TNAG-1592-FCO40-2177-Appointment-of-Sir-David-Wilson-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 120

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FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM WILSON

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MIPT: ARRIVAL SPEECH

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SIR DAVID, SIR SZE-YUEN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

I AM MOST GRATEFUL TO YOU, SIR DAVID AND SIR SZE-YUEN FOR YOUR KIND WORDS OF WELCOME.

3.

TO RETURN TO HONG KONG AS GOVERNOR IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE AND A GREAT HONOUR. AT THE SAME TIME, I AM CONSCIOUS OF THE SAD EVENT WHICH LED TO MY APPOINTMENT THE SUDDEN AND TRAGIC DEATH OF SIR EDWARD YOUDE. ALL OF US WHO WERE IN HONG KONG AT THE TIME OF SIR EDWARD'S FUNERAL WERE DEEPLY MOVED TO SEE THE GENUINE AFFECTION AND RESPECT IN WHICH HE WAS HELD BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AS I TAKE OVER HIS RESPONSIBILITIES I HAVE IN MIND HIS EXAMPLE OF SELFLESS DEVOTION TO HONG KONG. I SHALL STRIVE TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATIONS HE HAS LAID.

4.

ON HIS ARRIVAL FIVE YEARS AGO, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SPOKE WITH CONFIDENCE OF FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE VITAL QUESTION OF THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. NOW THAT FUTURE IS CLEAR. IT IS DEFINED IN AN HISTORIC AGREEMENT WHICH SETS OUT IN DETAIL THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF HONG KONG. BOTH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERN- MENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARE FIRMLY AND FULLY

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