TNAG-0332-FCO40-368-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 76

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Monday, February 14, 1972

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WELCOME TO SIR ALEC AND LADY DOUGLAS-HOME

Official Luncheon At Mandarin Hotel

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His Excellency the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, extended a

warm welcome, on behalf of the people of Hong Kong, to the Secretary of

State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Lady Douglas-Home at an

official luncheon in the Mandarin Hotel today.

The Governor said it was his pleasure to propose the health of

the Secretary of State and Lady Douglas-Home.

He told his distinquished guests: "We are all delighted that

they have come. I am very glad that they have come at this festive season.

I don't think there is any time of the year at which they could feel more

quickly the essence of Hong Kong which is its vitality and zest for life.

And it's these qualities coupled with sheer hard work that has achieved

the things you will see today.

"Provided Hong Kong continues to have access to its markets

abroad and we must see that it does, I can assure you that these great

qualities will achieve even greater things in future."

Continuing, the Governor said: "You, Sir, are a very great

public figure and nobody knows better than me how lucky Hong Kong is to

have a Secretary of State with your experience and in time of need, a

voice of such influence in the British Cabinet.

Everybody in this great city and its hinterland, welcomes your

visit and that of Lady Douglas-Home. They welcome it as a visible

expression of the British Government's confidence and interest which is

so important to us and it's doubly welcome as a sign of your own personal

interest in Hong Kong.

"I ask my other guests to rise and drink the health of the

Secretary of State and Lady Douglas-Home."

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