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

Following is the speech delivered by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, at a gala dinner in Sydney today (September 17):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you aboard for tonight's Hong Kong - Sydney 2000 Olympic Gala Dinner. Your support and encouragement is deeply appreciated, especially at a time when sport, sport and more sport is by far the most exciting preoccupation of everyone here tonight. Speaking of which, I don't think I should go any further before offering my heartiest congratulations to the Australian team for their brilliant start at the Games. They seem to have taken off like a Thorpedo.

The Olympics have presented us with a golden opportunity to spotlight Hong Kong's autonomy during these historic Millennium Games which have brought together thousands of athletes, officials and supporters from all corners of the globe.

This gathering also allows us to express our delight at taking part in our first Olympic Games as a Special Administrative Region of China, a remarkable demonstration of how 'one country, two systems' works. The opening ceremony when the contingents from China and Hong Kong marched as separate teams was a case in point : 'One Country, Two Teams'. This is yet another example of how we maintain our separate identity in all aspects of our life, including the sporting field.

We are also privileged to be among those cities bidding to host the 2006 Asian Games. We think this is the best way of giving something back to the Olympic movement. Sydney has shown the world in the most spectacular fashion how these things should be done and we have learned a lot from that experience in planning our bid. Hong Kong is at the heart of Asia. It is only natural that we want to showcase to the world what Asians can do and we will do so with energy and pride - and style - if we are given the opportunity to do so in 2006.

As the world's freest and most open economy, Hong Kong is a metaphor for the spirit of fair play and competition that lives in the hearts of our sporting heroes as they strive to excel here in Sydney.

Hong Kong, too, has excelled because we recognize the vital importance of a level playing field for business and the benefits of competing on merit within a system based on laws and rules that apply equally to all. These ideals are as relevant for trade and investment to flourish as they are for athletes to reach new heights in sporting achievement.

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's dinner is as much a vote of thanks to Australia and Australians, as it is a promotional event for Hong Kong three years after our successful reunification with the Mainland of China.

The people of Hong Kong and Australia have forged an extremely close trade and investment and personal partnership. We share the same economic goals and believe in the same value systems. We usually speak with one voice within organizations such as APEC and the WTO. But more importantly we are inextricably bound by the bonds of family and friend.

Tens of thousands of Hong Kong people have migrated to Australia, or studied in your schools and universities. Chinese is the most widely spoken language in Australia after English. Hong Kong is home for more than 40,000 Australian citizens and over 350 Australian companies. The Aussie twang is as familiar to us in Kowloon or Causeway Bay as the cadences of Cantonese are to you in Haymarket or Homebush.

Tonight's dinner gives us a chance to strengthen those ties, to catch up with old friends and, hopefully, to make some new ones.

Finally, as with all of our gala dinners, good food and fine Australian wine is not all that is on the menu. We have arranged a special musical treat for you - an ensemble of some of our most talented musicians - to provide a glimpse and sound of the depth of artistic talent that helps to make Hong Kong the unique and exciting place that it is.

I wish you all an enjoyable evening - and good luck to all of the countries and competitors taking part in the Millennium Olympiad.

And may I offer a toast to the two best friends in Asia - Australia and Hong Kong.

Thank you.

Photo: The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, proposing a toast after addressing the Hong Kong-Sydney 2000 Olympic Gala Dinner hosted by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney.

End/Sunday, September 17, 2000

NNNN