XN000022-1986-12-31 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1986

FIRM FOUNDATIONS FOR PROGRESS SIR DAVID

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FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING GOVERNOR

+TODAY WE STAND AT THE THRESHOLD OF 1987 WITH A FEELING OF SADNESS THAT SIR EDWARD YOUDE IS NO LONGER WITH US, FOR, UNDER HIS FOUR YEARS OF WISE QUIET AND PRAGMATIC LEADERSHIP,' HONG KONG HAS CONFRONTED AND RESOLVED MANY OF ITS PROBLEMS AND HAS PROGRESSED AND PROSPERED.

+WE MUST BUILD ON THESE FIRM FOUNDATIONS AND CARRY ON IMPLEMENTING THOSE POLICIES WHICH ENSURE THAT THE GROWING WEALTH CREATED BY A WELL MANAGED ECONOMY BRINGS IMPROVEMENT TO OUR MEDICAL, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND GREATER CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED, AND ENABLES US TO CONTINUE THE VITAL WORK OF BUILDING HONG KONG.

+ THE ARRANGEMENTS TO MOVE HONG KONG STEADILY TOWARDS 1997 ARE WORKING WELL AND ALREADY MANY IMPORTANT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO SET THAT FUTURE IN PLACE. THIS HAS ENCOURAGED LOCAL AND OVERSEAS INVESTMENT. AND OUR GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS ARE EVOLVING TO MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE NEEDS OF TOMORROW.

+STENGTHENED BY THIS KNOWLEDGE LET US FACE 1987 WITH CONFIDENCE AND WITH DETERMINATION TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

+MY WIFE JOINS ME IN WISHING YOU A HEALTHY, HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.+

CANADA RECOGNISES BN(0) PASSPORT

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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WELCOMED THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNISE THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) STATUS AND PASSPORT THAT GOES WITH IT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

CANADA IS THE SIXTH COUNTRY TO GIVE THE BN(0) PASSPORT FORMAL RECOGNITION.

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