XN000022-1987-01-16 — Page 18

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1987

+ THE NEW BANK OF CHINA BUILDING CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION IS AMPLE EVIDENCE OF THE IMPORTANCE CHINA ATTACHES TO HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL AND TRADING CENTRE. HONG KONG HAS RESUMED ITS ROLE AS AN IMPORTANT ENTREPOT FOR CHINA'S EXPORTS, OFFERING EXCELLENT DEEP WATER PORT FACILITIES AND UNIQUE EXPERTISE OF MIDDLEMEN INVOLVED IN FINAL PACKAGING AND HANDLING, MR LAM SAID.

WHILE CHINA SURPASSED THE UNITED STATES IN 1986 AS HONG KONG'S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER AND EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA FROM HONG KONG HAD EXPERIENCED A HIGH GROWTH RATE, MR LAM NOTED IT IS NOT JUST A ONE-WAY RELATIONSHIP.

+HONG KONG'S POSITION AS THE DOORWAY TO THE WEST AND ITS WESTERN SYSTEMS OF MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS ARE BEING UTILISED IN HELPING CHINA'S MODERNISATION PROGRAMME.+

HE NOTED TOO THAT DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS THE OPENING OF THE UNIFIED STOCK EXCHANGE HAD FURTHER ENHANCED HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL ROLE.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, MR LAM SAID THAT THE PROGRESSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT, HONG KONG'S CONTINUED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ITS ON-GOING GROWTH AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE SERVE TO ENHANCE HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.

+TOGETHER WITH THE UNIQUE ABILITY OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO ADJUST AND ADAPT TO A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR DETERMINATION TO OVERCOME PROBLEMS, I AM CONFIDENT THAT DURING THE NEXT TEN YEARS, AND WELL AFTER 1997. HONG KONG WILL REMAIN A PROSPEROUS AND DYNAMIC INTERNATIONAL TRADING AND FINANCIAL CENTRE.

GOOD CITIZEN AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED

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A PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (JANUARY 18) IN VICTORIA PARK TO AWARD 12 WINNERS OF THE 1986 EASTERN DISTRICT GOOD CITIZEN AWARDS.

THEY ARE BEING AWARDED FOR THEIR BRAVERY AND OUTSTANDING BEHAVIOUR IN HELPING THE POLICE TO FIGHT CRIME.

AN EXHIBITION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS AND AN EXHIBITION ON THE +1986 FIGHT CRIME AND CARE FOR SOCIETY SCHEME+ WHICH WAS HELD LAST JUNE WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYED DURING THE EVENT.

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