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Following is the speech (English only) by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the anniversary reception organised by Equal Opportunities Commission today (July 5):

Miss Wu, Dr Ng, friends, ladies and gentlemen:

I am very pleased to be here this evening to celebrate the beginning of the fifth year of the Equal Opportunities Commission. Since its establishment in 1996, the Commission has been making significant efforts in eliminating discrimination, helping to create a community which offers equal opportunities to everyone. It is most heartening to see that the work done by the Commission over the past four years has yielded encouraging results, particularly in enhancing public understanding and support for the concept of equal opportunities. I am sure the Commission will continue to work hard to achieve their mission of creating a fair and conducive environment where individuals can have an equal chance to realise their talents, their potentials and their dreams.

I am particularly pleased to see that the Commission has made "A Closer Partnership with Business" as one of the main objectives of their work in the fifth year. Needless to say, in this increasingly globalised and competitive economy, our enterprises must endeavour to make the best use of resources, particularly of human resources. Human resources are the asset of all our enterprises and of our entire community. The concept of equal opportunities and the elimination of discrimination will help to create and promote a culture of meritocracy, which in turn will positively motivate employees to strive for best performance and productivity, and increase the competitiveness of our enterprises. It is a win-win situation for all. I commend the Commission for its success in establishing a strategic partnership with the business sector and I call upon all enterprises and organisations and everyone in the community to give this effort the full support. Let us work together to make Hong Kong a model of a society of equal opportunities.

Thank you.

Photo:The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, and the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr David Lan, attended the "Entering Into the 5th Year - A Closer Partnership with Business" reception organised by the Equal Opportunities Commission. Picture shows they propose a toast to the guests at the reception.

End/Wednesday, July 5, 2000

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