CONFIDENTIAL
035457 MDHIAN 0358
WHEN WORK ON THE BASIC LAW RESUMES IT WILL REMAIN AS IMPORTANT AS EVER: MORE SO IF ANYTHING. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL WANT
TO SCRUTINISE THE DRAFT WITH THE GREATEST POSSIBLE CARE, TO ENSURE THAT IT PROVIDES TO THE FULL FOR ALL THE GUARANTEES OF THE HONG
KONG'S
SARS HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AND PRESERVATION OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS PROVIDED FOR IN THE JOINT DECLARATION.
RECENT EVENTS HAVE SHAKEN THE TERRITORY. BUT THE WAY WE HAVE COME THROUGH SHOULD ALSO GIVE US CAUSE FOR COMFORT. DESPITE ALL THE BUFFETINGS WE HAVE SUFFERED, ALL OUR INSTITUTIONS HAVE HELD FIRM. THE STOCK MARKET HAS BEEN BADLY HIT. WE HAVE WITNESSED AN INSPIRED RUN ON PART OF THE BANKING SYSTEM. BUT ALL THE FINANCIAL
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INSTITUTIONS - THE STOCK MARKET, THE FUTURES MARKET, THE BANKING SYSTEM AND THE RATE OF EXCHANGE HAVE HELD FIRM. WE HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING ON OUR STREETS EXPRESSING THEIR FEELINGS WITH GREAT SINCERITY AND DIGNITY AND WITHOUT ANY UNTOWARD INCIDENTS. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN HOW, EVEN IN A WELL ORDERED SOCIETY LIKE OURS, A TINY MINORITY CAN TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION AND DISRUPT PUBLIC ORDER. IN ALL THESE EVENTS PEACEFUL AND NOT SO PEACEFUL, WE HAVE SEEN THE POLICE BEHAVE WITH PATIENCE, SKILL AND A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. WE HAVE MORE REASON TO BE PROUND OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG
POLICE FORCE: PROUD ALOS OF THE GOOD SENSE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
ALOS
THE TIME HAS NOW COME WHEN WE MUST MOVE ON FROM THE SENSE OF
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SHOCK PROUDCED BY RECENT EVENTS. TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE WE LOOK FOR ACTIONS FROM CHINA AND FROM BRITAIN. BUT WE MUST ALSO, AND ESSENTIALLY, LOOK TO OURSELVES. HONG KONG HAS SUFFERED SHOCKS BEFORE MANY TIMES AND PULLED THROUGH. WE MUST PULL THROUGH AGAIN. WE MUST AGAIN TURN OUR MINDS AND DEVOTE OUR ENERGIES TO BUILDING UP HONG KONG : MAINTAINING OUR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND DOING NOTHING TO DAMAGE THE STABILITY OF THE TERRITORY. WHATER PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERNS FOR DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA, OUR FIRST CONCERN MUST BE FOR HONG KONG. WE HAVE MASSIVE AND FAR-REACHING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE: FOR DEVELOPING OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMMES: FOR IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENT: AND FOR BUILDING AN ECONOMY WHICH WILL ENABLE HONG KONG TO SURVIVE AND PROSPER WELL INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE
PRESSING AHEAD WITH THESE PLANS. NONE WILL BE SHELVED. I HOPE TO COME BACK TO THIS COUNCIL IN OCTOBER WITH PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT MAJOR STEPS FORWARD.
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