XN000022-1989-04-21 — Page 3

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1989

AS TO THE POLITICAL FUTURE THERE CAN BE FEW TERRITORIES IN THE WORLD WHICH HAVE SUCH A GUARANTEE OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS IS ENSHRINED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION. OUR COMMITMENT IS TO DEVELOPING A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG WHICH COMMANDS THE BROADEST POSSIBLE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY. AS YOU WILL HAVE GATHERED IN THE COURSE OF YOUR VISIT THAT IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO ACHIEVE IN HONG KONG. THE PROCESS HAS QUICKENED SINCE 1984. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE MADE IN 1985 AND MORE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES WILL BE PUT IN PLACE IN 1991 AND INDEED IN 1995. THE ADMINISTRATION IS DETERMINED TO ESTABLISH A MODEL OF GOVERNMENT IN 1995 WHICH WILL ENDURE THE TRANSITION WITH THE LEAST POSSIBLE DISRUPTION. IN OUR JUDGMENT CONTINUITY OVER THE PERIOD OF THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY IS A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE. CONTINUITY IN THE LEGISLATURE (OVER WHICH WE HEAVE REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE) CONTINUITY IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONTINUITY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. IT SEEMS то US ESSENTIAL BOTH IN TERMS OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS CONFIDENCE THAT THE TRANSITION IS AS SEEMLESS AS IT CAN BE. WITHIN THIS BROAD FRAMEWORK WE WILL CHANGE AND IMPROVE OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

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FOR ALL THIS WE NEED A FIRST RATE PUBLIC SERVICE

A PUBLIC SERVICE WHOSE MEMBERS CAN BE RELIED UPON TO SERVE THE PEOPLE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY NOT ONLY UNDER THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE A STRONG CORPS OF DEDICATED AND RESILIENT OFFICERS. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THEIR HIGH MORALE AND ALLEGIANCE TO HONG KONG BE SUSTAINED, AMONG BOTH LOCAL AND EXPATRIATE OFFICERS, DESPITE THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY.

CHAIRMAN, IN LOOKING ΤΟ THE FUTURE WE DO NOT PRETEND то MINIMIZE THE PROBLEMS WE FACE AND THE REAL UNCERTAINTY THAT RESTS IN THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE HERE. INDEED AS MEMBERS MUST BE ACUTELY AWARE, HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE NOT SLOW IN COMING FORWARD ΤΟ EXPRESS THEIR WORRIES ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. BUT WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE CHANGES WHICH WILL COME ABOUT IN 1997 OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS A CHALLENGE. AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HONG KONG TO CONTRIBUTE IN A MAJOR WAY ΤΟ THE MODERNISATION OF CHINA THROUGH THE STRENGTH OF INSTITUTIONS, ITS INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR AND THE HUGE RESERVOIR SKILL AND TALENT WHICH HAS BEEN BUILT UP OVER THE YEARS. AND OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP FURTHER AS A FINANCIAL AND SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE REGION AS A WHOLE.

IT'S

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I DO SOMETIMES WORRY THAT WE WILL TALK OURSELVES INTO A DEPRESSION BUT WHEN I STEP OUTSIDE THE HOT-HOUSE OF POLITICAL DISCUSSION AND INTO THE REAL HEART OF HONG KONG AND SEE THE STABLE AND INTENSELY HARDWORKING COMMUNITY OF NEARLY SIX MILLION PEOPLE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO THIS PLACE. I AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE ABOUT THE FUTURE.

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