XN000022-1990-10-10 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10,

1990

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HK MUST FACE FUTURE WITH REALISM AND DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED: GOVERNOR

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AT THE START OF THIS CRUCIAL DECADE, HONG KONG IS, AND REMAIN, A COMMUNITY FACING ITS FUTURE WITH REALISM AND DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN HIS ANNUAL POLICY ADDRESS TO OPEN THE 1990/91 SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR SAID AFTER THE PROBLEMS OF 1989, WE HAD MADE STEADY AND SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS THIS YEAR SOCIALLY AND POLITICALLY.

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BCONOMICALLY,

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"WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DEAL SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE CHALLENGE PREPARING FOR THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997. BUT, ONCK AGAIN, WE HAVE HAD TO FACE NEW STRAINS.

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"THIS SUMMER SAW THE SUDDEN ERUPTION OF A CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHICH HAS CAST A DARK SHADOW OVER THE WORLD ECONOMY, SIR DAVID SAID.

LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBED THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW INITIATIVES FOR THE 1990S AND BEYOND. "AT A TIME OF ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY, AND UNCERTAINTY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, MEMBERS WILL NOT EXPECT ME TODAY TO UNVEIL A FURTHER RANGE OF MAJOR NEW INITIATIVES.

"NOR DO I INTEND TO DO SO," HE ADDED.

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT WE WERE NOW IN A PERIOD WHEN WE SHOULD TAKE STOCK OF THE PROGRAMMES ALREADY LAUNCHED, AND ALSO OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, AND CONSIDER HOW BEST TO PROVIDE THEM.

"WE WILL NEED TO TAKE DECISIONS ON HOW TO FUND THESE SERVICES AND PROGRAMMES AND SEE WHETHER THERE ARE WAYS OF IMPROVING THE SCOPE FOR INDIVIDUAL CHOICE AND QUALITY, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

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GDP TO INCREASE BY 2.5 PER CENT

HEALTHY

HONG KONG'S RATE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR 1990, ALTHOUGH WORLD STANDARDS, WILL BR MODEST IN TERMS OF OUR OWN PAST PERFORMANCE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

BY

BY

THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATED THAT GDP WOULD INCREASE THIS YEAR 2.5 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS, SIR DAVID SAID.

COUNCIL,

ADDRESSING THE OPENING OF THE 1990/91 SESSION OF LEGISLATIVE

THAT SIR DAVID SAID LAST YEAR, HE WARNED KONG FACED A SLOWDOWN IN THE RATE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THIS HAD INDEED BEEN THE CASE.

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HONG

/"OUR PROSPECTS