XN000022-1987-04-01 — Page 29

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1987

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LONG SERVICE OF RETIRING SECRETARY LAUDED

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SENIOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, THE HON LYDIA DUNN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PAID TRIBUTE TO THE RETIRING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON ERIC HO, FOR HIS SERVICE IN THE COUNCIL.

IN A VALEDICTORY DELIVERED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS DUNN NOTED THAT MR HO WAS ONE OF THE LONGEST-SERVING MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, BOTH AS SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICE AND AS SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, AND HAD BEEN ENLIGHTENING MEMBERS WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE AND WISE ADVICE FOR A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS.

MISS DUNN SAID MR HO'S RELATIONS WITH HIS COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL HAD ALWAYS BEEN CHARACTERISED BY CALMNESS, SINCERITY AND GOOD HUMOUR, AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS' MANY FORMAL AND INFORMAL CONTACTS WITH HIM OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER HAD BEEN MADE SO MUCH EASIER AND MORE FRUITFUL BY HIS CHARMING, PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING MANNER.

+1 AM SURE THAT THESE QUALITIES HAVE PLAYED NO SMALL PART IN ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF RECENT IMPORTANT TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, WHICH HAVE RESOLVED A NUMBER OF DIFFICULT QUESTIONS AFFECTING OUR FUTURE TRADE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD, SHE SAID.

MISS DUNN ADDED THAT FEW CIVIL SERVANTS COULD MATCH MR HO'S RICH AND VARIED EXPERIENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT.

+ IT IS PERHAPS A MEASURE OF THE LENGTH OF HIS SERVICE THAT MOST OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCHES IN WHICH HE HAS WORKED SO ABLY AND DEVOTEDLY NOW NO LONGER EXIST: THEY HAVE BEEN REORGANISED, RENAMED OR SUBDIVIDED, SHE SAID.

SHE NOTED THAT MR HO WAS RETIRING FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE BUT WOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE HONG KONG IN HIS NEW POSITION AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

SHE SAID SHE COULD THINK OF NO PERSON BETTER QUALIFIED TO FILL THIS IMPORTANT AND RESPONSIBLE POSITION. SHE ALSO HOPED MR HO AND HIS WIFE GRACE EVERY HAPPINESS IN THE FUTURE.

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