XN000022-1984-12-20 — Page 18

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1984

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+ALL MEMBERS OF UMELCO MADE KNOWN THE IR OWN HOPES AND FEARS AND THOSE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS REFLECTED TO THEM. YOUR FRANKNESS, DETERMINATION AND SENSE OF PUBLIC DUTY WAS OF GREAT VALUE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

+1 SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO PAY WARM TRIBUTE TO THE EXEMPLARY MANNER IN WHICH THE HONG KONG PUBLIC SERVICE CONTINUED TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES, AND TO THE PATIENCE AND FOREBEARANCE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE. IT CANNOT HAVE BEEN EASY TO LIVE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE WHOLE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY AND ITS PEOPLE WAS BEING DISCUSSED, AS IT HAD TO BE, IN CONDITIONS OF CONFIDENTIALITY.

+WE FELT DEEPLY THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUST THAT THEY PLACED IN US. ONE TASK HAS BEEN COMPLETED WITH THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. BUT THIS IS NOT THE END.

+THE AGREEMENT ON ITS OWN CANNOT ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE FOR HONG KONG. SO MUCH LIES, AS IT ALWAYS HAS DONE, IN YOUR OWN HANDS.

+YOU, THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, HAVE EARNED THE RESPECT OF THE ENTIRE WORLD FOR THE ASTONISHING SUCCESS STORY WHICH YOU HAVE WRITTEN. YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED RESILIENCE, IMAGINATION AND SHEER HARD WORK. ABOVE ALL YOU HAVE SHOWN THE COURAGE TO ADAPT TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.

+WE HAVE OVER 12 YEARS TO PREPARE TOGETHER FOR THE CHANGES WHICH LIE AHEAD. I BELIEVE YOU WILL RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND THAT THE SPIRIT. THE ENTERPRISE AND THE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG WILL FLOURISH AND WILL ENDURE.+