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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Orient and Southeast Asian Lions Forum (OSEAL) at the Hong Kong Coliseum today (November 8):
Mr Fukushima, Mr Lam, Ms Mann, Lions Members, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to welcome such a large 'pride' of Lions to Hong Kong, Asia's world city. Today, we play host to over 4,000 Lions members from the Orient and Southeast Asia, as well as more than 1,000 from Hong Kong and Macau. I extend my warmest greetings to all of our overseas guests. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy your time in our vibrant and dynamic city. My best wishes also go to all the local members of District 303.
On July 1, 1997, China resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong under the "One Country, Two Systems" concept. Prior to that, there was some skepticism in Hong Kong and around the world whether such concept would actually work. The challenge to me and indeed to all of us in Hong Kong has been to make sure that the "One Country, Two Systems" concept turned into everyday reality. More than five years have gone by, I think you will agree with me that the concept has been working very well. The capital inflow has been strong and many of those who left Hong Kong before 1997 have been returning to Hong Kong. People have given their votes of confidence with their feet and pockets. Indeed we have successfully met this challenge.
As my second term begins as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, we are facing the challenges of globalisation and the Knowledge Economy. The rapid and successful economic development in the Mainland has given us both opportunities and challenges. The changes they are bringing to Hong Kong are tantalizing. As a result, our economy now is at a crossroad and our society has decided to bravely embrace the challenge. To adapt to the new situation, we are making important changes in almost every relevant sphere in our society: enhancing our human capital, improving the quality of our environment not only for our visitors and the international community doing business here, but also for each and every citizen of Hong Kong. We are going to make Hong Kong a more business-friendly place for business people all over the world who want to come and set up headquarters here to do business with the Mainland. In short, we are re-making ourselves to face the challenges ahead.
Indeed, we have many competitive advantages, one of which is of course our geographical location. We are right at the doorstep of the Mainland China, now the fastest growing economy in the world. We have excellent infrastructure - airport, roads, railways, ports, telecommunication. We have the rule of law in Hong Kong. Our government is small and efficient and free from corruption. We have large fiscal reserves and no government debt. We have the support of the Central Government. Our free market economy provides a level playing field for everyone from the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and indeed anywhere in the world.
Moreover, we have already positioned ourselves very well in this part of the world for the opportunities offered by the 21st century. We are the region's best business service centre. We have the biggest cluster of talents and professionals - lawyers, accountants, financial specialists, traders, etc. We are a highly successful international financial centre. Our logistics set up - our airport, land-based transport network to the Mainland China, container terminals, etc - are arguably the best in the world. We are a centre for tourism, being the largest city destination for tourism in Asia. We are economically integrated more and more closely and organically with the Pearl River Delta to become a most vibrant city-region. The region has over 40 million people, and it has the fastest rising GDP and GDP per capita as a region in China. The recent agreement between ASEAN countries and China to develop the biggest free-trade zone in the world in less than a decade's time will only accelerate the growth in this region.
Since the resumption of sovereignty by China, instead of turning inward as some pessimists had imagined we would, we are developing more and more ties with the international community. We have one of the largest concentration of foreigners here in Hong Kong, as compared with other cities in Asia, doing business here, carrying out cultural visits and, more and more commonly these days, to settle and live in Hong Kong. Many international organizations, particularly those in the financial sector, are based here as well, e.g. Bank of International Settlements, International Monetary Fund, International Finance Corporation and the World Bank, etc. The Lion Club is also a very important international organisation established in Hong Kong.
I know the Lion Club's motto is "We Serve", a spirit which I very much share, which my fellow citizens in Hong Kong share very much. In Hong Kong, Lions Clubs continue to make tremendous contributions, particularly in the education and health spheres. At the same time, Lions members have been helping with developments on the Mainland China. For example, they are supporting the SightFirst China Action. Over the past five years, it has helped train 4,000 ophthalmologists and 7,000 paramedics there. This ambitious undertaking will benefit millions of sight-impaired people in China. All of you should be proud of your lion-hearted spirit. I am therefore particularly delighted to know that Lion Club is extending the activities into the Mainland.
The theme of this year's Lions forum - One Heart, One World - reinforces the spirit of service that typifies the Lions movement. To me, it indicates that with unity, dedication and compassion we can achieve great things. We in Hong Kong wholeheartedly support and identify with this theme.
Ladies and gentlemen, once again I would like to welcome you all to Hong Kong. I hope you find time to experience the sights and sounds of our great city. I wish you all the best in your deliberations and look forward to seeing you all back in Hong Kong again in a few years' time.
Thank you.
End/Friday, November 8, 2002
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