XN000022-1975-09-01 — Page 3

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1975

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+LIKE OTHER GOVERNMENTS THAT OF HONG KONG HAS CONFRONTED THE MANY DEFICIENCIES THAT HAVE RESULTED, SUCH AS HOUSING, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, AND OF COURSE THE MOST PRESSING AND INTRACTIBLE OF ALL SOCIAL URBAN PROBLEMS OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THAT OF LAW AND ORDER. IN SPITE OF THE IMMENSITY OF THE TASKS THAT REMAIN I BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND THAT WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED AND WHAT IS BEING PLANNED HERE OF INTEREST AND SIGNIFICANCE.

+TRADITIONAL CHINESE ORGANISATIONS AND MODERN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HAVE ALIKE MADE A NOTABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THESE ENDEAVOURS. WHILE THE EVER-INCREASING SCALE OF OPERATION HAS NATURALLY RESULTED IN THE FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT BEING PREDOMINANT, THE INFLUENCE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR REMAINS STRONG. I MEAN NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY, BUT AS A STIMULANT AND A SOURCE OF NEW IDEAS, AND ABOVE ALL AS A CHANNEL FOR PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC IN THE PROLLEMS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

+AS IN OTHER CITIES, IN HONG KONG THE PEOPLE AND THE PROBLEMS CAME FIRST, AND THE INDUSTRY THE REVENUE AND SO THE MEANS TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS CAME LATER. BUT BY THEN MANY OF THE PROBLEMS HAD LITERALLY BUILT THEMSELVES INTO OUR CITY. THOUGH THEY CAN AND WILL BE SOLVED, IN THE OLD URBAN AREAS IT CAN ONLY NOW BE COMPARATIVELY SLOWLY, AND AT GREAT EXPENSE.

+ IT IS THEREFORE EXCITING THAT COMPLETELY NEW TOWNS ARE PLANNED AND ARE BEING BUILT OUTSIDE THE OLD URBAN AREA OF HONG KONG IN WHICH IT IS OUR AIM THAT FROM THE OUTSET AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF SOCIAL PLANNING WILL BE APPLIED.

+IN THE LESSONS DRAWN FROM THE HONG KONG IN THE PAST AND IN OUR ASPIRATIONS FOR THE HONG KONG OF THE FUTURE WE HAVE MUCH TO LEARN FROM THE DISCIPLINES OF SOCIAL WELFARE PLANNING. I AM SURE THEREFORE THAT YOUR EXCHANGE OF VIEWS BETWEEN OUR OWN SOCIAL WORKERS AND OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FROM OVERSEAS WILL BE OF GREAT VALUE.

+ I WISH YOU ALL FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS AND A HAPPY AND INTERESTING STAY IN HONG KONG.+