KONG) LTD. FOR ITS REMOTE SECRETARY TELEPHONE ANSWERING DEVICE.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH:

+1 APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY THIS ANNUAL PRESENTATION CEREMONY GIVES ME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO IMPROVE THE +HONG KONG PRODUCT+. THOSE PRODUCTS ON VIEW HERE TODAY SHOW THAT OUR INDUSTRY HAS COME A LONG WAY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE HONG KONG MARK IS CONTINUING TO GAIN INCREASING RESPECT.

+THE YEAR WHICH HAS JUST PASSED WAS A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT ONE FOR OUR MANUFACTURERS. LIKE THOSE ELSEWHERE, THEY WERE FACED WITH RISING COSTS AND WEAK MARKETS. IT IS APPARENT THAT THESE CONDITIONS, AND THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THEM, WILL REMAIN WITH US FOR SOME TIME YET.

/+DURING THIS PERIOD

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