XN000022-1984-08-02 — Page 17

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1984

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LET PEOPLE DO THINGS THEIR WAY

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BRAY

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, TODAY (THURSDAY) DREW ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE FINER FEATURES OF HONG KONG'S SOCIETY WHICH MIGHT BE LOST TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAMILAR WITH THE TERRITORY.

SPEAKING AT THE CHINESE GOLD AND SILVER EXCHANGE SOCIETY'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER THIS EVENING, MR BRAY GAVE AS EXAMPLES IMPRESSION OF DISORDER AND SCUFFLE ON THE SOCIETY'S TRADING FLOOR AND THE APPARENT CHAOS AT A HAWKER MARKET.

+OFTEN, WE SEEM TO BE JOSTLING EACH OTHER IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN UNCIVILISED WAY BUT WE ARE DOING IT WITH A VIEW TO GETTING BUSINESS DONE AND WITHOUT ANY INTENTION TO HURT ANYBODY, HE SAID.

HE ASKED THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HONG KONG TO REMEMBER ONE IMPORTANT THING.

+ IT IS THAT THEY MUST LET HONG KONG PEOPLE DO THE THINGS THEMSELVES IN THE WAY THEY SEE FIT. NOTHING COULD BE MORE DI SASTROUS THAN FOR A KIND-HEARTED PASSER-BY TO DASH INTO THE TRADING FLOOR AND TRY TO PUT A STOP TO A SCUFFLE OR TO PUT HIS BODY OVER THE 'VICTIM' IN ORDER TO PROTECT HIM. JUST LEAVE THE SYSTEM ALONE. IT WORKS, HE SAID.

+TODAY WE ARE FACING CHANGE. THERE WILL BE UNACCUSTOMED SIGHTS, THERE WILL BE CONCERN AND WORRIES WHICH BLUR OUR VISION FROM TIME TO TIME SO THAT THINGS MAY APPEAR TO US TO BE SOMEWHAT DISORDERED.

+1 AM SURE THAT WITH OUR USUAL SENSE OF MUTUAL TRUST AND FAITH WE SHALL BE ABLE TO SEE ORDER IN DISRUPTION, DISCIPLINE IN FREEPLAY AND ABOVE ALL, SUCCESS IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS, HE SAID.

MR BRAY PAID TRIBUTE TO THE TRUST AND FAITH DISPLAYED IN THE WAY BUSINESS IS TRANSACTED IN THE TRADING FLOOR OF THE EXCHANGE SOCIETY.

+ IT IS VERY MUCH IN THE CHINESE STYLE FOR A DEAL TO BE STRUCK BY A GLANCE, A TOUCH OF HAND, OR AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A GESTURE. it is EVEN QUICKER AND MORE RELIABLE THAN BUSINESS TRANSACTED THROUGH A COMPUTER.+

+ IT IS THROUGH TRUST AND FAITH THAT THE SOCIETY HAS GROWN FROM A LOCAL MARKET TO AN INTERNATIONAL ONE AND I BELIEVE THE SAME TRUST "AND FAITH HAVE ALSO HELPED HONG KONG TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCE AND TRADING CENTRE + HE SAID.

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