XN000022-1985-01-18 — Page 33

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23.

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THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER HERSELF SAID THIS

IN HER SPEECH TO A JOINT SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE AND

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS OF HONG KONG ON DECEMBER 20TH LAST

YEAR "I CAN ASSURE HONG KONG'S PARTNERS AROUND THE

WORLD THAT THE FREE AND DYNAMIC BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

WHICH HAS ATTRACTED THEM IN SUCH LARGE NUMBERS FOR SO

MANY YEARS WILL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH. HONG KONG IS A

GOING CONCERN WITH A FUTURE STRETCHING INTO THE NEXT

CENTURY AND BEYOND". I SHARE THAT CONVICTION. IN

CONSEQUENCE, I BELIEVE HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO BE A

WORTHY MEMBER OF THE WORLD TRADING COMMUNITY AND A

CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNER IN OUR MUCH VALUED TRADING

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE US.

24.

IN CONCLUSION, I SHOULD LIKE AGAIN TO THANK

THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION WARMLY

FOR INVITING ME TO NEW YORK TO OPEN THEIR HEADQUARTERS

FOR THE AMERICAS AND FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO

ADDRESS YOU. AS THIS NEW YEAR OPENS THERE IS A RENEWED

AIR BOTH OF ACHIEVEMENT AND OPTIMISM IN HONG KONG.

IT

WILL, I AM SURE, BE REFLECTED IN FUTURE OPERATIONS FROM

THESE HEADQUARTERS.

I CONGRATULATE YOU, MR SANDBERG,

YOUR BANK, AND ALL THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPENING

TODAY AND WISH THE BANK CONTINUED SUCCESS.