TNAG-1749-FCO40-2468-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 122

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PART ONE OF TWO PARTS

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR: MIPT: SECRETARY OF STATES VISIT: SPEECH FROM HUM, HKD

1.

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF SPEECH:

BEGINS

I AM DELIGHTED TO BE BACK IN HONG KONG. IT IS MY FIRST SUBSTANTIVE VISIT SINCE THE SIGNATURE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IN 1984.

LIKE ALL VISITORS MY FIRST IMPRESSION IS OF THE IMMENSE PHYSICAL

CHANGES WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE THEN: NEW BUILDINGS: ROADS:

FLYOVERS.

AND YET IT IS THE SAME HONG KONG. THE SAME SPARKLE, PACE, 'CAN-DO' APPROACH TO LIFE. THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE WE KNOW SO WELL. THE SAME VITALITY WHICH IS THE ESSENCE OF HONG KONG THAT

WE SEEK TO PRESERVE ALIVE AND WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

I HAVE FOLLOWED HONG KONG AFFAIRS VERY CLOSELY SINCE I BECAME

FOREIGN SECRETARY 5 YEARS AGO. LIKE MOST OTHERS WHO WATCH FROM OUTSIDE,

I AM STUNNED BY YOUR SPECTACULAR ECONOMIC SUCCESSES:

YOUR BOOMING TRADE AND INVESTMENT: YOUR FULL EMPLOYMENT: YOUR

GDP GROWTH: YOUR AMIBITIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. YOU ARE THE

ENVY OF WESTERN AND EASTERN ECONOMIC MANAGERS.

BUT I AM ALSO WELL AWARE THAT, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS. INDEED IT IS ALL TOO OFTEN THE PROBLEMS RATHER

THAN THE SUCCESSES WHICH CROSS MY DESK. THAT IS THE FATE OF MINISTERS.

THOSE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE KEPT IN PERSPECTIVE AGAINST THE WIDER

PICTURE OF TRIUMPHANT SUCCESS. AND THAT IS ONE REASON WHY I

PARTICULARLY WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK HERE NOW TO

SEE IT FOR MYSELF.

THOSE WHO READ THE DAILY HEADLINES IN THE PRESS, WHETHER HERE OR

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