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COMMITTED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT AGREEMENT. IN THE SHORT
TIME SINCE THE JOINT DECLARATION WAS SIGNED, MUCH WORK HAS BEEN
DONE TO GIVE IT PRACTICAL EFFECT. I HAVE NO DOUBT, GIVEN THE
MANIFEST GOODWILL AND COMMITMENT OF BOTH THE CHINESE AND THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENTS, THAT THIS VITAL PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION
WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE STEADY PROGRESS.
5.
*
HONG KONG HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY EVEN IN THE SHORT SPACE
OF FIVE AND A HALF YEARS SINCE I LAST LIVED HERE. ALREADY IT HAS
A NEW DIMENSION AND AN ADDED IMPORTANCE. IT IS A GREAT CENTRE OF
INTERNATIONAL TRADE, FINANCE AND COMMERCE AND A GATEWAY TO CHINA.
WHERE ONCE THERE WERE FIELDS, HILLS OR SEA, NOW THERE ARE NEW
TOWNS. GREAT AS THE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN IN THE LAST DECADE, MUCH
REMAINS TO BE DONE. DEVELOPMENT CANNOT STAND STILL: THAT OF HONG
KONG HAS NOT AND WILL NOT. THE WORK WHCIH IS GOING ON TO BUILD
THE HONG KONG OF TOMORROW IS ALL AROUND US. IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS
AHEAD I SHALL MAKE A POINT OF SEEING FOR MYSELF ALL THAT IS BEING
DONE AND PLANNED.
6.
1
I SHALL ALSO DO 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. WE MUST CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH
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 SO THAT WE
CAN MAINTAIN OUR COMPETITIVENESS IN FOREIGN MARKETS.
7.
AT THE SAME TIME WE MUST ALSO MEET THE NEEDS AND ASPIRA-
TIONS 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
THINK OF 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.
8.
THE STRUCUTRE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE ORGANISATION OF ANY
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