TNAG-2004-FCO40-2852-Hong-Kong-political-parties-1990 — Page 177

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Kong well.

But in 1997 both the Chief Justice and the

next leading judge must be Hong Kong Chinese. And both

these senior judges will need to be underpinned by a

significant number of potential local successors. Here

too we must look to the local legal profession for the

qualities of leadership and public service the community

needs and deserves.

I

32. The changes involved in developing our own system of representative government are just as testing as those

we face on the economic front. The difficulties

involved will throw up new opportunities and challenges. Hong Kong has thrived on challenges which would have

daunted a lesser place inhabited by lesser people.

have no doubt that Hong Kong will continue to surprise

the world. To do so we must shake off a fashionable

trend of negative thinking and show the world, and

ourselves, what this place, and the remarkable people who

live here, can do by their energy, realism and

determination.

33.

All of you here have demonstrated by your

individual achievements the leadership of which Hong Kong

and Hong Kong people are capable. You have provided an

example for others to follow in turning problems into

opportunities. The outstanding young men and women who will guide Hong Kong into the twenty-first century will be people like yourselves: people who have grown up in

Hong Kong; who have been a part of its remarkable

development; who identify with it; and who are proud of

what has been accomplished here. We must now produce

the political and community leaders that Hong Kong needs.

In the past we have excelled in producing leaders of

industry and enterprise. We now need people who have the vision to set new goals for the community and the integrity, courage and commitment to see them through.

I know we can do it.