XN000022-1992-12-16 — Page 33

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1992

31

GOVT TO MAINTAIN HK'S RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT

THE

GOVERNMENT WAS DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN THE TERRITORY'S REMARKABLE RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT AND TO GIVE THE NEW HONG KONG IN 1997 THE GREATEST POSSIBLE CHANCE OF SUCCESS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO MARK THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTRE OF ASIAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, MR MACLEOD SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S AIMS IN RELATION TO THE ECONOMY AND THE COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WERE CLEAR, AND INCLUDED:

ENCOURAGING HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY BY MAINTAINING PRUDENT AND SOUND ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES; AND BY INVESTING HEAVILY IN OUR PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE;

REMOVING

OBSTACLES

COMPETITIVENESS;

TO ECONOMIC GROWTH

AND

TO

-

ENSURING THAT HONG KONG REMAINS A LEVEL-PLAYING FIELD;

PROTECTING THE POOR AND VULNERABLE BY IMPROVING STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THE SOCIAL SERVICES; AND

PEOPLE BY

ENSURING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR THE PROVIDING HIGH STANDARDS OF SERVICE IN ALL ITS DEALINGS WITH THE PUBLIC.

MR MACLEOD STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS DETERMINED ΤΟ ENSURE THAT HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE TO EXCEL IN THE COMING YEARS.

"THAT IS WHY WE ARE MAKING GREAT EFFORTS TO EXPAND TERTIARY EDUCATION, TO FURTHER DEVELOP OUR PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME, TO IMPROVE OUR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, то MAP OUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME AND TO DEVELOP OUR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.

"THAT IS WHY WE ARE EMBARKING ON MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS TO UNDERPIN HONG KONG'S ROLE.

"AND WHY WE ARE EMBARKING ON THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME, BASED AROUND THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK, HE SAID.

++

THAT

LOOKING AHEAD, MR MACLEOD SAID EVERY INDICATOR SUGGESTED KONG WOULD REMAIN A THRIVING ECONOMY AND AN ENGINE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA DESPITE THE CHANGE IN SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997.

HONG

—

"OUR LOCATION - AT THE GATEWAY TO CHINA AND AT THE CROSSROADS OF ASIA WILL NEVER CHANGE.

"THIS ENSURES THAT HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC ROLE WILL ALWAYS BE CENTRAL TO ASIA'S PROSPERITY," HE SAID.

/"WE EXPECT