XN000022-1987-04-08 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1997

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SIR DAVID LAUDED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG

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SENIOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, THE HON LYDIA DUNN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EXPRESSED APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF HER COLLEAGUES TO THE OUT-GOING PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, FOR ALL THAT HE HAD DONE FOR HONG KONG DURING HIS 30 YEARS HERE.

IN A VALEDICTORY DELIVERED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS DUNN SAID IT WOULD TAKE A WHOLE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE TO DESCRIBE THE PROGRESS THAT HAD BEEN MADE IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND DAILY LIFE OF HONG KONG IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

SHE SAID SIR DAVID'S CONTRIBUTION TO THAT PROCESS HAD BEEN IMMENSE.

+ IT HAS EARNED YOU NOT ONLY THE ADMIRATION OF MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IN GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO THE RESPECT AND AFFECTION OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, SHE SAID TO SIR DAVID.

SHE ADDED THAT SIR DAVID HAD GUIDED THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WITH IMAGINATION WHICH HAD ENABLED NEW TOWNS, HOUSING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND TRADITIONAL VILLAGE LIFE TO EXIST SIDE BY SIDE.

SHE SAID THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME AND THE PROMOTION OF THE ARTS AND COMMUNITY LIFE IN THE DISTRICTS HAD OWED MUCH TO SIR DAVID'S ENCOURAGEMENT AND HE HAD PLAYED NO SMALL PART IN BRINGING ABOUT THE INCREASING RICHNESS AND VITALITY THAT PEOPLE SAW AROUND THEM WHEREVER THEY WENT IN HONG KONG.

SHE NOTED THAT MORE RECENTLY, SIR DAVID HAD, AS CHIEF SECRETARY, MADE USE OF HIS DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERRITORY AND ITS PEOPLE, AND HIS SKILLS AS AN ADMINISTRATOR TO PROMOTE STABLE AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.

+AND FOUR MONTHS AGO, WITH THE SUDDEN DEATH OF SIR EDWARD YOUDE, YOU TOOK ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF GOVERNOR AT A TIME OF GREAT SADNESS, SHE SAID.

SHE NOTED THAT DURING THESE FOUR MONTHS, THERE HAD BEEN NO SLACKENING OF THE VIGOROUS AND PROGRESSIVE PACE AT WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WORKED.

+WHEN THE NEW GOVERNOR ARRIVES TOMORROW HE WILL SEE A THRIVING, ENERGETIC AND WELL-GOVERNED SOCIETY, WHICH IS WELL PREPARED FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE TO COME,+ SHE SAID.

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ALTHOUGH SIR DAVID RETIRED FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, HIS VALUABLE WORK IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS NOT YET FINISHED.

/+YOUR POSITION