XN000022-1976-09-30 — Page 13

Thursday, September 30, 1976

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preference schemes have certainly helped, but only go a small way to freeing

trade. I would like to record this Government's thanks to Her Majesty's

Government in the United Kingdom for the steady stand they have taken over

the years in multilateral as well as in bilateral negotiations, against

attempts to restrict international trade; and, indeed, to all Commonwealth

countries for the strong position they maintain on this issue which is so

important to all of them, and so important to the people of Hong Kong.

"This really ends my address. But before sitting down I should like

you to know that the last major international meeting to be held here clained

a world-wide television audience of 500 M. It was Miss Universe 1976. I

make no comparisons and there is no overlap in delegates. This meeting is

for an audience whose interests are quite, quite different, and incomparably

more select. We, your hosts, realise its very great importance for you

and for us, and I do wish you a successful outcome both here and in Manila,

at this time of growing hope for a renewed and steadier expansion in world

trade.

"In conclusion I hope you will accept our small gifts. They are

calculating machines - typical products of Hong Kong. They are offered

as a memento of your visit, and in the hope that they will assist you in

the universal problem of Finance Ministers, which I take to be - how two

plus two can somehow be made to make five."