XN000022-1983-09-19 — Page 2

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1983

COMMONWEALTH LAWYERS WELCOMED ***

HONG KONG'S CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT BRINGS WITH IT THE NEED TO IMPROVE CONTINUALLY THE INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH IT OPERATES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SEVENTH COMMONWEALTH LAW CONFERENCE AT THE HONG KONG COLISEUM.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

+1 WISH TO EXTEND TO YOU ALL, AND IN PARTICULAR TO YOU, LORD HAILSHAM, A VERY WARM WELCOME TO HONG KONG.

+THIS GATHERING OF SO MANY PEOPLE OF GREAT DISTINCTION AND GREAT STATURE IN THE LEGAL FIELD, FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE COMMONWEALTH, SPEAKS FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS CONFERENCE AND OF THE COMMONWEALTH. HONG KONG IS PROUD TO HOST THE COMMONWEALTH LAW CONFERENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I CONGRATULATE MR TURNBULL AND HIS ORGANISING COMMITTEE ON THE IR ENTHUSIASM AND THE HARD WORK THEY HAVE PUT IN BEHIND THE SCENE.

+HONG KONG'S CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT BRINGS WITH IT THE NEED TO IMPROVE CONTINUALLY THE INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH WE OPERATE. I AM SURE THAT WHAT THE COMMONWEALTH MAGAZINE HAS CALLED 'THE MOST SPECTACULAR ASSEMBLY OF LEGAL MINDS THE COMMONWEALTH HAS WITNESSED TO DATE WILL STIMULATE THIS PROCESS AND THUS HELP US IN OUR ENDEAVOURS.

+YOU HAVE A WIDE AGENDA AND A BUSY PROGRAMME. 1 HOPE NEVERTHELESS THAT DURING YOUR STAY YOU WILL ALL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOMETHING OF THIS UNIQUE TERRITORY. IT IS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE MOST VIGOROUS INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRES IN THE WORLD: IT IS A PLACE WHERE THE CULTURES OF EAST AND WEST SUCCESSFULLY COMBINE. I TRUST YOU WILL ALSO TAKE AWAY WITH YOU FOND MEMORIES OF YOUR VISIT.

I WISH YOU ALL A PLEASANT STAY IN HONG KONG AND THE CONFERENCE EVERY SUCCESS.+

NOTE TO EDITORS 1

GOVERNOR TO LEAVE FOR PEKING

***

A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER THE DEPARTURE OF THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, FOR PEKING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).

SIR EDWARD, ACCOMPANIED BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER

MR ROBIN MCLAREN, WILL BE LEAVING ON FLIGHT CA 102, ETD 1 PM.

PLEASE ADVISE THOSE ASSIGNED TO COVER THE DEPARTURE TO ASSEMBLE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING NOT LATER THAN 11.45 AM TOMORROW. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.

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