XN000022-1987-04-09 — Page 10

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1987

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+NEW DIMENSIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO OUR LIVES, THROUGH THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG IN THE PACIFIC REGION AND IN THE WORLD, HE SAID.

+WE HAVE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE PROUD OF BUT, GIVEN THE VERY NATURE OF HONG KONG AND THE RAPID GROWTH OF ITS POPULATION, THERE ARE MANY AREAS IN WHICH WE ARE LAGGING BEHIND AND MANY THINGS WE MUST IMPROVE.+

SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID THAT IN SOME CASES IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY WERE DONE BUT IN OTHERS DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE DECISIONS HAD TO BE MADE.

+WE HAVE DEVISED OUR OWN METHODS OF INVOLVING PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS IN THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS,+ HE SAID.

+WITH THESE DEVELOPMENTS COMES A PRIDE, A GREATER SENSE OF BELONGING, A SENSE OF PURPOSE TEMPERED WITH REALISM AND, AT TIMES AN UNDERSTANDABLE ANXIETY THAT THE GOING MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SMOOTH.+

SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID THAT THIS VARIETY OF EMOTIONS AND ATTITUDES FOUND IN THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAD TO BE REMEMBERED, AND IT IS THEIR WELFARE AND THEIR FUTURE THAT MUST BE OUR CONCERN+.

HE WELCOMED SIR DAVID WILSON'S RETURN TO HONG KONG AS +OUR GOVERNOR AND OUR FRIEND+ AND HOPED THAT HE AND HIS FAMILY WOULD GREATLY ENJOY THEIR LIFE IN HONG KONG.

MOST FITTING GOVERNOR CHOSEN TO LEAD HONG KONG

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SIR DAVID WILSON HAS BROUGHT WITH HIM THE MOST FITTING CREDENTIALS FOR THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG DURING THESE IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE YEARS OF TRANSITION IN HONG KONG'S HISTORY, THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S.Y. CHÚNG, SAID AT THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY TODAY (THURSDAY).

HE SAID SIR DAVID HAD PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF HONG KONG, KNOWLEDGE OF CHINA AND ITS PEOPLE AND DEEP INVOLVEMENT IN THE SINO-BRITISH DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATION AND THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.

SIR S.Y. ALSO PLEDGED FULL SUPPORT FOR THE NEW GOVERNOR AND WISHED SIR DAVID AND LADY WILSON A LONG, HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL TOUR OF DUTY IN HONG KONG.

HE NOTED THAT HONG KONG HAD COME A LONG WAY DURING THE PAST FEW DECADES.

/+WE HAD

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