XN000022-1983-09-06 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1983

HE PAID TRIBUTE TO ALL THOSE WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMPLETION OF THE EXTENSION WITHIN ONE YEAR OF BEGINNING THE FOUNDATION WORK AND DESPITE THE APPALLINGLY WET WEATHER.

+ IN THE BEST TRADITIONS OF THE HONG KONG SYSTEM - WHICH IS THE BEDROCK OF OUR PROSPERITY - THOSE DIRECTLY CONCERNED WITH THIS PROJECT HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITHIN AN EXTREMELY TIGHT TIME SCHEDULE, HE SAID.

LYDIA DUNN NAMES NEW HONG KONG PATROL CRAFT ****

UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS LYDIA DUNN, OFFICIALLY NAMED THE HMS STARLING AT A COLOURFUL - AND BLUSTERY CEREMONY IN ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND TODAY (TUESDAY).

THE STARLING IS THE THIRD OF FIVE VESSELS BEING BUILT BY THE HALL RUSSELL SHIPYARD IN THE NORTHERN CITY FOR SERVICE WITH THE ROYAL NAVY IN HONG KONG WATERS. IT IS DUE FOR COMPLETION IN THE LATE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.

THE CEREMONY YESTERDAY WAS TO BE THE LAUNCHING OF THE PATROL CRAFT, BUT STRONG WINDS PREVENTED THIS AND AS A RESULT MISS DUNN PERFORMED THE NAMING OF STARLING ONLY. SHE WILL BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED LATER.

IN HER ADDRESS MISS DUNN SAID: IT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO UNDERTAKE THE DUTIES OF SPONSOR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A CONTINUING ASSOCIATION WITH HMS STARLING AND HER SHIP'S COMPANIES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. I AM ALSO VERY PLEASED TO FIND THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST SHIP OF THE NAME AND THAT STARLING'S PREDECESSOR SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN ESCORTING CONVOYS IN THE LAST WORLD WAR.

+ IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE TO MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PREVIOUS SHIP HERE TODAY AND FROM SEFTON COUNCIL. IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE AND PRIDE THAT I HAVE LAUNCHED THIS SHIP AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE WILL SERVE AS A HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL UNIT OF THE FLEET, CARRYING FORWARD THE VERY FINE TRADITIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY.

+1 AM ALSO GLAD TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MANY OF THE SKILFUL PEOPLE FROM HALL RUSSELL WHOSE HARD WORK AND EXPERTISE HAVE COMBINED TO BUILD THIS FINE SHIP. INDEED THE WORK OF BRITISH SHIPBUILDERS IS WELL KNOWN IN HONG KONG, WHERE EVIDENCE OF YOUR SKILLS CAN BE SEEN DAILY IN OUR HARBOUR. THE WORLD'S BIGGEST INDEPENDENTLY-OWNED MERCHANT FLEETS ARE CONTROLLED FROM HONG KONG, AND IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS ALONE MORE THAN TWENTY OF THEIR SHIPS HAVE BEEN ORDERED FROM BRITISH SHIPBUILDERS' YARDS.

/+THIS IS,