XN000022-1984-10-15 — Page 18

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1934

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REMAIN COOL AND FIRM, SAYS ANDREW SO

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THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD REMAIN COOL AND FIRM TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF THE FUTURE, THE HON ANDREW SO SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION ENDORSING THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG.

+WE MUST DEVOTE OUR EFFORTS TO MANAGING OUR AFFAIRS IN THE USUAL MANNER.

+I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THE LEADERS IN CHINA AND BRITAIN WILL BE CAUTIOUS IN DEALING WITH AFFAIRS RELATING TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WILL DO THE IR BEST TO STRIVE FOR THE CONTINUAL PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

MR SO BORROWED A STORY TOLD BY DR SUN YAT-SEN ABOUT A COOLIE WHO BOUGHT A LOTTERY TICKET TO DRAW AN ANALOGY ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

IN THE STORY, THE COOLIE BECAME SO OVERJOYED WHEN HE DISCOVERED HE HAD WON THE FIRST PRIZE THAT HE THREW AWAY THE BAMBOO POLE AND ROPES IN WHICH HE HAD HIDDEN THE TICKET.

THE MR SO SAID: THE AGREEMENT IS LIKE THE LOTTERY TICKET. NUMBER IS 1997. LIKE A LOTTERY TICKET, THE AGREEMENT MAY BECOME THE KEY TO PROSPERITY,

+SIMILARLY, THE BAMBOO POLE AND ROPES ARE LIKE THE EXISTING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS AND THE WAY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG. THEY ARE OUR MEANS OF MAKING A LIVING.

+ALTHOUGH TO BE OPTIMISTIC IS A NORMAL AND HEALTHY ATTITUDE, WE MUST NOT BE IMPULSIVE OR BE BLINDED BY GREED.

+ IT MUST BE NOTED THAT STABILITY AND PROSPERITY ARE THE RESULTS OF INCESSANT HARD WORK, HE SAID.

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