XN000022-1976-10-06 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976

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HE ADDED: +YOU WILL HAVE NOTED THAT TO THESE PROGRAMMES ! HAVE ADDED A NEW AND SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LABOUR LEGISLATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE+.

THIS, HE SAID, WAS +TIMELY, RIGHT FOR OUR SOCIETY, AND ONLY COMMON JUSTICE+ AFTER THE HARDSHIP SUFFERED DURING THE RECESSION.

SIR MURRAY CONCLUDED BY SAYING IT IS YOUR GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO BUILD INTO OUR SOCIETY A BALANCE+, ON ONE SIDE OF THIS WAS ECONOMIC FREEDOM WHICH HE SAID WAS +PERFECTLY COMPATIBLE WITH SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL RESPONSIBILITY+. THE OTHER SIDE - +SOCIAL PROVISION+ - WAS EQUALLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE TRADITIONAL VIRTUES OF REALISM, WILL TO WORK AND SELF-RELIANCE+,

+THESE+, HE SAID, ARE PRECIOUS TO OUR SOCIETY AND MUST BE PRESERVED+.

HE ENDED: +1 AM CONVINCED THAT IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND PRE PRESERVATION OF THIS BALANCE LIE HONG KONG'S BEST PROSPECTS OF PROSPERITY, SOCIAL HARMONY AND INTERNATIONAL RESPECT+.

ANGLO-CHINESE RELATIONS CONTINUE TO BE EXCELLENT

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY THAT ANGLO-CHINESE RELATIONS HAD CONTINUED TO BE EXCELLENT DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK PRACTICAL CONTACTS OVER HONG KONG HAD LIKEWISE BEEN FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY SAID: +RECENT SAD EVENTS IN CHINA HAVE NO BEARING ON THIS SATISFACTORY SITUATION WHICH I AM CONFIDENT WILL CONTINUE.+

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