TABADW
CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT OF SECRETARY OF STATE TO HONG KONG: 29-31 MAY 1988
BRIEF NO 5: MEETING WITH OMELCO: 31 MAY 1988
(a)
Opening statement
1.
Most grateful for opportunity to meet you today.
Particularly useful for me to know what is on your mind.
Greatly
value your contribution to public life in Hong Kong as I know the
Governor does.
2.
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Visit to Hong Kong has been fascinating and stimulating, as
always. Have met 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 rapid infrastructure
developments, better and better social amenities, ever improving quality of life. 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
prosperity, one is very conscious of deeply felt concerns.
Understandable: transition through 1997 and beyond will be delicate
process. Natural that people will have doubts and uncertainties
about their future. My visit has given me better insight into these
concerns. Lunch earlier today with young Hong Kong professional
people and administrative officers was particularly useful and
thought provoking.
4.
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. I
therefore welcome Hong Kong Government's decision to establish Task
Force to examine emigration trends. There can of course be no
question of seeking to prevent people from leaving. We must
concentrate our 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.
CONFIDENTIAL
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