XN000022-1978-01-27 — Page 20

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Friday, January 27, 1978

The Royal Hong Kong Police Force has made great strides in the past few years

and I am sure that it is the wish of the overwhelming number of its membership

to take the one step more which will completely re-establish its standing in the

eyes of the community. Meanwhile the community can do much to help the Commissioner

and his officers and men in their task by showing confidence in a Force which, as

a whole, is surely deserving of much more praise than criticism.

I should like to congratulate, you Sir, on such a notably successful spell as

Chairman of the Chamber. It has been a term of constant challenge in Hong Kong,

and under your Chairmanship the Chamber has always been ready to encourage, to

caution, or to give a hand as the situation required and then four years included

times when it was not easy for all to keep their heads. I am well aware of the

Chamber's many-sided role, and admire the work it does for Hong Kong as well as of

its members and its innumerable correspondents.

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I am grateful too for its cooperation with the Government, and I do not forget

that a hundred years ago the roles might have been reversed.

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I thank you and the Committee and Members for your hospitality and ask all to

rise and drink a toast to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the prosperity

of its members in 1978.