XN000022-1992-02-03 — Page 2

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1992

GOVERNOR'S LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE

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FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON:

MESSAGE FROM THE

―

"NEW YEAR IS A TIME FOR REMINDING OURSELVES OF SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE IN PARTICULAR, ALL WE OWE TO OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. IT IS A FESTIVAL WHICH STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY. IT DRAWS US CLOSER TO THE MANY PEOPLE WHO PLAY SUCH A LARGE PART IN OUR HAPPINESS, OUR COMFORT AND OUR WELL-BEING.

HONG KONG IS A COMMUNITY WHICH STRIVES TO PRESERVE THE BEST OF ITS CHINESE TRADITIONS. BACH YEAR, AT THIS TIME, EVEN THIS ENERGETIC TERRITORY SETS ASIDE THE BUSTLE OF BUSINESS AND TAKES TIME OFF TO CELEBRATE WITH PARENTS AND CHILDREN, TO VISIT RELATIVES AND ENJOY THE COMPANY OF FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.

TO

AT THE HEART OF THE TRADITIONS OF NEW YEAR IS THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE. HONG KONG IS A COMMUNITY WHICH CARES DEEPLY ABOUT PEOPLE. FAR MORE THAN OFTEN RECOGNISED, THIS IS A COMMUNITY WHICH IS WARM-HEARTED AND GENEROUS. IT CAN BE QUICK TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.

HONG KONG SHOWED THIS IN A REMARKABLE WAY LAST YEAR. DONATIONS POURED IN FROM EVERY PART OF THE TERRITORY TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE AND HELP TO THE VICTIMS OF FLOODING IN CHINA. THIS WAS A SPLENDID EFFORT. IT SAYS A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE BASIC VALUES OF OUR SOCIETY.

WE HAVEN'T OVERLOOKED, AND WE MUSTN'T, THE HUMAN NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WE PRESS ON WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE SUCCESSFUL AND MORE REWARDING ECONOMY. AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE SPECIAL RESPECT PAID TO THE OLDER GENERATION IS A GOOD WAY OF RECOGNISING HOW MUCH WE OWE TO THEM FOR THE WAY THEY LAID THE FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR PROSPERITY.

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THE NEW YEAR CUSTOMS ALSO REMIND US THAT OUR HOPES

AND

FAITH CENTRE ON THE CHILDREN OF HONG KONG. THE FAMILY IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTITUTION IN OUR COMMUNITY. CHILDREN ARE AT THE HEART OF THE FAMILY. IT IS CHILDREN, AND OUR HOPES FOR THEM, THAT INSPIRE OUR EFFORTS ΤΟ CREATE A BETTER WORLD. IT IS THINKING AHEAD FOR THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN THAT JUSTIFIES THE EFFORT WE MAKE TO GO ON INVESTING IN NEW HOMES, BETTER SCHOOLS MODERN INDUSTRIES.

AND

HERE, TOO, WE HAVE GOOD REASON FOR PRIDE. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A GREAT CREDIT TO HONG KONG, THEY ARE IMPRESSIVE AMBASSADORS FOR HONG KONG AROUND THE WORLD. THEY CAN BE SEEN ACHIEVING OUTSTANDING RESULTS IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OVERSEAS. INCREASINGLY THEY ARE BEING SEEN IN CULTURAL AND SPORTING ACTIVITIES TOO.

/NEW YEAR