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HONG KONG IS A GOING CONCERN WITH A FUTURE STRETCHING INTO THE
NEXT CENTURY AND BEYOND.
32. WE COULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED SUCH A GOOD AGREEMENT WITHOUT TH
SUPPORT AND ADVICE OF MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, AND SPEAKING HER TONIGHT AMONG SO MANY OLD FRIENDS, I SHOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
THANKS.
33. I SHOULD LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THE
FIRMNESS OF HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE WISDOM OF HIS ADVICE.
34. THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS PLAYE
A CRUCIAL ROLE THROUGHOUT THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD IN HONG KONG'S
HISTORY. THE ADVICE OFFERED BY EXCO THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATING
PROCESS WAS OF THE GREATEST VALUE. I CAN RECALL MANY OCCASIONS
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS IN THE CABINET ROOM AT 10 DOWNING STREET
WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE CRUCIAL ISSUES.
35.
ALL MEMBERS OF UMELCO MADE KNOWN THEIR OWN HOPES AND FEARS
AND THOSE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS REFLECTED TO THEM. YOUR FRANKNESS, DETERMINATION AND SENSE OF PUBLIC DUTY WAS OF GREAT
VALUE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
36. I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO PAY WARM TRIBUTE TO THE EXEMPLARY
MANNER IN WHICH THE HONG KONG PUBLIC SERVICE CONTINUED TO PERFOR
ITS DUTIES, AND THE PATIENCE AND FOREBEARANCE OF THE PEOPLE OF
HONG KONG AS A WHOLE. IT CANNOT HAVE BEEN EASY TO LIVE WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT THE WHOLE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY AND ITS PEOPLE
WAS BEING DISCUSSED, AS IT HAD TO BE, IN CONDITIONS OF
CONFIDENTIALITY.
37. ONE TASK HAS BEEN COMPELTED WITH THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT
DECLARATION BUT THIS IS NOT THE END.
38. THE AGREEMENT ON ITS OWN CANNOT ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE
FOR HONG KONG. SO MUCH LIES, AS IT ALWAYS HAS DONE, IN YOUR
HANDS.
39. YOU, THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, HAVE EARNED THE RESPECT OF THE
ENTIRE WORLD FOR THE ASTONISHING SUCCESS STORY WHICH YOU HAVE
WRITTEN. YOU HAVE CONTRIBUED RESILIENCE, IMAGINATION AND SHEER
HARD WORK. ABOVE ALL YOU HAVE SHOWN THE COURAGE TO ADAPT TO
CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
40.
1997 IS PERHAPS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE YOU HAVE YET FACED:
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