TNAG-2599-FCO40-3787-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 62

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MDHOAN 6.

26. (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) FOURTHLY, I KNOW HOW MUCH CONCERN HAS BEEN EXPRESSED IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT LAW AND ORDER. HONG KONG, IT IS TRUE, IS A SAFER CITY THAN MOST. YET THAT IS LITTLE COMFORT TO THE FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME. THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE RELENTLESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME. WE SHALL BE ESPECIALLY TOUGH IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME. THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE DO A MAGNIFICENT JOB. THEY CAN COUNT ON MY STAUNCH SUPPORT AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR SOMETIMES DANGEROUS WORK. CO-OPERATING CLOSELY WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, WE SHALL WORK ROUND THE CLOCK TO BEAT CRIME IN THIS CITY.

27. MY (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) FIFTH TASK IS PERHAPS THE MOST

VITAL AND CHALLENGING OF ALL.

28.

I HAVE HEARD IT SAID THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA, AND THEREFORE THE POSITION OF HONG KONG, IS STILL BEDEVILLED BY MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND THE LACK OF TRUST.

29. I WILL DO ALL THAT I CAN TO REMOVE MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND TO BUILD UP TRUST. TRUST IS A TWO-WAY STREET. GOOD CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA IS MY SINCERE AIM AND MY PROFOUND WISH. IT IS VITAL FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, VITAL FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

LET ME, FINALLY, MAKE THIS CLEAR.

30. AS HONG KONG'S GOVERNOR I HAVE NO SECRET AGENDA. MY ONLY AGENDA IS THE ONE I HAVE LAID BEFORE YOU TODAY. IT IS CLEAR.

IT IS PUBLIC. AND SO IT WILL REMAIN.

31.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT GOD WILLING THROUGH OUR OWN HARD WORK, CALM JUDGMENT AND STURDY DETERMINATION WE SHALL CARRY THROUGH THIS HISTORIC TASK TO A CONCLUSION THAT WILL RANK ABOVE ALL OTHERS AMONG THIS TERRITORY'S MANY ACHIEVEMENTS.

32. IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND FOR 50 YEARS AND MORE BEYOND, THE EYES OF THE WORLD WILL BE ON HONG KONG. I AM SURE THAT WE SHALL BE WORTHY OF OUR DESTINY, A SYMBOL OF CONFIDENCE AND CO-OPERATION FOR THE REST OF HUMANITY.

ENDS

HURD

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