XN000022-1975-05-05 — Page 5

2.

essential to the health of any community. Your aims, efforts and achievements have earned you the respect and goodwill of many governments and communities,

both within and without the Commonwealth. It is vital to you that the respect

they now have for Hong Kong should be retained. The tasks confronting you are

indeed daunting. While most of them are common to other countries, they are made more difficult by your limited area, your crowded population and the

absence of natural resources.

But in facing them you have many assets. The people of Hong Kong have

toughness, imagination and an infinite capacity for hard work. You live in

harmony with the Chinese People's government. You benefit from the confluence

of the two great cultural streams of east and west. The fabric of your community is strengthened by family ties, which are still stronger here, and more

durable than now exists in most other parts of the world. Chinese tradițion and British liberalism have combined to produce a heart warming range of

practical charitable achievements. You have a totally free press and an

independent judiciary. You have evolved a cosmopolitan community which owes

much to both Chinese and British traditions.

commercial and financial expertise.

You command great industrial,

With such resources, this community can face the many challenges

that confront it with well founded confidence. I believe its future to be

bright.

I now ask you all to rise and drink with me a toast to Hong Kong.

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