XN000022-1980-10-01 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1980

TRIBUTE TO UMELCO

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, PAID TRIBUTE TO UMELCO AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY

(WEDNESDAY).

SIR MURRAY SAID THERE WERE FAR TOO FEW OCCASIONS ON WHICH HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEIR WORK THE PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IT DESERVED.

+THIS IS AN OCCASION ON WHICH IT IS MY PLEASURE AND DUTY TO DO SO, HE SAID.

+UMELCO IS A UNIQUE INSTITUTION WHICH HAS EVOLVED UNDER IMAGINATIVE AND DEVOTED LEADERSHIP TO PERFORM A VITAL ROLE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL SITUATION WHICH IS ITSELF UNIQUE.

+ IT CARRIES AN EVER-INCREASING WORK-LOAD, WHICH REFLECTS THE VIGOUR WITH WHICH IT PERFORMS ITS LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS, THE EVOLUTION OF ITS POSITION AS A COURT OF COUNSEL OR APPEÁL TO THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS THE INCREASING COMPLEXITY AND SCOPE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG, SIR MURRAY SAID.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE TIME DEVOTED BY MEMBERS TO THE IR PUBLIC DUTIES WAS ENORMOUS AND HE WOULD LIKE TO RECORD HIS DEEP PERSONAL DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THEM.

+TO EASE THEIR LOAD TWO EXTRA HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE IR NUMBER THIS YEAR. IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE THERE COULD WELL BE ROOM FOR FURTHER ADDITIONS, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT DURING THE YEAR THE TREND TOWARDS UNOFFICIAL CHAIRMANSHIP OF STATUTORY COMMITTEES HAD CONTINUED, WITH MR LO TAK-SHING TAKING OVER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND MISS LYDIA DUNN OF BOTH THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND PRODUCTION AND THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL.

LARGER GARRISON WILL COST MORE

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SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS ON A NEW DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT WILL START IN A FEW DAYS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

AND HE WARNED THAT THE GARRISON, UNDER EXCEPTIONAL STRAIN IN INTERCEPTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WOULD COST CONSIDERABLY MORE.

+FROM THE SERIES OF PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS AND CALCULATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IT IS CLEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT UNDER-CHARGED IN THE PAST AND THAT THE GARRISON IS GOING TO COST CONSIDERABLY MORE IN FUTURE, HE SAID.

/EXACTLY HOW