TNAG-1438-FCO40-1922-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 21

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My UMELCO colleagues and I are very glad to be here

this evening as guests of Mr XU Jiatun, Director of NCNA, at this spring dinner. Like in last year, it is hoped that you, Mr XU, will accept our sincere offer of reciprocating your

hospitality in the near future. This gesture of mutual

recognition and respect will, in our view, contribute much to

the common objective of maintaining Hong Kong's economic

prosperity and social stability. For this reason, we further hope that in future we shall have similar opportunities like this evening to meet with visiting Officials from China to

discuss matters of mutual interest.

With these remarks, may I ask all my UMELCO

colleagues to rise and drink a toast,

first, to the health of Mr XU Jiatun and his colleagues present this evening; and

secondly, to the continual prosperity and stability of Hong

Kong.