Speeches

Speech by CS at the Annual Graduation Ceremony of St. Francis’ Canossian College (English only)

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Annual Graduation Ceremony of St. Francis’ Canossian College today (July 9):

Sr Susanna Yu (Supervisor), Mr Kenneth Law (School Principal), distinguished guests, parents, teachers, graduates and students,

Good afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to be here today with you all on this auspicious occasion of the Annual Graduation Ceremony of St. Francis’ Canossian College, my alma mater, to congratulate graduates on their successful completion of an important stage in their life.

If I recall correctly, this is the second time I attended the College’s Annual Graduation Ceremony -- the last time was more than ten years ago in my then capacity as the Director of Social Welfare. On this occasion, I actually asked, through Sr Marie, to be invited back to another Annual Graduation Ceremony of my alma mater. And I solicited this for several reasons.

First, I was here in the school, April last year, touring the campus and meeting with the then Form Five student representatives. I thought I said I wanted to come back to see some of them again, on their big day.

Second, in my current capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration, a rather prestigious and distinguished position in the government and in society, I have attended a number of graduation ceremonies of secondary schools such as Heep Yunn School and St. Paul’s Convent School – both are also girls schools. With my public service coming to an end soon, there is this urge and desire to come back to my alma mater and to use this annual occasion to thank the school for giving me a character-forming education which has enabled me to discharge the heavy yet honourable duties of the Chief Secretary for Administration.

Third, I want to come to share some thoughts with our young women graduating today as a fellow Franciscan. Educated in St. Francis’ whose mission is to form the heart of students leading them to embrace Christian values through a life of integrity and charity, I am coming here to tell you that although almost forty years have passed since I stepped out of the campus, standing right in front of you is one of those students who has benefited from that whole-person Christian education. I am coming to forewarn 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 re-assure 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. I think this is exactly what our school song is referring to, and I quote “As the years fly off together, we, too, march on life’s hard main. But St. Francis’ will forever, live in mind and heart again.”

Founded in 1869, St. Francis’ Canossian College is one of the oldest schools in Hong Kong. Three more years to go, it will be celebrating its grand 150th Anniversary. The College initially offered basic education to the poor and needy children living in the Wan Chai district – where I was born and brought up. Over the years, it expanded and developed into a girls’ primary and secondary school. As a Catholic school, it follows the teachings of Christ and the vision of the Foundress, St. Magdalene of Canossa, in leading students to embrace Christian values. The school motto “Veritas in Charitate”, meaning “Live by the Truth in Love” places special importance upon spiritual growth, social awareness and compassion, along with a strong sense of justice.

Throughout its long history, St. Francis’ Canossian College has nurtured thousands of outstanding graduates who persistently dedicate to the community, and with many of them taken up leading roles in serving Hong Kong. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Sr Yu, Mr Law, teachers and all involved in St. Francis’ development over the years. I would like to particularly thank Sr Marie Remedios, my principal for several years before I left school, for her guidance, love and prayers, up to this day. I see Ms Helen Woo, one of my dear teachers here today and I would like to thank her as well.

Dear graduates, I understand that most of you will have achieved very good results in public examinations and in due course will be admitted to universities or tertiary institutions, in Hong Kong or overseas. 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 will have your own view and judgment on the opinions expressed by others. But if you are puzzled or have any hesitations, please do bear in mind the core values of honesty, integrity, joyfulness, humility, hard work and excellence which have all along been 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.

As you enter society, there will be even more challenges – hard choices to be made in career and family. My advice is : just be true to yourself. This was the advice given to me by Sr Marie when as a certificate graduate after finishing Form five in St. Francis’, I faced the dilemma of staying in St. Francis’ to pursue those arts subjects that I loved or going to the science stream at another school with a view to study medicine, which was my late father’s wish. Sr Marie’s advice was : ask yourself and do what you really want to do! I then decided to stay in St. Francis’ to finish my secondary education.

There were more such difficult decisions to make in my years of public service, balancing the needs of family and work; meeting needs of individual sectors against the broader interest of community; cutting welfare payments in order to provide a sustainable social security system for those in need; and arguing that a pension system “regardless of poor or rich” is probably not in the best interest of Hong Kong. In the course of these three and a half decades, personal sacrifices were made. On all those occasions, I was guided by a commitment to serve, a passion to make Hong Kong a better place, and empathy and compassion for those in need. I was encouraged by a very supportive husband and two sons who never complain the lack of time with the Mum. I also prayed to the Lord for his guidance whenever I was in doubt.

As many people and the local media are speculating, one such decision has to be made soon. But on this occasion, I can tell you unequivocally that the family consideration will prevail.

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. They come from diverse background, different fields and have unique experiences in life. But what strikes me is what they have in common: hard work, perseverance and an aspiration to pursue excellence and to make a difference to their own life or to society. 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 ventures 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 humble 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 more and more often in today’s Legislative Council.

As we are in The Year of the Mercy, let us extend love, kindness and unbounded generosity to all people we encounter. Let us realize that encountering mercy can transform our life, our relationships, our work and our ability to embrace all of life.

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. I would, in particular, want to congratulate a teacher in the primary school, Ms Chong Yan-wai, for obtaining from the Chief Executive yesterday the Award for Teaching Excellence in Curriculum Leadership.

Thank you and may God bless you!