*******************************

Following is the speech (English only) by the Acting Chief Executive, Mrs Anson Chan, at the opening ceremony of the Third Conference of Asian Foundations & Organisations this (Wednesday) morning:

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to welcome the Conference of Asian Foundations and Organisations to this, your third meeting. Of course, we are greatly honoured that you have chosen Hong Kong for your venue.

I understand that the choice was made in recognition of Hong Kong's role as an international financial and cultural hub. The first of those roles - the financial hub - has long been recognised: so much so that some have said that Hong Kong is just an economic city. Of course, that has never been entirely true, and with each passing year as education has spread, as our contacts with other places have deepened, and as our confidence in our own society has developed, this city's part in the world's cultural growth and cultural exchange and experiment has expanded. And I welcome your recognition of that role. It is an encouragement to the many thousands of people who work in the fields of arts and cultural services.

But I have to say that there are still some people in Hong Kong who need to recognise that this city is not just about money, and that the quality of our city depends on a lot more than just finance. Just last week an opinion survey on public views about crime, women's rights and the environment in 60 countries around the world was published - part of a survey of attitudes as we approach the new Millennium. Hong Kong was included in this survey. I was happy to see that Hong Kong is regarded, rightly, as one of the safest cities in the world, and that 65% of respondents felt that women had equal rights with men - a substantially higher percentage than the worldwide average. But, I cannot let the response on the environment go without comment.

In reply to the question 'Do you agree that it is more important to ensure economic growth than to protect the environment?', 56% of Hong Kong respondents said they agreed, compared with a worldwide average of only 32%. The only other places that put economic growth ahead of environmental protection were Cameroon and Armenia. With no disrespect to those two countries, that positioning is neither what Hong Kong should be aiming at, nor what our record of combining economic development with care for the environment deserves.

Deepening understanding throughout Hong Kong's society that our future as a financial and cultural hub depends upon the quality of our environment is one of the most important tasks for this city as it enters the new Millennium. It is an understanding that can be encouraged, but not imposed by Government, it needs to grow from the community.

That is why you are doubly welcome to hold your conference here in Hong Kong. The themes that you are discussing -

* the Environment and Sustainable Development

* the role of civil society in promoting the standard of living of people in the region; and

* Cultural co-operation and exchange

are all matters of great relevance to the vitality and prospects of this city, and indeed of every city. Your focus on the role of community organisations in promoting quality of life is very appropriate as we seek to build new partnerships to enhance the quality and sustainable development of this territory.

Here today, I understand, are representatives from organisations in the People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, sharing together concerns about the environment and how to build a more sustainable future: a reminder that care for the environment is not a special interest of Europeans and North Americans, but a fundamental interest for rich and poor alike throughout Asia.

Clean air, clean water, fertile land and abundant seas are the common capital upon which we all depend. And we don't just depend on them for the necessities of life: they provide inspiration to art and to culture as well.

As we sweep into the 21st century on the great wave of the information revolution, surrounded by the miracles and wonders of electronics, genetic engineering, skyscrapers and supermarkets, the need to remember that even our most sophisticated cities have their foundation in the natural environment becomes ever more pressing. Our cities can endure only so long as nature can sustain them.

But we also need to remember that our cities are not of themselves an offence against nature. They have sprung from the need of people in every land to secure reliable supplies of water and food. It is that need which led people to 'divest themselves of their natural liberty and put on the bonds of civil society by agreeing with others to join and unite into a community'.

It has only been by satisfying those basic needs that communities have acquired the capital and resources, both economic and human, to invest in the education, art, architecture and technology upon which the growth of cities has depended. But if we dissipate our natural capital through waste, pollution and over consumption, then the complex life of our urban societies is seriously threatened.

Secure frameworks are required for the huge populations in our modern societies to coexist happily together. Respected institutions of Government, sound laws and good infrastructure are all vital to the functioning of cities, increasing the range of activities that individual citizens are able to undertake without having to worry about them. But Government action, clear laws and good facilities, while necessary are not by themselves sufficient for stable and lively societies.

In Hong Kong we have taken to heart the idea that 'Government is best which governs least'. By not crowding out individual choice and community initiatives by Government activity, diversity, dialogue and stimulating competition of ideas is generated which brings benefit to everyone. A couple of years ago our Financial Secretary made the point very well in the economic sphere when he said that "It is the aggregate of all the millions of economic decisions made each day by the citizens and businesses of this city that drives our economy". Exactly the same is true about our cultural and social life. And it is also true that the individual choices of families and businesses have most influence on the quality of our environment and the sustainability of this city.

When Hong Kong people say that they put economic issues first, they are actually doing themselves and this city down. Yes, we do have more Rolls-Royce cars per capita than anywhere else, but we also have one of the highest levels of charitable giving. Hundreds of organisations exist throughout this territory to give help to those in need both here and abroad. Participation in environmental groups and activities is high. Prosperity has been put to good use in housing the homeless and reforesting our hills.

Artistic and cultural life has flourished under the influence of the graduates from our Academy for Performing Arts, established in 1984; the Arts Centre, the Fringe Club, the Arts Development Council, museums, libraries and the exchanges that have taken place in the Arts and Film festivals and the year round programmes of visits and exhibitions.

The diversity of social life and cultural activity found here shapes this city as profoundly as our financial markets, indeed, it is what gives point to the mundane activity of those markets.

Community organisations in all the diversity that is reflected by those who are present here today are crucial intermediaries in our societies. You help to educate and entertain, to channel resources, to reflect views, to give social support and to enrich the fabric of daily life. Between you, you represent groups who are concerned with the basic needs of the poor, the sick and the suffering; groups whose interest is to preserve, present and build on the cultural heritage of our communities; and others whose concern is to ensure that we pass on a rich and sustaining natural heritage to our children.

All those areas of interest are vital to our societies: none takes precedence, each contributes to the others. Two hundred years ago, Edmund Burke wrote: "Society is a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are to be born." This conference and its participants demonstrate that partnership in action. It is on the quality of that partnership that all our hopes in the new Millennium for a sustainable future for ourselves and our children depend. We look forward, in particular, to your proposals on strengthening cultural exchange and co-operation in the region.

I wish the Conference every success and our overseas participants a most enjoyable stay.

End/Wednesday, December 8, 1999

NNNN