XN000022-1992-07-09 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1992

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHRISTOPHER PATTEN ON THE OCCASION OF HIS SWEARING-IN AT THE CITY HALL ON JULY 9, 1992

SIR DAVID, BARONESS DUNN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND TO BARONESS KONG'S FOR THEIR KIND AND ELOQUENT WORDS. THEY ARE TWO OF HONG EMINENT SERVANTS. I GREATLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM, AND THEIR WISE COUNSELS.

THE

RESPONSIBILITY

DUNN

MOST

ΤΟ

ASSUME I AM GREATLY HONOURED TODAY TO THE GOVERNORSHIP OF HONG KONG ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES.

-

HONG KONG HAS BEEN MADE GREAT NOT BY GEOGRAPHY BUT BY ITS MOST FORMIDABLE ASSETS, THE ENERGY, THE VITALITY AND THE INDUSTRY OF ITS PEOPLE, AND PROSPERING WITHIN A FRAMEWORK RULE OF LAW.

OF

SOUND

OF

THE ACCIDENTS

ENTERPRISE, LIVING,

OF

THE WORKING THE

AND ADMINISTRATION

YOU THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HAVE CREATED HERE AT THE HEART EXAMPLES ASIA, A WONDER OF THE WORLD, ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR THE VIRTUES OF A FREE ECONOMY KNOWN TO MAN.

OF

OF

FOR

A

PEOPLE OF NOW THE

HONG KONG FACE A FURTHER TASK. I AM PRIVILEGED TO SHARE IT WITH YOU FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. OUR TASK THE FUTURE IS AS MOMENTOUS AS YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PAST. IT IS ALREADY SHOWN TASK THAT WILL REQUIRE ALL THE QUALITIES YOU HAVE RESILIENCE, DETERMINATION, DRIVE ONLY IN STILL GREATER MEASURE. IT GOING IS A TASK WHICH, WHEN WE ACCOMPLISH IT SUCCESSFULLY TO DO WILL PROVIDE A SHINING EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD OF PARTNERSHIP AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN PEOPLES AND NATIONS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.

-

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN THE

CLOSING YEARS

- AS WE ARE

-

OF THIS TUMULTUOUS REALITY, THAT HISTORIC CENTURY IS TO TURN FROM EARNEST HOPE TO FIRM AND FAR-SIGHTED CONCEPT - "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS".

-

PROMISE

A HONG

A

KONG

WHEN WE HAVE ACHIEVED THAT, WE WILL HAVE FULFILLED THE ENSHRINED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION: A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS HONG KONG,

- FOUNDED IN THAT DECLARATION WHOSE FUTURE THAT CHERISHES AND MAINTAINS HEART BEATING AT THE CENtre of WIDELY.

IT'S

ASIA,

PRESENT

-

IS SECURE; LIFESTYLE;

PUMPING PROSPERITY

CAPITALIST EVER MORE

OF THAT ACHIEVEMENT WILL BE GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE

TODAY'S HONG OF TOMORROW; GOOD FOR KONG; GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE HONG KONG

BETWEEN OUR CHINA; GOOD FOR BRITAIN; GOOD FOR THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP

CENTURY UNFOLDS TWO ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS; AND IT WILL AS A NEW BE GOOD FOR THE WORLD.

-

AS YOU