XN000022-1983-03-19 — Page 12

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Nor is our concem only for material needs. We may be an

urban city but we have some magnificent countryside which we are careful to preserve and make accessible through our Country Parks programme, You have just missed our Arts Festival but our cultural programmes are continuous. Our Philharmonic and Chinese orchestras have earned themselves

a reputation regionally and not only in Hong Kong. Our youth groups are large and active both in community service and in providing enjoyment

for their members.

Conclusion

There is, of course, much more to be done. Public demand,

quite understandably, continues to grow for better social security

schemes, more and better quality housing, schools, hospitals and clinics

and social progress generally. But much as we would all like these

expectations to be met, and quickly, we cannot escape the fact that the

rate of which we can make progress depends on the rate of economic growth.

We have to live on what we earn and given our dependence on exports, our

economy is heavily dependent on external influences over which we have

little control. We are not a rich territory we get no financial

support or subsidy from outside

for through our own efforts.

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so we can only have what we can pay

I hope that this brief analysis of some of our main social

programes will convince you that we are a community who think not about

money but about people; and not only about the essentials but about those

things which make for a better life. You will see, and I have no doubt

admire, our skyscrapers. But enjoy too our country parks. You will be

struck by the numbers who still lack good housing, but do not forget

the two million already provided with homes in the public housing programme,

You will wonder perhaps at the size of our housing estates; do not fail

to notice the provision for community services within them. Note as I

am sure you will the application of all in Hong Kong to the business of

the day, but do not overlook that many of those who work so hard earning

their living all week are spending large parts of their time on voluntary

service..

In short I hope that whatever the impression you arrived with,

you will as a result of your visit here take away with you a picture not only of a hard working business community but also of a city of which it

can well be said "It is a city which cares"

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