TNAG-2456-FCO40-3577-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-presentation-1992 — Page 51

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ARTICLE FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES BY THE RT HON DOUGLAS HURD,

SECRTARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

MP,

At the Party Conference in Brighton last week, one familiar face was missing from the platform. Chris Patten has already been in his new job as Governor of Hong Kong for three

months. He has been hard at work: listening to the people of the territory, their hopes and fears for the future: and

reflecting on the changes that are needed to prepare Hong Kong for continuing success into the new century under new

sovereignty.

Last week he was on another rostrum, setting out his conclusions in his first policy speech to Hong Kong's Legislative Council. That speech has rightly been hailed

here and in Hong Kong as a bold and imaginative blue-print for

the remaining five years of British rule.

Comment here has focussed on his political proposals.

But he ranged more widely than that. He announced measures

to sustain Hong Kong as a thriving business centre with

robust economic growth (forecast at 5% a year to 1997) and financial stability. He set out plans to spend some of the extra wealth generated by that economic growth in helping

the disadvantaged, the elderly and the young, while maintaining Hong Kong's healthy reserves.

Just as Hong Kong's skyline changes almost from month to

month, the political landscape has also been shifting in

Hong Kong now has directly elected legislators

recent years.

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