XN000022-1995-10-19 — Page 19

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I can and will - with the 101% backing of the British Government, the support of all political parties at Westminster, and the understanding of our friends in the region and beyond - I will continue to do all I can to ensure that Hong Kong, our economic well-being, our rule of law and our way of life survive 1997 - survive and prosper. But that reassurance only goes so far. It's for others - China's officials and China's advisers - to give the reassurances that Hong Kong and the world want beyond that.

Don't underestimate the damage done here and abroad every time, for example, that those who advise China give the impression that come 1997 the protection of Hong Kong's freedom and way of life is going to be dismantled. That sort of statement hits every agency tape around the world. You can buy advertising space by the yard to say how wonderful Hong Kong is and how wonderful Hong Kong is going to be, but that sort of story undoes all the good work and all the good words; it does immeasurable damage to confidence and, therefore, immeasurable damage to Hong Kong's prospects.

P

I, too, think that Hong Kong will stay special and stay successful, if if it's given a chance, if it's trusted to get on with its own life, if all of you care sufficiently passionately that things should and must stay the same. IF.

President Bush used to talk about the vision thing. Well, I'll tell you my vision of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong will in 1997 be the richest city in China. Within less than a generation, within perhaps half the average working life, Hong Kong could, on all the present statistics, become the richest city in the world. The richest and one of the most decent. Safe. Stable. Successful. An Asian role model. A world role model. That's what could happen. That's what should happen. And if you want it enough it will happen. Don't allow that vision to be thrown away.

End/Thursday, October 19, 1995