TNAG-1159-FCO40-1439-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--1982 — Page 57

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DSR 11C

DRAFT SPEECH FOR LUNCH HOSTED BY CMA, FEDERATION OF

HONG KONG INDUSTRIES AND HKG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

I should like to begin by saying how grateful I am to

you all for inviting me today. Once again I have been

enormously impressed during my visit by Hong Kong and

her people. I am only sorry that my stay is so brief,

but I have still been able to capture some of the

flavour of this vibrant society with a dynamic and

industrious population. It is full of life and vigour.

-

There have, of course, been changes since I was last

here in 1977 the New Towns in the New Territories, the

Mass Transit Railway, and very significantly, Hong Kong

has acquired a new dimension as a major international

financial centre. It has become even more of a force

in the economic life of the Far East and the World.

difficulties.

During this time Hong Kong has had to cope with many

But I am struck by the way in which you

have dealt with the problems of world recession, and the

flow of immigrants and refugees into the Territory.

Since I was last here Hong Kong has continued to sustain

a consistent annual growth rate of 8 to 10% - a telling

tribute to hard work and free enterprise.

It is also heartening to see that a society devoted to

individual initiative also has an enviable record in the

field of social services: Hong Kong's success in providing

homes for its rapidly growing population, in expanding

health services and educational facilities, in giving

/assistance