Speeches

Speech by CS at the Annual Speech Day of St Paul’s Convent School (English only)

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Annual Speech Day of St Paul’s Convent School today (November 26):

Sr (Joanna) Cheung (Head of the School Sponsoring Body- Sisters of St Paul de Chartres), Sr (Margaret) Wong (Supervisor cum Principal), distinguished guests, teachers, graduates and students,

Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to attend the School’s Annual Speech Day to congratulate graduates on their successful completion of an important stage in their life. I also warmly welcome the opportunity to tour the school campus and learn more about the remarkable achievements of St Paul’s Convent School on its 160th Anniversary.

In my over 35 years of public service, I have worked in almost every policy portfolio, except education. In my current capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration, I have attended only a handful of graduation ceremonies of secondary schools. But I have been looking forward to today’s occasion for two reasons. First, St Paul’s Convent School is one of the oldest schools in Hong Kong. Founded in 1854, the School has a long and distinguished history. Like my alma mater of almost the same vintage, established in 1869, it is a Catholic girls’ school. Whether it is your school motto of “Omnia Omnibus”, meaning “being all things to all people, irrespective of race, religion and social status”, or my school motto of “Veritas in Charitate”, meaning “live by the truth in love”, we all were educated by our respective schools whose mission is to form the heart of students leading them to embrace Christian values through a life of integrity and charity. I am therefore coming here to tell you that standing in front of you is one of those students who have benefited from that whole-person Christian education. I am coming to share with you that as you leave the school, you will inevitably encounter difficulties and challenges, and experience ups and downs in life, but at the same time, I want to reassure you that those values of integrity, charity and conscience that the school education has instilled in you, or formed in your heart, shall remain as fresh as ever.

My second reason is to come and learn more about the school system. When Sr Margaret Wong’s invitation letter had yet to reach me, I received a note from an educator whom I respect who urged me to come to the School. She told me St Paul’s Convent School, under the vision, commitment and leadership of Sr Wong, has made full use of the flexibility provided by the Direct Subsidy School (DSS) system to cater for diverse student needs. On top of that, while DSS schools are now being labelled as elite schools, St Paul’s Convent School has been able to adhere to the school mission in providing equal opportunities for all, nurturing girls with excellence, Catholic faith and values. As an advocate for reforms myself, for example, when I was Director of Social Welfare, in bringing in the Lump Sum Grant System in the social welfare system, I fully appreciate the challenge of reform and that if persons carrying out the reform do not have the passion, they are part of the problem rather than the solution. I know the School has offered a generous scholarship and fee remission scheme and that no fewer than 30% of students have benefited from these offers. With this and positive feedback from other sources, it is a pleasure to visit this School, meet Sr Wong, talk to the teachers and congratulate Paulinians in person.

Throughout its long history, St Paul’s Convent School has successfully nurtured thousands of outstanding graduates who persistently dedicate to the community, and with many of them taken up leading roles in serving Hong Kong in the past 160 years. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Sr Cheung, Sr Wong, teachers and all involved in the School’s development over the years.

Dear graduates, I understand that most of you have achieved very good results in public examinations and all of you have been admitted to universities or tertiary institutions. After starting your university life a few months, you may have a feeling that people around you have very different views on various issues of public concern such as freedom, democracy, justice, rights and responsibilities, the rule of law, and even identity. You may also have shared with people of different cultures and races, speaking different languages and carrying different beliefs on these issues. Of course, as a post-secondary student, you would have your own view and judgement on the opinions expressed by others. But if you are puzzled or have any hesitations, please do bear in mind the core values of integrity, joyfulness, simplicity, hard work and excellence which have all along being emphasised in your secondary school days. These values, I believe, are the fundamental qualities for every one of us to become responsible citizens who are willing to make joint efforts to better society and humanity.

Dear Graduates, you have the enviable youth, vigour and time to do good to yourself, your family, Hong Kong, our Motherland and even the world. In recent years, I have come to know many Hong Kong young people whom I admire a lot because of their hard work, perseverance and pursuit of excellence. This Sunday, I am going to meet again with Trey Lee Chiu-yee in his annual Musicus Society Concert. Trey is a world-renowned cellist who co-founded the Musicus Society to promote classical music amongst young people. His talents are shared by Colleen Lee Ka-ling and Perry So Pak-hin. Colleen is hailed as one of the most brilliant pianists of the younger generations from Hong Kong and China while Perry has been the orchestral conductor of major orchestras in the world. Last Sunday, I talked to Angus Ng Ka-long while watching the Men’s Singles Final in the Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships. Angus defeated the Olympic Gold Medalist Lin Dan of China. During the same week, Wu Siu-hong won Hong Kong’s first gold medal at the Bowling World Cup held in Las Vegas after recovering from cancer. Then, at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Shek Wai-hung became the first Hong Kong gymnast to win a gold medal in gymnastics. On the performing arts front, young Hong Kong dancer Lam Chun-wing has made history this July by becoming the first Chinese to join the world-renowned Paris Opera Ballet. I have every confidence that our young people, including graduates today, will continue to make us proud.

But, girls, you need not be a star to impress. The world needs people of different professions, skills and aptitudes to operate in harmony. If anyone of you venture to become a government official or a politician, or a government official turned politician like me, just remember what Pope Francis has said about politics. The Pontiff said “politics is an expression of our compelling need to live as one, in order to build as one, the greatest common good”. He described “a good political leader is one who, with the interest of all in mind, seizes the moment in a spirit of openness and pragmatism”. He told us the need to strike the right balance between rigour and compassion.

In my view, Pope Francis is not only a religious leader but is truly a political philosopher. I learn that as long as politics is the pursuit of the common good, it should be embraced, not avoided; it should be promoted amongst our young people, and not relegated to the farce that we are seeing at times in today’s Legislative Council.

Finally, let me share a little prayer with today’s graduates

May God give you …

For every storm, a rainbow;

For every tear, a smile;

For every care, a promise, and a blessing in each trial;

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share; and

For every sigh, a sweet song.

Before closing, I would like to extend my congratulations to the parents and teachers of graduates whose untiring support and encouragement have made their achievements possible.

Thank you!