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He said they had overcome adversity and created in Korea a powerful and dynamic economy that was one the key players in the most dynamic region on earth.
"And you have at the same time turned your country into Asia's newest multi- party democracy, demonstrating to any who doubted it that economic freedom and political freedom can go hand in hand, reinforcing rather than weakening one another," he said.
Turning to relations with China, Mr Patten said as 1997 approached, Hong Kong was very keen to develop a habit of co-operation with China. He noted recent agreement on the airport and the establishment of a committee to discuss cross-border infrastructure links.
He said this was important because if Hong Kong's airport was delayed, or its port constrained, or its legal framework called into question, Britain itself was not directly affected, but Hong Kong and China were.
The Governor stressed that as 1997 drew closer, people would look to China for answers and to China for reassurance about life after 1997.
"The more China provides those answers and that reassurance, the greater confidence will be in Hong Kong, the more Hong Kong will prosper and thrive, and so too will China," Mr Patten said.
Tomorrow, the Governor will have another busy round of engagements.
He will begin his day early with a breakfast meeting with the Newspaper Editors' association at the Korean press centre. This will be followed by meetings with Mr Hong Jae-hyong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Planning Board and Mr Kim Chul-su, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. In the afternoon, he will leave for Tokyo for a four-day visit.
End/Monday, December 12, 1994
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