XN000022-1982-04-26 — Page 2

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1982

HONG KONG'S TECHNICAL ROLE IN OFFSHORE OIL EXPLORATION STRESSED

****

BY SUPPLYING OIL RIGS FOR OVERSEAS COMPANIES NOW, HONG KONG IS DEMONSTRATING THAT IT IS READY AND EQUIPPED TO DO THE SPECIALIST WORK OF CONSTRUCTION, SUPPORT AND REPAIR FOR OFFSHORE OIL EXPLORATION, THE GOVERNOR, ŠIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID THIS MORNING IN A MESSAGE CONVEYED BY LADY MACLEHOSE.

LADY MACLEHOSE WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY IN WHICH SHE LAUNCHED THE OIL RIG EUROASIA AT TSING YI.

IN HER SPEECH, LADY MACLEHOSE SAIDA

+MR TUNG, MR KING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

+ AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TO LAUNCH THE FIRST OIL RIG TO BE BUILT IN HONG KONG.

+ I AM SORRY MY HUSBAND IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. HE IS, HOWEVER, FEELING MUCH BETTER AND HAS ASKED ME TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONCERN AND YOUR VERY WARM MESSAGES WHICH HE GREATLY APPRECIATES. MY HUSBAND SENDS HIS BEST WISHES TO EUROASIA AND ALL CONCERNED ON THIS MEMORABLE OCCASION AND HAS ASKED ME TO DELIVER THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO YOU ALL.

+ IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT IF AND WHEN OIL IS FOUND OFF THE SOUTH CHINA COAST, HONG KONG WILL PLAY A TERTIARY ROLE IN THE EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. WE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED, NOT DISMAYED BY THAT TERM.

+ INDEED, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF OIL IS FOUND IN COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES OFF THE SOUTH CHINA COAST, THERE WILL BE SO MUCH TO DO THAT ALL THOSE PLACES WITH PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY ROLES WILL ALL BE KEPT BUSY PROVIDED THEY ARE READY AND EQUIPPED TO DO THE SPECIALIST WORK OF CONSTRUCTION, SUPPORT AND REPAIR.

+1 CONGRATULATE EUROASIA IN GETTING IN FIRST AND BLAZING THE TRAIL BY SUPPLYING RIGS FOR OVERSEAS COMPANIES NOW, THUS DEMONSTRATING THAT HONG KONG CAN DO THE JOB.

+CERTAINLY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HELP GOOD FACILITIES FOR TEACHING MARINE ENGINEERING HAVE RECENTLY BEEN OPENED AT THE POLYTECHNIC WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE C.Y. TUNG GROUP AND WORLDWIDE.

+ AM AWARE THAT YOUR COMPANY IS OPERATING ON A VERY CONGESTED SITE AND WATER-FRONT LAND IS SCARCE. YOU HAVE, HOWEVER, APPLIED FOR MORE LAND IN AN ADJOINING SITE AND I HOPE YOUR APPLICATION WILL RECEIVE A FAVOURABLE OUTCOME IN A FEW MONTHS.

+MY GOOD WISHES AND THANKS GO TO ALL WHO MAKE THIS NEW INDUSTRY A SUCCESS IN HONG KONG. MAY THE RIGS GIVE SATISFACTION TO ALL- TO EUROASIA WHO BUILT THEM AND TO THE SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND THE KUWAIT OIL COMPANY WHO COMMISSIONED THE IR CONSTRUCTION.

+MY CONGRATULATIONS GO TO EUROASIA FOR THE IR COURAGE AND FORESIGHT IN STARTING THIS NEW INDUSTRY. MAY IT EXPAND AND PROSPER.+

12