XN000022-1975-09-02 — Page 4

3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1975

GOVERNOR OPENS YOUNG MEN'S SERVICE CLUBS CONVENTION

******

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY DESCRIBED HONG KONG AS A COMMUNITY WITH MANY PROBLEMS BUT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THEY

· COULD AND WOULD BE SOLVED.

IN THIS, HE TOLD DELEGATES ATTENDING THE ROUND TABLES 1975 WORLD COUNCIL OF YOUNG MEN'S SERVICE CLUBS' CONVENTION, IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY TO PLAY THE CENTRAL ROLE, BUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WAS ENCOURAGED AND ENRICHED BY THE DIVERSE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MANY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS.

+ INDEED, IN A LIFETIME OF TRAVEL I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A CITY WHERE THE TRADITION OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IS SO STRONG IN EVERYDAY LIFE, OR WHICH COULD RISE SO WELL TO AN EMERGENCY,+ HE SAID.

FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING CEREMONY IN THE CITY HALL:

+1 AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME YOU TO HONG KONG AND TO OPEN THE 1975 WORLD CONFERENCE OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF YOUNG MEN'S SERVICE CLUBS.

+YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU ARE CONCERNED PEOPLE, ACCUSTOMED TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITIES. I BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND HONG KONG A REFRESHING PLACE WHERE YOU WILL MEET MANY PEOPLE LIKE-MINDED TO YOURSELVES.

+ INDEED, IN A LIFETIME OF TRAVEL I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A CITY WHERE THE TRADITION OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IS SO STRONG IN EVERYDAY LIFE, OR WHICH COULD RISE SO WELL TO AN EMERGENCY.

+WE IN HONG KONG ARE A COMMUNITY WITH MANY PROBLEMS, MOST OF THEM THRUST ON US BY AN EXCESSIVE INFLUX OF POPULATION. BUT THOUGH WE KNOW THE GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEMS WE FACE, WE ARE PROUD OF THE PROGRESS" MADE AND ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEY CAN AND WILL BE SOLVED.

+IN THIS IT IS OF COURSE THE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY TO PLAY THE CENTRAL ROLE. BUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS ENCOURAGED AND ENRICHED BY THE DIVERSE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MANY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AMONGST WHICH YOUR OWN IS SO DISTINGUISHED. I SHOULD LIKE IN PARTICULAR TO RECORD HONG KONG'S GRATITUDE FOR WHAT THE ROUND TABLES HAVE ACHIEVED, AND TO THANK ALL IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE WHO HAVE HELPED THEIR PROJECTS.

+FOR YOUR CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITIES YOU SERVE YOU ARE DOUBLY WELCOME HERE, BUT I HOPE THAT YOUR TIME WILL NOT BE ENTIRELY TAKEN UP WITH SERIOUS DISCUSSION AND THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY SOME WELL-EARNED RELAXATION IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE WHERE THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERY TASTE.

+I WISH YOU ALL A VERY SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE AND A HAPPY STAY IN HONG KONG.+

14