XN000022-1982-02-25 — Page 2

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982

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LOCAL LEADERS PRAISED FOR COMMUNITY WORK BY GOVERNOR

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LOCAL LEADERS WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) PRAISED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF HONG KONG.

THEY HAD ALSO GREATLY IMPRESSED HIM, THROUGHOUT HIS TEN YEARS IN OFFICE, BY THE QUALITY OF THEIR ADVICE AND THEIR HELP TO DISTRICT OFFICERS, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL RECEPTION GIVEN BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (HONG KONG AND KOWLOON) AT THE CITY HALL RESTAURANT. FOR ABOUT 1 000 GUESTS WHO INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, CITY DISTRICT COMMITTEES, DISTRICT BOARDS, AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AS WELL AS KAI FONG LEADERS.

SIR MURRAY WALKED AROUND AND MET THE GUESTS, AND ALSO PROPOSED A TOAST FOR THE OCCASION.

PRESENT TO RECEIVE THE GUESTS WERE THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS MR D.C. BRAY- THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR D. AKERS-JONES, AND THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (HONG KONG AND KOWLOON).

IN PROPOSING A TOAST, SIR MURRAY SAIDI

+I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE DOG, AND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF BOTH GREETING AND FAREWELL.

+ALL HERE HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELL-BEING AND SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. MANY HAVE SACRIFICED A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN SERVICE TO OTHERS AND HAVE HELPED IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.

+THROUGHOUT MY 10 YEARS OF OFFICE I HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPRESSED BY LOCAL LEADERS OLD AND YOUNG, THE QUALITY OF THEIR ADVICE, THE VALUE OF THE IR HELP TO DISTRICT OFFICERS, AND THE IR COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF HONG KONG.

THE CONSTRUCTIVENESS OF LOCAL CONCERN WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL AFFAIRS WAS ONE OF THE FACTORS POINTING TO THE NEED FOR THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION NOW BEING INTRODUCED, IN WHICH SO MANY OF YOU PLAY A PART.

*THE FACT IS THAT WITHOUT THE HELP AND ADVICE OF LOCAL LEADERS AND I MEAN LOCAL LEADERS IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE - HONG KONG CANNOT BE ADMINISTERED IN AN ACCEPTABLE WAY- AND AN ACCEPTABLE ADMINISTRATION BASED ON A SOUND ECONOMY OFFERS THE BEST POSSIBLE BASIS FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE CONTRIBUTION YOU MAKE TO IT.

→FINALLY, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RAISE YOUR GLASSES AND DRINK TO THE CONTINUING SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG IN THE YEAR OF THE DOG.⭑

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