TNAG-0726-FCO40-929-Appointment-of-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 26

GPS 275 IMMEDIATE

EN CLAIR

FM HONG KONG 2209452

UNCL IFIED

TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O TELNO.366 OF 22 MARCH 78,

HKK. 010/1

TOP

DECK OFFICE

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON, INDEX

No

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF:

(A) THE PRESS RELEASE: AND (B) THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS STATEMENT ON THE EXTENSION OF HIS TERM OF OFFICE ISSUED AT 1700 TODAY (WED-

NESDAY).

(A)

''THE QUEEN HAS APPROVED THE EXTENSION OF THE GOVERNOR'S

TERM UNTIL AUGUST 1979.

(B) ''THE ENTHUSIASM OF MY WIFE AND MYSELF FOR HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE IS WELL KNOWN, AND WE ARE OF COURSE BOTH DELIGHTED TO HAVE THIS EXTRA TIME HERE. BUT, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN-

HONG KONG, WE ARE HERE TO WORK.

THE OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF HONG KONG AT THIS TIME ARE THE

CONFIDENCE ENGENDERED BY THE EXCELLENT STATE OF ANGLO/CHINESE RELATIONS, AND THE RAPID ADVANCES THAT ARE BEING MADE WITH HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC EXPANSION, SOCIAL PROGRAMMES, AND FIGHT AGAINST

CRIME AND CORRUPTION.

PROGRESS AND CHANGE OF THIS SPEED AND ON THIS SCALE HAVE

BROUGHT PROBLEMS FOR INSTANCE QUITE UNFAIR PROBLEMS FOR OUR

EXPORTERS ABROAD, AND TEMPORARY PRESSURES OR INCONVENIENCE FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS AT HOME, AND PROBLEMS OF ADMINISTRATION AS THE SCALE OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY INCREASES. THE RAPID IMPLEMENTATION

OF NEW POLICIES ALSO PROVIDES FOOD FOR HEALTHY CONTROVERSY.

NEVERTHELESS THE REMARKABLE UPWARD TREND ON SO MANY FRONTS IS

THE MAIN FEATURE, AND TO MAINTAIN IT IS CLEARLY THE WHOLEHEARTED

WISH OF THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG.

DURING THE NEXT 17 MONTHS THE OBJECT OF MY WORK WILL BE TO

PRESERVE AND FORTIFY THE PROGRESS AND REDUCE OR RESOLVE THE

ACCOMPANYING PROBLEMS.''

MACLEHOSE

TILES HK & GD NEWS D

MR.STRATTON

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT.OFFICE