TNAG-2032-FCO40-2895-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 76

HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF CORRIECH 15 JANUARY 1990

PORBIGH SECRETARY (CONTD):

Most of the rest of my recent weeks as Foreign Secretary,

when I am not thinking about the problems of Hong Kong, have been

focusing of course on the events in Bastern Europe. We are seeing

all over the world people struggling to change to, to achieve,

market ecununies, sometimes in countries where it would have been

thought inconceivable even a few months ago. That trend is

running, that trend will go on running, and that trend is running in

favour of Hong Kong and that is one reason why the prospects, as

Hong Kong moves into this next decade, are exciting and have never

bean more exciting.

This is a period of dramatic change around the world, often

at a bewildering pace, but one thing that is certainly proved about

Hong Kong is its ability to change with the world, its ability to

adapt, and that will put her in a strong position to succeed and

рговре

I am not tempted in any way after the discussions and

experiences of these last two months, to underestimate the

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difficulties which lie ahead, but we the British Goverument, the

British Parliament, British public opinion, the City of London,

British industry - must not rest in defending and promoting Bong

Kong's interests in any way we can.

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