XN000022-1982-10-06 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1982

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+A RESPONSIVE AND CARING GOVERNMENT+

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, OPENED THE NEW SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY REAFFIRMING THE GOVERNMENT'S AIMS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC WILL AND TO BE CONCERNED WITH THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE.

SETTING THE THEME OF HIS FIRST ANNUAL REVIEW, SIR EDWARD SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN UNCHANGED, +EVEN IF WE ARE HAVING TO PURSUE THEM, AT LEAST FOR THE PRESENT, IN A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC CLIMATE. +

IN ITS AIM TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC WILL, THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THOSE PUBLIC BODIES WHICH GIVE EXPRESSION TO THAT WILL, HE SAID.

+ IT AIMS TO LEAVE THE INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL SECTORS FREE AND UNFETTERED TO COMPETE IN DOMESTIC AND WORLD MARKETS, REGULATING ONLY WHERE THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF BUSINESS, FAIR TREATMENT OF THE WORK FORCE AND THE GOOD NAME OF HONG KONG SO REQUIRE.

MORE POSITIVELY, HE ADDED, IT AIMS TO PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH MODERN TECHNIQUES AND GOOD INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CAN FLOURISH AND INITIATIVE AND HARD WORK BRING THEIR REWARDS.

+ONLY THUS CAN OUR ECONOMY ADJUST CONTINUOUSLY TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID.

STRESSING THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALSO AIMED TO BE CONCERNED WITH THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT SEEKS TO PROVIDE WITHIN THE RESOURCES ON WHICH WE CAN REASONABLY CALL, SERVICES SUCH AS HOUSING, SOCIAL WELFARE, HEALTH, EDUCATION AND RECREATION SO ESSENTIAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND ALL THIS IN A SOCIETY IN WHICH THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ARE RESPECTED AND LAW AND ORDER CAN PREVAIL.+

TO THESE ENDS, SIR EDWARD SAID, THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO USE AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE THE MANPOWER AND MONEY WHICH ARE ENTRUSTED TO IT.

SIR EDWARD ALSO EXPRESSED A DEEP SENSE OF RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG MADE BY LORD MACLEHOSE AND ALL THOSE WHO HAD WORKED WITH HIM.

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