XN000022-1981-10-07 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981

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TRIBUTE TO LEGCO MEMBERS

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE AT THE OPENING SESSION TODAY (WEDNESDAY), PAID TRIBUTE TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE IR WORK, DEVOTION AND GOOD HUMOUR.

+THE FORM OF THIS COUNCIL MAY BE AN ANACHRONISM, BUT ITS SPIRIT AND PERFORMANCE MATCH THOSE OF ANY LEGISLATURE IN THE WORLD FOR EFFICIENT TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS, FOR FREEDOM FROM FACTION, AND FOR CONCERN NOT FOR SECTIONAL OR PARTY INTERESTS BUT THOSE OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THESE ARE PRECIOUS ATTRIBUTES.

+I AM SURE THAT THE STEADY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THEY HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED IN 10 YEARS - AND THE EXPANSION OF THE SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THE UMELCO OFFICE, HAVE GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS COUNCIL.+

SIR MURRAY SAID THAT HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT AS THE SCOPE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG CONTINUED TO INCREASE SO THERE MUST CONTINUE TO BE CHANGE IN THE SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL.

+MEANWHILE I RECORD MY GRATEFUL THANKS FOR THE HIGH QUALITY OF WORK DONE, AND THE IMMENSE DEVOTION OF PERSONAL TIME AND ENERGY TO DOING IT, THE GOVERNOR ADDED.

SIR MURRAY MADE SPECIAL MENTION OF THE SERVICES RENDERED BY THE HON OSWALD CHEUNG, AND THE HON LI FOOK-WO, WHO HAVE RETIRED FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. HE WAS PLEASED, HOWEVER TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE IR WISE COUNSEL IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

THREE NEW MEMBERS TOOK THE IR SEATS IN THE COUNCIL, THEY ARE MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MRS SELINA CHOW AND MISS MARIA TAM.

VR RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMMES MUST CONTINUE

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GOVERNOR

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY REITERATED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST CONTINUE TO PLAY ITS PART IN THE RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES MORE THAN 14 000 OF WHOM ARE STILL IN HONG KONG AWAITING PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS.

RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMMES MUST CONTINUE, SIR MURRAY STRESSED IF PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM LIKE HONG KONG ARE TO CONTINUE TO PLAY THE IR PART.

HE NOTED THAT WHILE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A RESUMPTION OF MASSIVE ORGANISED DEPARTURES FROM VIETNAM, ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG SO FAR THIS YEAR ALREADY OUTSTRIPPED THE TOTAL FOR THE WHOLE OF LAST YEAR.

/ARRIVALS IN