XN000022-1985-02-20 — Page 1

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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN-SUPPLEMENT

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1985

GOVERNOR'S LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE 1985

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FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE:

+AT THIS TIME ALL OVER HONG KONG, FAMILIES ARE GATHERING TOGETHER TO WELCOME THE YEAR OF THE OX OTHERS HAVE JOINED THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ELSEWHERE FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE NEW YEAR. THIS RENEWAL OF FAMILY TIES IS A REMINDER OF THE DEEP AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS WHICH ARE SO ESSENTIAL FOR THE PEACE AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.

+WHEN I SPOKE TO YOU AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WAS STILL UNKNOWN. THERE WAS WORRY AND UNEASE. THERE WERE FEW WHO EXPECTED THAT BY THE YEAR'S END AN AGREEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNED, OR THAT THAT AGREEMENT WOULD ESTABLISH SO FIRM A FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH HONG KONG'S SPECIAL WAY OF LIFE CAN CONTINUE FAR INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. NOW THAT THE CLOUD OF UNCERTAINTY HAS ROLLED AWAY, WE CAN CONTINUE WITH OUR PLANNED PROGRAMMES AND POLICIES WITH CONFIDENCE. WE CAN DEVELOP AND BUILD, KNOWING THAT WHAT WE CONSTRUCT WILL SERVE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

+ THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE REMARKABLE FOR THE WAY IN WHICH THEY JOIN IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, FOR THE WAY IN WHICH THEY WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND SHOW THEIR CONCERN FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE. NOW WE NEED A COMMITMENT FROM EVERYONE TO MAKE USE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES. WE NEED TO CHOOSE WELL QUALIFIED LEADERS IN THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SO THAT WITH THEIR ADVICE AND SUPPORT. THE RIGHT DECISIONS CAN BE MADE TO DETERMINE THE SHAPE AND PACE OF PROGRESS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

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