TNAG-1446-FCO40-1930-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 80

GRS 1500

CONFIDENT FAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3117

OF 2609OOZ SEPTEMBER 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

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PART ONE OF TWO

GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL:

WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU OR PEKING MAY HAVE ON THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS FROM THE ADDRESS. THE PARAGRAPHS ON DAYA BAY WILL BE FURTHER RE-WRITTEN AS CIRCUMSTANCES DEVELOP.

2. GRATEFUL FOR REPLY BY 30O9OOZ. WE GO TO PRINT ON 6 OCTOBER.

(1) INTRODUCTION

HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

I ADDRESSED YOU LAST YEAR AT A SIGNIFICANT POINT IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL AELCOMED MANY NEW MEMBERS, MOST, FOR THE FIRST TIME, CHOSEN BY INDIRECT ELECTION. IT HAD ALSO JUST MOVED INTO ITS NEW CHAMBER. THE WAY IN WHICH THE NEW COUNCIL SETTLED DOWN TO ITS DEMANDING SCHEDULE OF WORK DURING THE LAST SESSION WAS IMPRESSIVE: IT DID MUCH TO STRENGTHEN OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.

THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A YEAR OF STEADY PROGRESS FOR HONG KONG. THE TASK OF IMPLEMENTING THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION HAS ADDED A NEW DIMENSION TO THE CONDUCT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S BUSINESS. THE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS WHICH IT HAS MADE ON OUR TIME AND ENERGIES HAVE NOT DEFLECTED THE GOVERNMENT FROM PRESSING AHEAD WITH ITS MANY PROGRAMMES, NOR FROM CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF ITS SERVICES.

THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT IS DIRECTED TOWARDS CLEAR AND SPECIFIC POLICY OBJECTIVES TO WHICH I WILL REFER IN DETAIL AS MY ADDRESS PROGRESSES. BUT FIRST, IT IS WORTH RECALLING THE PRINCIPLES WHICH GUIDE OUR POLICIES.

FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE OBJECTIVE OF ENSURING THAT HONG KONG REMAINS PROSPEROUS AND STABLE. THIS MEANS CONTINUING TO FOSTER AN ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ENTERPRISE CAN FLOURISH, THERE IS SUFFICIENT EMPLOYMENT, AND HARD WORK REAPS REWARDS. IT MEANS VIGOROUS DEFENCE OF OUR TRADING INTERESTS OVERSEAS, AND PRUDENT, BUT FIRM SUPERVISION OF OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AT HOME. IT MEANS MAINTAINING LAW AND GOOD ORDER, NOT JUST ON THE STREETS BUT

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