As encouraging as these developments are, I don't want to leave you with the impression that we have reached the final hurdle. We still have a long way to go. And much will depend on the private sector follow ups and how quickly we emerge from the impact of the Asian financial crisis. The early signs are there. Our property market has stabilised.
Interest rates are lower.
The stock market has been more active. Tourist arrivals have increased significantly. And the number of exhibitors and buyers to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's international trade fairs has risen markedly. These are positive indications of the local and international communities confidence in Hong Kong's future prosperity. When reflecting on what has happened over the past couple of years, it's interesting to observe that the problems we've encountered have not stemmed from any political fallout from our reunification with China on July the 1st 1997.