TNAG-1744-FCO40-2463-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-by-Lor-1988 — Page 106

TABADW

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT OF LORD GLENARTHUR TO HONG KONG: 29 JUNE-1 JULY 1988

BRIEF NO 3: MEETING WITH OMELCO

(a)

Opening statement

Introduction

I am most grateful for the opportunity to meet you today. It is particularly useful for me to know what is on your mind.

1.

I greatly value your contribution to public life in Hong Kong as I

know the Governor does.

2.

My visit to Hong Kong has been fascinating and stimulating, as always. I have met a wide cross section of people and have listened to wide range of views. Have been able to see for myself physical evidence of Hong Kong's growing prosperity. It is a most impressive vindication of Hong Kong's economic system: a success formula that is the envy of the world. It is also a tribute to the admirable qualities of the Hong Kong people who have made the system work so

well.

3.

And yet, beneath these visible signs of success and

This is prosperity, one is very conscious of deeply felt concerns. entirely understandable: the transition through 1997 and beyond will be a delicate process. It is natural that people will have doubts

and uncertainties about their future.

I

4.

It makes no sense to ignore or play down such preoccupations. We have to listen carefully to people's concerns and pay close attention to the outward manifestation of these concerns. therefore welcome the Hong Kong Government's decision to establish

We must concentrate our a task force to examine emigration trends. efforts on maintaining Hong Kong as a uniquely attractive place in which people will continue to want to make their lives and bring up

their families.

5.

In my talks with Chinese Ministers in Peking I drew attention to the constant need to sustain confidence in Hong Kong. They were

CONFIDENTIAL

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