XN000022-1978-10-11 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1978

LEGCO PAYS RESPECTS TO SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON OBSERVED

A MINUTE'S SILENCE AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR THE LATE SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, FORMER GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, WHO PASSED AWAY ON OCTOBER 4.

IN A SPECIAL TRIBUTE EARLIER, THE GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, DESCRIBED SIF ALEXANDER AS +THE GREATEST GOVERNOR+ WHC, MORE THAN ANY SINGLE MAN, LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE HONG KONG IN WHICH WE LIVE.

SIR MURRAY SAID:

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+ IT IS THE WISH OF MEMBERS THAT BEFORE WE SIT DOWN WE MARK THE PASSING OF ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, PAST PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNCIL, PAST GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, A GREAT ADMINISTRATOR, A GREAT PERSONALITY, THE GREATEST GOVERNOR.

+ THE BASIC PROBLEMS BESETTING HONG KONG HAVE VARIED LITTLE OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS. WHETHER ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL OR DIPLOMATIC, THEY HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS FORCED ON HONG KONG BY OUTSIDE CIRCUMSTANCES. SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS OF ADMINISTRATORS HAVE GRAPPLED WITH THEM, AND WITH SOME SUCCESS. AND IN THIS SUCCESS I KNOW HE TOOK CONTINUING INTEREST AND PRIDE. BUT IT WAS ALEXANDER GRANTHAM'S FATE AND HONG KONG'S GOOD FORTUNE, THAT IT WAS HE WHO WAS THE FIRST GOVERNOR TO FACE THESE PROBLEMS OF MODERN HONG KONG - AND HOW INTRACTABLE THEY MUST HAVE LOOKED AT THAT TIME ONLY HE CAN KNOW. BUT HE IDENTIFIED THEM, CONFRONTED THEM, SECURED PUBLIC SUPPORT AND ACTED TO TACKLE THEM AND HE GAVE HONG KONG CONFIDENCE IN ITS SUCCESS AND ITS FUTURE. IN SO DOING HE ALSO ESTABLISHED THE CONCEPT OF HONG KONG AS A MULTI-RACIAL ALL-EMBRACING COMMUNITY. HE THUS, MORE THAN ANY SINGLE MAN, LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE HONG KONG IN WHICH WE LIVE. HE LAID THEM WITH STYLE AND HUMOUR AS WELL AS WITH EXPERIENCE, WISDOM AND COURAGE AND ABOVE ALL HE LAID THEM WELL.

+ I THINK IT WOULD BE FITTING IF WE NOW STOOD FOR A MINUTE IN SILENCE IN RESPECT FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND IN SYMPATHY FOR HIS NIDON. +

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