XN000022-1980-01-09 — Page 9

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The conception, the birth, the growth to maturity of this

remarkable place called Hong Kong have been dominated by our ability to

provide a safe haven and efficient, reliable services for trading vessels

operating in this part of the world. In the past 30 years we have

transformed ourselves from a transhipment port to a major manufacturing

Wherever one looks one is reminded that our very existence depends

upon the sea and that directly or indirectly, shipping plays a dominant

role in the lives of all who live here.

centre.

As you have rightly said, Mr Chairman, Hong Kong is no longer

just a dot on the map; by value of exports we are amongst the 18 leading

traders of the world. In consequence, we have had to develop to the full

those facilities which the shipping industry requires. Major container

terminals have been built which handle nearly 50 per cent of our imports

and exports. Although this percentage may well increase, we shall continue

to retain, our capacity to deal by traditional methods with the remainder of

our cargoes with the skill, speed and economy which have been an outstanding

feature of the port for more than 100 years. These facilities and services

have been provided largely through the vision and resources of private

enterprise, with only gentle guidance from a Government which is reluctant

to meddle in matters which are best left to those who both are experienced

in them, and willing through professional institutes to ensure the highest

standards of operation.

But our success as a port and as a manufacturing centre is due.

not only to the facilities which we provide and to the quality of the goods

which we produce but also to the atmosphere which we have sought to encourage,

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an atmosphere in which the developer, the trader, the industrialist and

the businessman will flourish. He will flourish because he knows that he is

wanted here, because he is operating in a community which believes in

initiative, in hard work and thinks it right that a man should retain a

fair proportion of the fruits of his labour and ingenuity, because he

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knows that we regard the free movement of capital and goods as essential

/to our