HOPES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD Hongkong's top business people, wrapping up a year of ups and downs, were asked to spill the beans on their resolutions for the New Year. Their responses poured in - and from poems to more sombre territorial concerns, they covered a wide range of promises for 1993. But how many will be kept? ''I RESOLVE to spend New Year in New York; to find a tie to match my car; to dissociate myself from the philosophical school of stockbroking which appears to believe that more democracy means a worse stock market and that democracy is therefore a bad thing.'' William Phillips, director of Salomon Brothers Hongkong.
''I resolve never to end a sentence with a preposition, even if prevailed upon. To avoid using bad language so *?%$2/3 with other people and stand firm on my convictions - provided no one has any objection to these tentative proposals. Finally, I resolvenot to publish my 1993 predictions.'' Alan Smith, chairman of Jardine Fleming.
''In order of priority: (a) to surprise everyone except my wife, by continuing to move the Airport Core Programme forward, on schedule and within budget; (b) to surprise my wife by beating my children less.'' Clinton Leeks, deputy director of the New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office.
''I wish that Hongkong will become more united rather than divided in 1993, in dealing with major issues relating to its future. We as a community still have a lot to achieve structurally to prepare Hongkong properly for 1997, which is not far away.'' Victor Lo, chairman of Gold Peak Industries.
''Having achieved virtual perfection, I scarcely see the need for any New Year resolutions. However, I will continue to cultivate the modesty for which I am well-known and highly regarded.
''In all seriousness, my hope for 1993 is that humankind will reject the prejudices and animosities which our forebears have sought to bequeath to us.'' Burton Levin, director of Asia Society Hongkong Centre and US Consul-General to Hongkong 1981-1986.
''To redouble efforts to scrupulously avoid all things political and, on those rare occasions when meeting them, to be more mellow towards democrats.
