XN000022-1994-02-09 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1994

GOVERNOR'S LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE

THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY IS AN IMPORTANT TIME FOR ALL OF US. IT IS A TIME TO PAUSE AND TO CATCH OUR BREATH BEFORE WE PLUNGE INTO ANOTHER YEAR.

THE NEW YEAR IS ONE OF THOSE ALL TOO RARE OPPORTUNITIES TO STAND BACK FROM OUR CAREERS, FROM SCHOOL, COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY WORK OR FROM THE DEMANDS, AND THEY ARE SUBSTANTIAL, OF RUNNING A HOME. A TIMB TO PUT EVERYDAY CONCERNS IN PERSPECTIVE. A TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST IN LIFE THE HEALTH, THE WELFARE AND THE HAPPINESS OF OUR FAMILY AND OF OUR FRIENDS.

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FROM

THE START OF A NEW YEAR IS ABOVE ALL A TIME FOR FAMILIES. THE MANY FRIENDS LAVENDER, ALICE AND I HAVE MADE SINCE COMING TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, I KNOW THAT THE FAMILY SPIRIT IS NOWHERE STRONGER THAN IN HONG KONG. PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO RENEW TIES AND TO DRAW STRENGTH FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM THE TRADITIONS AND VALUES WHICH ARE THE BEDROCK OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUCCESS.

FOR

THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A YEAR OF STEADY, SOLID ACHIEVEMENT HONG KONG. THE ECONOMY HAS EXPANDED BY ABOUT 5.5%, THE NINETEENTH SUCCESSIVE YEAR OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. AND BEHIND THE DRY STATISTICS OF ECONOMIC SUCCESS ARE THE REALITIES OF RISING LIVING STANDARDS AND GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. FAMILY INCOMES HAVE RISEN. AND OUR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY HAVE ALSO BEEN IMPROVED AS ECONOMIC PROGRESS HAS MADE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE ΤΟ THE GOVERNMENT.

LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE. DURING THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO:

BUILD AN ADDITIONAL 66,000 NEW HOMES FOR FAMILIES ON HOUSING WAITING LISTS;

THE

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COMMISSION AN ADDITIONAL 3,350 BEDS OUR HOSPITALS AND INFIRMARIES; AND

IN

WE

HAVE RECRUITED AN ADDITIONAL 4,000 TEACHERS TO WORK OUR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

IN

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE IMPROVING OUR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. THESE ARE REAL ACHIEVEMENTS. THEY CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF HONG KONG'S FAMILIES. NO WONDER ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS MAGAZINES RECENTLY VOTED HONG KONG ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD, NOT JUST TO DO BUSINESS BUT TO LIVE AND BRING UP A FAMILY,

/IN HONG