XN000022-1991-10-09 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1991

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"SOME DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY DONE A GREAT DEAL TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT BY PLANTING NEW TREES IN THEIR STREETS," HE ADDED.

THE GOVERNOR SAID A CLEAN AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT REQUIRED A PERSONAL COMMITMENT FROM ALL HONG KONG PEOPLE. THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG DEPENDED ON ALL WHO TOOK THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES SERIOUSLY.

"FOR THE GOVERNMENT, IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT REMAINS A

A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR THE 1990S, SIR DAVID SAID.

PRIORITY

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IMPROVING QUALITY OF SOCIAL SERVICES IS NOT A LUXURY

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT REGARD IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND VARIETY OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES AS A LUXURY.

"

"IT IS NO LESS IMPORTANT THAN OUR INVESTMENTS IN PORT FACILITIES OR NEW ROAD SYSTEMS, SIR DAVID SAID, WHEN DELIVERING HIS POLICY ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

HE SAID THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAD MADE GREAT SACRIFICES IN THE PAST TO BUILD THE ECONOMY AND DEVELOP THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

"WE ARE UNDERTAKING NEW AND LARGER INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES FOR THE COMING DECADE. BUT ECONOMIC GROWTH IS NOT BEING PURSUED SIMPLY FOR ITS OWN SAKE.

"OUR GOAL MUST BE TO USE THE ADDITIONAL WEALTH CREATED ΤΟ IMPROVE THE LIVING STANDARDS OF ALL OUR FAMILIES AND ΤΟ CREATE AN ATTRACTIVE AND SECURE LIFE-STYLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, SIR DAVID SAID.

"I

HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG TODAY WAS AS SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY MATURE AS MANY DEVELOPED NATIONS.

"IN SUCH A COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE NO LESS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING SOCIAL SERVICES AND TO PROTECTING THE DISADVANTAGED THAN IT IS TO UPGRADING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

"THAT IS WHY WE HAVE PAID SO MUCH ATTENTION TO SOCIAL SERVICES IN RECENT DECADES. MUCH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, HE ADDED.

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NOTING THAT THERE WERE STILL AREAS OF SOCIAL PROVISION WHERE HONG KONG LAGGED BEHIND THE STANDARDS THAT OUGHT TO ACHIEVE, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE BRINGING FORWARD PROPOSALS DESIGNED TO MAKE GOOD EXISTING DEFICIENCIES, AND TO STRENGTHEN ITS COMMITMENT TO THE DISADVANTAGED AND THOSE AT RISK.

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