XN000022-1978-08-16 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1978

VALEDICTORY TO SIR DENYS

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SENIOR UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON. SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, TODAY PAID TRIBUTE TO THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, HAS MADE TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS DURING HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER WITH THE GOVERNMENT SINCE 1962.

IN A VALEDICTORY TO THE ACTING GOVERNOR ON BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND HIMSELF AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR SZE-YUEN PRAISED HIM FOR WHAT HE HAS ACHIEVED DURING HIS TENURE OF OFFICE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM 1966 TO 1973 AND AS CHIEF SECRETARY SINCE 1973.

REFERRING TO SIR DENYS' CAPACITY AS ATTORNEY GENERAL DURING THE SEVEN YEARS, SIR SZE-YUEN SAID HE WAS QUICK TO REALISE THAT HONG KONG HAD SHED ITS PAST AS AN ENTREPOT AND BECOME A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING INDUSTRIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE AND TACKLED WITH ZEST THE UNENVIABLE TASK OF MAKING NEW AND COMPLEX LAWS ON THE ONE HAND AND UPDATING AND REVISING MANY OF OUR OUTMODED VICTORIAN LAWS ON THE OTHER.

ON SIR DENYS ACHIEVEMENTS AS CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR SZE-YUEN SAID: +NOT ONLY HAVE YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FORMULATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES BEEN A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN HONG KONG'S SUCCESS HISTORY BUT YOUR OWN PERSONAL INTEGRITY AND DEDICATION HAS ACTED AS A SPUR TO OUR OWN EFFORTS TO MAKE HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL TO LIVE IN.

+IN THIS COUNCIL YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR YOUR CLARITY, YOUR ELOQUENCE, YOUR WIT AND YOUR SAGACITY. THESE ATTRIBUTES, TOGETHER WITH YOUR PERSONAL CHARM AND UNFAILING GOOD MANNERS AND HUMOUR, HAVE FOUND EXPRESSION IN YOU AS ONE OF THE MOST FORMIDABLE OPPONENTS THAT THE UNOFFICIALS HAVE EVER HAD TO FACE IN DEBATE IN THIS COUNCIL.+

SIR SZE-YUEN ALSO EXPRESSED FAITH THAT SIR DENYS WILL BRING THESE SAME OUTSTANDING QUALITIES TO BEAR IN HIS NEXT APPOINTMENT AS THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF HONG KONG AND WISHED HIM EVERY SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE IN THAT HIGH OFFICE.

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