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Following is the speech (English only) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, at Hong Kong Gala Dinner held at the Sydney Town Hall, Australia, today (Monday):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

First let me say how delighted I am to be back in Australia and in Sydney - a city that reminds me so much of Hong Kong with your beautiful harbour, the hills and the high rises that sweep to the waters' edge. And I would like to warmly welcome all of you here tonight to formally mark the start of our major promotion in Australia. Unfortunately, I don't have "Dame Edna's" gladioli to toss around, but I'm sure you'll enjoy the food and the entertainment tonight.

And I promise to keep my remarks brief and to the point. I don't think we could have chosen a better time to be advocating the advantages of Hong Kong just as our economy is beginning to pick up after the ravages of the Asian financial turmoil - a crisis that you in Australia seem to have managed with great skill to avoid.

When I was here three years ago on our inaugural Australian promotion, there was no hint of the looming crisis. Our efforts were concentrated on something much more pressing - our impending reunification with the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. We then faced the proverbial 64-dollar question - would Hong Kong survive and remain a global beacon of capitalism? That question has been answered with a resounding "YES".

Tonight, two and a half years down the track, I'm here representing Hong Kong in the position I held prior to the handover. Continuity and stability have always been important to Hong Kong, and that is precisely what we continue to enjoy. What difficulties we may have encountered since 1997 have not come from the Central Government in Beijing, which has been scrupulous in honouring its commitment to allowing Hong Kong people to run Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy. The difficulties have stemmed from the Asian financial crisis. But I don't intend to dwell on the past. We have survived the crisis in reasonably good shape and we have taken measures to better equip ourselves to face the challenges of the technological age.

I simply want to provide a glimpse of Hong Kong as it is today and as we see ourselves tomorrow. With the new millennium just a few weeks away, people around the world are turning their attention to the future. We hope it will herald a new era in our relations with Australia - stronger links with a country with which we have so much in common through shared values, family ties, trade, business and the corresponding institutions of civil society.

In Hong Kong, the foundations for better days and a brighter future have already been laid and are guaranteed under our constitution, the Basic Law. The rule of law, an independent judiciary, a level playing field for all who do business, low taxes (and I mean low taxes - corporate tax is still only 16% and personal tax a maximum of 15%), and a commitment to free and open markets are all spelled out in the Basic Law. So, too, is the free flow of information, including a free press, and a clean administration. These all form part of our open and pluralistic society which functions exceptionally well under the unique concept of "one country, two systems".

We are constantly upgrading our services culture to reinforce our position as a leading international financial, business and services centre; a communications and transportation hub; the gateway to the mainland of China; an incubator of innovation and high technology; and a reinvigorated tourism centre and new home to Mickey and Minnie.

That's how we are positioning ourselves going into the new millennium as the world city in Asia. We have much to do and with friends like you here in Australia we are certain to achieve our goal.

As the year 2000 is the Year of the Dragon, tonight we have a preview of one of the significant events that will usher in the new year in Hong Kong - a dragon dance. But first, the award winning team of the Ha Tak Kin Martial Art Society from Hong Kong will entertain you with a traditional lion dance. I'm sure both performances will whet your appetite and, hopefully, entice you to come and visit us for the big occasion. Thank you.

End/Monday, November 22, 1999

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