XN000022-1982-06-02 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1982

WARM WELCOME FOR SIR EDWARD AT LEGCO

****

THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, PRESIDING OVER HIS FIRST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING, TOLD MEMBERS HE LOOKED FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THEIR WORK AND LISTENING TO THE DEBATES +WHICH I AM SURE WILL BE BOTH LIVELY AND INSTRUCTIVE+.

LADY YOUDE ALSO ATTENDED THE MEETING, LISTENING TO THE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE PUBLIC GALLERY.

SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON ROGER LOBO, WELCOMED SIR EDWARD AND LADY YOUDE TO THE COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIALS.

+THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE INDEED GREATLY ENCOURAGED BY YOUR EXCELLENCY'S UNEQUIVOCAL COMMITMENT TO THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG AND OUR FUTURE,+ MR LOBO SAID. WE SHARE THIS SAME COMMITMENT AND TO THAT END MY COLLEAGUES AND I PLEDGE OUR FULL AND WHOLE HEARTED SUPPORT.+

FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING REMARKS IN COUNCIL:

+OF THIS, THE FIRST MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SINCE MY ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG, I SHOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT IS FOR ME BOTH A PLEASURE AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO PRESIDE OVER YOUR PROCEEDINGS. IN DOING SO I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE PROCEEDINGS FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THIS TERRITORY AND OF THE TIME, CARE AND EFFORT WHICH MEMBERS PUT INTO THE WORK NOT ONLY OF THE COUNCIL ITSELF BUT OF THE UMELCO, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND ITS SUB-COMMITTEES - ALL OF WHICH PERFORM AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE GOOD GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG. MY PREDECESSORS HAVE IN THE IR OPENING ADDRESSES TO THIS COUNCIL THANKED HONOURABLE MEMBERS FOR THIS CONTRIBUTION AND I SHOULD LIKE, IN ALL SINCERITY, TO DO THE SAME.

+ I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN YOUR WORK AND TO PRESIDING OVER YOUR DEBATES WHICH I AM SURE WILL BE BOTH LIVELY AND INSTRUCTIVE. THANK YOU.+