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FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1985

MR AKERS-JONES ALSO LISTED SOME OF THE QUALITIES AND FEATURES WHICH HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CREATION OF THIS REMARKABLE CITY+.

THESE INCLUDE TOLERATION OF RACE AND RELIGION, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, A MIXING OF CULTURES AND LANGUAGE, THE USE OF A WORLD LANGUAGE TO GAIN ACCESS TO IDEAS AND LEARNING FROM AROUND THE WORLD, SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT AND POLITICAL REFORM, A RAPID EXPANSION OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING FACILITIES, AND OTHERS.

HE STRESSED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT AT THIS TURNING POINT IN OUR HISTORY THAT WE VALUE AND PRESERVE THOSE ASPECTS OF OUR SOCIETY WHICH ARE THE VERY BASIS OF OUR SUCCESS.

+WE MUST NOT LOSE THEM WHILE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SHIFTING THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE,+

MEANWHILE, HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE MANY OTHER IMPORTANT TASKS AHEAD OF US. IN PARTICULAR THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HAD CHARTED THE COURSE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF EDUCATION.

+WE MUST CONTINUE WITH OUR PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PROVIDE THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND SERVICES NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN OUR PRESENT SOCIAL PROGRAMMES AND POLICIES, AND BUILD THE ROADS, WATER AND POWER SUPPLIES AND ALL THE FACILITIES NEEDED TO SUSTAIN OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH, HE SAID.

+WE MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS. BUT THEY MUST BE OUR OWN SOLUTIONS. WE MUST NOT FORGET HOW WE REACHED THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT IN HISTORY.

+IT IS A TIME WHICH FIRES THE IMAGINATION AND UPLIFTS THE SPIRIT. IT IS A TIME FOR US TO CONSIDER THE PART WE HAVE

TO PLAY IN BUILDING THE FUTURE HONG KONG.+

MR AKERS-JONES ALSO REMINDED THE STUDENTS OF THE THEME

OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR PARTICIPATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE AND URGED THEM TO PARTICIPATE ACCORDING TO THE IR AGE AND ABILITY.

+ IF YOU ARE TOO YOUNG TO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY, THEN USE THIS OPPORTUNITY WHILE YOU ARE STUDYING TO LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT HONG KONG AND MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION THAT OF UNDERSTANDING THE REAL NATURE, AND EMPHASISE, THE REAL NATURE OF THE QUESTIONS WHICH WE FACE,+ HE ADDED.

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