Thank you all for being here today. At the last Open University
convocation, I was very moved by the determination and will power
of the many students who were making use of their spare time to
further their education. It was because of this that I initiated
a donation of $44 million to build this learning centre. I am very
pleased that this centre is now completed and ready for use, and
I take this opportunity to convey my gratitude and congratulations
to all those involved in this project.
The sounds and laughter of grandchildren have filled my home in
recent years. To communicate with my grandchildren, every now and
then I read fairy tales and fables. I never had this luxury when
I was young as I was poor. Only now have I discovered that a child's
world can be such an inspiration. I remember having read a storybook
entitled The Knight in Rusty Armour that's full of philosophical
thoughts. The protagonist is a kind, loving, and brave knight, who
slew many dragons and rescued many damsels in distress. He was highly
regarded by everyone, and even the King bestowed upon him a suit
of shining armour. The years passed, and the knight grew accustomed
to success. He did not notice that his shining armour was beginning
to rust. Nor did he realize that even though the armour was a symbol
of his success, it was the man inside the armour that created the
success. One day, the knight was shocked to find that the armour
had grown so rusty that he was unable to take it off. It had become
a burden. The knight knew he was in serious trouble, but even though
he was not the brightest of men, he had the courage to face up to
the new challenges. He sought help everywhere, and looked for new
ways, and acquired new knowledge. He drummed up the will power and
the courage to overcome his fear. Finally, he was able to rid himself
of his burden and discover his true self.
Hong Kong's success over the years is the result of the hard work
of many generations. Our achievements are recognized the world over.
But the global competition we face in the areas of knowledge and
the economy means we must enter a new cycle. The globalization of
the economy has forced upon us competition from different countries
and different regions. We compete with developed countries in education,
trade, tariffs, and markets; we must also compete with the low cost
labour provided by developing countries. In our fast-changing world,
we are always competing with time. Our past successes may not have
any relevance to our present situation. Abundance of capital or
natural resources are no longer sufficient. To achieve a breakthrough
we must also utilize advanced technology. The information revolution
has been the focus in the past decade. The next decade may be dominated
by the fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology. The only thing
that will keep us in step with the times is our eagerness to learn.
The will to learn drives forward social development, and knowledge
is the light that leads the way. A society that values knowledge
will naturally nurture top-class people. Our past successes have
given us considerable advantages. We are not afraid of competing
with others, but being able to adapt to a myriad of situations will
be an important factor in keeping our armour shiny. Like the knight
in the story, we must identify our difficulties wisely and objectively,
and then muster the courage to face these challenges, and summon
the will power and the determination to overcome all obstacles.
We must encourage and support each other, and continuously acquire
new knowledge in order to create a harmonious, healthy and valuable
society and a new Hong Kong miracle.
As we prepare to ring in the New Year, I commend all of you who
are continuing your studies even in the face of mounting pressures
from work and life. Thank you.
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