XN000022-1982-10-27 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1982

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PUBLIC URGED TO PUT ASIDE DOUBTS+

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THE HON LYDIA DUNN CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO MAKE SURE THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES TO REMAIN A DESIRABLE, REWARDING AND CHALLENGING PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IN.

+THAT IS TO SAY, WE MUST PUT ASIDE OUR DOUBTS AND FEARS ABOUT THE FUTURE AND CONCENTRATE ALL OUR ENERGIES ON 'THE COMMON ENTERPRISE, SHE SAID.

MISS DUNN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED IN, AND COMMITTED TO, THE SAME COMMON ENTERPRISE WHICH IS +TO SEE THIS CITY OF OURS SAFELY THROUGH THIS PRESENT PHASE IN ITS HISTORY+.

AS WE HAVE ENTERED THE 1980'S, THERE IS GROWING CONCERN ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE.

THIS COULD HAVE A REALLY DAMAGING IMPACT ON THE FABRIC OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE, IF THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN LONDON AND PEKING ARE PROTRACTED, SHE WARNED.

+ THE PASSAGE OF TIME WILL GENERATE FEARS AND UNCERTAINTIES HERE AND FRUSTRATIONS AND ACRIMONY ELSEWHERE, WHICH WILL NOT HELP IN THE SEARCH FOR A SATISFACTORY AND ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION.

+1 AM NOT ADVOCATING HASTE, BUT MEASURED PROGRESS.

+HONG KONG PEOPLE ACCEPT THAT THE ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED ARE COMPLEX AND THEY CAN BE RELIED UPON TO FOLLOW THE COURSE OF THE TALKS WHICH HAVE JUST BEGUN IN PEKING CALMLY, PROVIDED THEY FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEIR INTERESTS AND WISHES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND THAT BOTH THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS WISH TO SEEK AGREEMENT AND TO AVOID DISPUTE.+

IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, SHE WELCOMED THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS WHICH SPELLED OUT THE GOVERNMENT'S CONFIDENCE OF THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND ITS CONTINUITY TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROGRAMMES VIGOROUSLY.

THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE INDIFFERENT ABOUT THE FUTURE AND THERE MAY BE SOME FAINT HEARTS AND SOME CYNICS.

BUT MISS DUNN BELIEVED THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG - BE THEY IN THE PUBLIC OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN INDUSTRY OR COMMERCE, OF SUBSTANTIAL OR MODEST MEANS. LONG TIME RESIDENTS OR FAIRLY RECENT ARRIVALS, CHINESE OR NON-CHINESE, OLD OR YOUNG, AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE AND HAVE THEIR BEING HERE - COLLECTIVELY INVOKE A SENSE OF PURPOSE IN TROUBLED TIMES.

+HOW ELSE CAN HONG KONG'S TRACK RECORD OF SURVIVAL, COUPLED WITH PROSPERITY AND STABILITY AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL, BE EXPLAINED?+ SHE ASKED.

MISS DUNI

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