XN000022-1978-08-23 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1978

AKERS-JONES PRAISES FORMER

HEUNG YEE KUK CHAIRMAN

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING PRAISED THE +UNRETIRING EFFORTS OF THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, MR. CHAN YAT-SAN.

SPEAKING AT THE DINNER PARTY IN HONOUR OF MR. CHAN AND TWO FORMER VICE-CHAIRMEN OF THE KUK, MESSRS. CHEUNG YAN-LUNG AND TSANG LIN, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID: +OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAVE PROBABLY MET MR. CHAN MORE REGULARLY THAN I HAVE MET ANYONE IN HONG KONG SINCE 1 CAME HERE.

+HE HAS GIVEN ME LOTS OF TIMELY ADVICE AND 1 BELIEVE THAT AS A RESULT OF OUR FREE, FRANK AND FRIENDLY DISCUSSIONS HE HAS CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO THE IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.+

MR. AKERS-JONES ADDED THAT IN THE PROCESS HE HAD LEARNED NOT TO BE AFRAID OF SUCH IMPORTANT TERMS AS +PUBLIC RELATIONS+, +PEOPLE'S INTERESTS+, +POLITICAL HARMONY+, AND +FOR POLITICAL REASONS+.

+ I'M SURE WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MR. CHAN'S ADVICE AND WISDOM FOR MANY YEARS AS AN ELDER STATESMAN',+ HE SAID,

MR. CHAN WAS THE KUK'S CHAIRMAN FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS BUT HE DID NOT STAND FOR THE ELECTION IN MAY THIS YEAR.

MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE, INCLUDING SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND HEADS OF LEADING CIVIC ORGANISATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ATTENDED THE DINNER PARTY ORGANISED BY THE HEUNG YEE KUK.

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