5.
Many of these programmes were little more than extensions of previous trends of government, some were quite new, but they were all deliberately presented and announced over a period of years so as to try and catch and hold the imagination or interest of the population. Though warts still abound, generally speaking these programmes have transformed much of Hong Kong physically and psychologically, as well as its international reputation. The value of U.K. exports to Hong Kong has risen till it nearly equals those to Japan and exceeds those to any other Asian country.
6.
The effort has been a corporate one between people of all degrees, unofficials and officials, and has been implemented by one of the most committed civil services, and the best for getting things done, I have ever worked with. It is this sense of corporate achievement that has made these years so rewarding.
7
We were favoured by an average growth rate over the period of 10% per year and an average annual per capita increase of 7.5%, both in real terms. Full marks to our workforce, entrepreneurs and bankers, and those responsible, like Sir Philip Haddon-Cave, for managing our economy, for making this possible during world-wide economic conditions which were for the most part sluggish or recessionary. But a government which could not make something out of such prolonged growth would be contemptible. So we were lucky.
8.
We had some major set-backs: the deep recession in 1973/74/75 delayed government programmes by about 2 years, and resulted in a significant fall in real wages. Secondly the influx of about 400,000
/ people
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