THIRDLY, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE REMAIN A LOW TAX ECONOMY IN WHICH PUBLIC SPENDING IS KEPT UNDER PRUDENT CONTROL. BUT IT IS RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD BE FREE TO USE SOME OF THE WEALTH WE GENERATE AS A COMMUNITY TO HELP THOSE OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS WHO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE AND TO MAKE OUR SOCIETY EVER MORE CIVILISED. I KNOW HOW MUCH THIS COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN, ABOUT THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY, ABOUT HOUSING, ABOUT THE DISABLED, AND ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE. I INTEND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ATTACH TO THESE ISSUES THE PRIORITY THRY DESERVE. I LOOK FORWARD TO SAYING MORE ABOUT THEM IN MY SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN OCTOBER.
FOURTHLY, I KNOW HOW MUCH CONCERN HAS BEEN EXPRESSED IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT LAW AND ORDER. HONG KONG, IT IS TRUE, IS A SAFER CITY THAN MOST, YET THAT IS LITTLE COMFORT TO THE FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME. THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE RELENTLESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME. WE SHALL BE ESPECIALLY TOUGH IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME. THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE DO A MAGNIFICENT JOB. THEY CAN COUNT ON MY STAUNCH SUPPORT AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR SOMETIMES DANGEROUS WORK. CO-OPERATING CLOSELY WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, WE SHALL WORK ROUND THE CLOCK TO BEAT CRIME IN THIS CITY.
MY FIFTH TASK IS FERHAPS THE MOST VITAL AND CHALLENGING OF ALL.
I HAVE HEARD IT SAID THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA, AND THEREFORE THE POSITION OF HONG KONG, IS STILL BEDEVILLED BY MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND THE LACK OF TRUST.
I WILL DO ALL THAT I CAN TO REMOVE MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND ΤΟ BUILD UP TRUST. TRUST IS A TWO-WAY STREET. GOOD CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA IS MY SINCERE AIM AND MY PROFOUND WISH. IT IS VITAL FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, VITAL FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
LET ME, FINALLY, MAKE THIS CLEAR.
AGENDA. MY ONLY
AS HONG KONG'S GOVERNOR T HAVE NO SECRET AGENDA IS THE ONE I HAVE LAID BEFORE YOU TODAY. IT IS CLEAR. IT IS PUBLIC. AND SO IT WILL REMAIN.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT GOD WILLING THROUGH OUR OWN HARD WORK, CALM JUDGMENT AND STURDY DETERMINATION WE SHALL CARRY THROUGH THIS HISTORIC TASK TO A CONCLUSION THAT WILL RANK ABOVE ALL OTHERS AMONG THIS TERRITORY'S MANY ACHIEVEMENTS.
IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND FOR FIFTY YEARS AND MORE BEYOND, THE EYES OF THE WORLD WILL BE ON HONG KONG. I AM SURE THAT WE SHALL BE WORTHY OF OUR DESTINY, A SYMBOL OF CONFIDENCE AND CO-OPERATION FOR THE REST OF HUMANITY.
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