XN000022-1982-07-26 — Page 2

MONDAY, JULY 26, 1982

GOLD AND SILVER EXCHANGE SOCIETY MEMBERS PRAISED

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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR JOHN BREMRIDGE THIS (MONDAY) EVENING PRAISED MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE GOLD AND SILVER EXCHANGE SOCIETY FOR THEIR SELF-DISCIPLINE AND URGED THEM TO CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THIS +SOLID TRADITION ESPECIALLY IN THESE MORE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES.+

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE 72ND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE SOCIETY AT THE FURAMA HOTEL.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF MR BREMRIDGE'S SPEECH:

+1 AM PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO OFFICIATE AT THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR THE 28TH TERM OF THE EXECUTIVE AND SUPERVISORY COMMITTEES. AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE LONG ADMIRED THE SELF-DISCIPLINE PRACTISED BY YOUR SOCIETY. FOR GENERATIONS YOUR MARKET HAS BEEN RESPECTED INTERNATIONALLY. I TRUST THAT IN THESE MORE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES YOUR MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THIS SOLID TRADITION.

+MR PRESIDENT, I NOTED PARTICULARLY YOUR EMPHASIS ON THE BUSINESS VIRTUES OF PRUDENCE AND HONESTY. THE PROMOTION OF HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE IS OUR JOINT AIM.

+GOVERNMENT CAN AND WILL PROVIDE THE BACKGROUND BASED ON FREE COMPETITION. BUT IT IS UP TO YOU, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, TO MAKE OUR MARKETS SUCCESSFUL - GOLD, COMMODITIES OR SECURITIES.

+MARKETS ARE ACCEPTED, ATTRACT BUSINESS AND GROW BECAUSE OF THEIR GOOD NAME. HONG KONG HAS A REPUTATION FOR FAIR TRADING.

+PRUDENCE AND HONESTY SEEMS TO ME A FITTING SLOGAN FOR THE PROMOTION OF OUR MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

+I KNOW THAT YOUR NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL FULLY SUPPORT YOU IN THE NEXT YEAR OF OFFICE. AND I WISH YOU AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY ANOTHER MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR.+

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