universities in the form of the provision of research and learn- ing equipment.
Continuing with this theme of interaction, I understand that in February of next year, a major Japan Festival will be staged here in Hong Kong, for which various events are currently being planned. One event already scheduled will I am sure be a
most popular event, and that is the Hong Kong Basho - the Territory's first Sumo Tournament.
These events, combined with interaction both cultural and educational will I hope, help to strengthen our bi-lateral ties, and I trust that our relationship will grow ever stronger as we provide ever greater opportunities for young people in both places to get to know each other better.
8. CLOSING REMARKS
Ladies and gentlemen,
What is the charm of Hong Kong? To me, it is a place of dreams, for both the tourist and resident alike. It is a place where yesterday's dream becomes today's
today's reality, and today's dream becomes tomorrow's reality. This ever increasing virtuous cycle is the success story of the Territory, "The Hong Kong Dream", and ever changing Hong Kong ensures the people of the Territory will never cease in the pursuit of their dream. This to me is the charm of Hong Kong, the success of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong I both like and respect.
The burden of Hong Kong's successful future rests squarely on the shoulders of its people. If Hong Kong's people do not lose their innovative entrepreneurship, their educated diligence, and the laissez-faire economic environment in which they work, I am confident that Hong Kong's future will be secure. I know that Hong Kong has experienced many difficulties in its history.
To name a few, Hong Kong has had to cope with the huge influx of Chinese refugees in the 1950's, the chronic water shortages and the great turmoil of the Cultural Revolution in the 1960's, the oil crisis in the 1970's, and the Tiananmen Incident in 1989; but time and again, history has proved that Hong Kong has ably weathered each storm with wisdom and resilience.
If you have confidence in yourselves, and confidence in Hong Kong, then the rest of the world will continue to have confidence in the Territory and its people. I would like to express my fullest personal support to all those who strive day and night to shoulder the responsibility of the future of Hong Kong, and let us all join hand in hand in joint endeavor as we work towards a better future for Hong Kong, Japan and the Asia-Pacific Region as a whole.
Thank you.
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