I SHALL ALSO BE DOING ALL I CAN TO ENSURE THAT THIS REMARKABLE PROGRESS CONTINUES AND THAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY SHARE THE FRUITS OF OUR SUCCESS. HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON ITS ABILITY TO PRODUCE GOODS THAT PEOPLE WANT AND TO SELL THEM IN WORLD MARKETS. IT MUST THEREFORE BE ONE OF THE MAIN AIMS OF MY GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT AND INITIATIVE. WE MUST MAINTAIN A FRAMEWORK OF SOUND ADMINISTRATION BACKED BY CLEAR AND ENFORCEABLE LEGISLATION. WE MUST MAINTAIN THE PACE OF INVESTMENT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO AS TO KEEP THE WHEELS OF HONG KONG TURNING, AND WE MUST KEEP HONG KONG ABREAST OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE TO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR COMPETITIVENESS IN FOREIGN MARKETS.
BUT WHILE RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, WE MUST ALSO MEET THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE MUST CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC HOUSING, OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND OUR MEDICAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES. WE MUST PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE YOUNG, THE ELDERLY, THE SICK AND THOSE WHO CANNOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES. AND WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE ALL LIVE.
THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE ORGANISATION OF ANY ADMINISTRATION MUST REMAIN RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY. THIS IS NEVER MORE SO THAN IN SUCH A DYNAMIC PLACE AS HONG KONG. IN RESPONSE TO THESE NEEDS HONG KONG'S OWN SYSTEM HAS BEEN MOULDED AND DEVELOPED. THE ENLARGED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT FOCUS FOR DEBATE AND DISCUSSION SEMICOLON THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE BECOME AN ESTABLISHED PART OF GOVERNMENT AT A LOCAL LEVEL, AND NOW TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS PERFORM A VERY IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY ROLE IN EVERY ASPECT OF URBAN ADMINISTRATION. THIS YEAR WE WILL BE REVIEWING THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THESE ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT AND THEIR VARIOUS COMPONENTS. THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES SEMICOLON WE MUST APPROACH THEM CALMLY AND WITH COMMON SENSE AND, IF CHANGE THERE IS TO BE, IT SHOULD BE GRADUAL AND PROGRESSIVE AND NOT DISRUPTIVE OF THE STEADY PROGRESS WE HAVE BEEN MAKING.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER ISSUES OF GREAT COMPLEXITY AND FAR-REACHING SIGNIFICANCE WHICH LIE BEFORE US AND WHICH HAVE TO BE DECIDED. IN THE YEARS AHEAD I SHALL LOOK FORWARD PARTICULARLY TO THE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND OF THE MANY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES WHICH PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES BUT HONG KONG HAS SHOWN TIME AND AGAIN THAT IT HAS THE WILL AND DETERMINATION TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES AND TO RESPOND TO CHALLENGE AND TO CHANGE.
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