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The following is the speech (English only) by the Chief Secretary for Administration , Mrs Anson Chan, at the Diocesan Girls' School Speech Day today (Tuesday):

Mrs Lau, Bishop Thomas Soo, Mrs Ho, members of the School Council, distinguished guests, parents and girls of DGS,

I'd like, first of all, to say how deeply honoured I am to be invited to address you on your 140th Anniversary. Your school has produced many pillars of our society so it is a distinct pleasure for me to be here in this hall tonight and to look down at so many smiling young faces, faces of Hong Kong's future. Amongst you I see budding doctors, lawyers, financial analysts, artists and musicians, social workers and company executives, politicians and civil servants - perhaps even the future Chief Secretary or Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

I fully share the sentiments of your headmistress, Mrs Lau, on the need to face current educational challenges head-on so that our younger generations are, in her words, 'academically, morally and spiritually equipped to be the leaders of tomorrow'. I agree that more needs to be done - and is being done - to improve the standards of written and spoken English and Chinese across the entire spectrum of our education system. As you know, the Education Commission is developing a framework for education reform to prepare the 'leaders of tomorrow' for the knowledge-based society of the 21st Century. We are working towards an education system that complements and nurtures the inborn curiosity of children for new experiences; a system in which children will be encouraged to ask questions rather than being told how to answer them. We hope to instill in our young people a desire for life-long learning. Hong Kong's greatest strength has always been its human capital. We would be letting our children down - and letting Hong Kong down also - if we did not allow them to develop at their own pace, to nurture their own strengths and talents, and to make the entire learning process much more enjoyable and beneficial, not only for the students, but for teachers and parents as well. I know that these values are very much a part of the teaching ethos at DGS.

Speech Day is a time honoured tradition. Every year, it marks the beginning of a new course in the lives of a group of young people who will soon venture into the wider world. Some of you will move on to university, or enter the workforce; some are preparing for final exams later this year; some have just recently started secondary school. But all of you share a common bond and that is, you are the product of the fine, well-rounded education that DGS has given you.

Education extends far beyond the confines of the classroom walls and the school gate. Education begins the moment you are born and, if you are willing, continues throughout your life. It is up to each and every one of you to make the most of the talents with which you have been blessed, and the opportunities that lie ahead. Those opportunities are the building blocks on which you will develop and strengthen your own unique character.

I hope you will treasure the years that you spend at DGS for they are among the most crucial in preparing you for the many and varied experiences that await you in adulthood - university, work, travel, marriage, buying a home, having children, guiding them through life and, for some at least, sitting with them here in this Centenary Hall for the annual Speech Day.

We are often reminded, in the newspapers or on television, of the pressures that young people face in modern society. The world is certainly much more complicated and moves at a faster pace than when I graduated from school more than 40 years ago. But the guiding principles, the moral compass by which we take our bearings and set our course, are constant. And if we stick to them we can deal with the so-called problems of the modern world because they are, in fact, the same sort of problems that each generation faces : unrealistic expectations, low self esteem, a lack of care, support and communication.

I left school in 1956. After University here in Hong Kong, I joined the Civil Service in 1962. This year marks my 38th year as a career civil servant. In parallel I have married, raised a family, seen my children married and start families of their own. So, you see it is perfectly possible for a woman to combine many roles provided that you have a sense of balance and proportion and learn to organise your time.

I have tried to live my life by a few golden rules which I have developed by trial and error and I would like to share them with you in the hope that they will guide you through life : First and foremost, be true to yourself in all that you do. Know who you are and don't pretend to be anyone else. Develop a sense of values founded on a clear understanding of the difference between right and wrong. Conduct yourself with honour and integrity so that you can be your own best friend because if you are your own best friend, then you will be a true friend to those around you. Remember what Eleanor Roosevelt once said "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent".

Set your goals high, but not so high as to be unattainable. Know your own capabilities and limitations. Strive always to do your best, but that does not mean you always have to be the best. Accept that you will make mistakes, but always try to learn from them. You will learn more from life's mistakes than from any text-book.

I hope you will pursue your goals with cheer and vigour. If you stumble, as you will, pick yourself up and remember what made you stumble. Look on these mistakes as learning experiences. Remember that the only mistakes that are unforgivable are those we repeat. The only challenges that are frightening are those we make no attempt to meet. Every challenge that you meet and conquer will boost your confidence and self respect and make you a better person. Every obstacle that you overcome will provide you with the stepping stone to reach even higher.

For most of us, life will not be plain sailing. There will be successes and failures, tears and joy. Don't despair as you meet the mean and ugly side of life. I have found that life can be beautiful for those who are willing to find that beauty and each one of you can add to that beauty through your talent, care and commitment.

Finally be generous in all things but mostly in sharing your joy with your loved ones. In times of trouble look first to your family for guidance and support; in times of joy, turn first to them to share the moment. A loving and caring family is by far the greatest treasure one could hope for in life. But all too often it is taken for granted. Like any living thing it requires careful nurturing. In today's hectic world, setting aside time for the family is not easy but you will find that time spent together is worth more than all the gold in the world. Children are sometimes reluctant to share their feelings or anxieties with their parents because they do not think that their parents could possibly understand their problems or pressures. I suggest you try. After all, parents were your age once! They too have encountered the same awkward moments in life, the same problems, the same anxieties and the same uncertainties. So learn to confide in them.

In one of your DGS magazines, I came across this quote by the noted American novelist and humanitarian Pearl S Buck, : "The young know not enough to be prudent and therefore they attempt the impossible - and achieve it, generation after generation." Looking around this hall, reading about all that you have already achieved, I have no doubt that the girls of DGS will prove Pearl Buck right yet again.

I thank you all for allowing me to share your special day. I congratulate all the graduates and prize winners and I wish you every happiness and success in all that you do. The education you have received here at DGS has given you a priceless start to life. Make the most of it and strive to make Hong Kong a better place for yourself, your loved ones and for the community at large. May God bless you and be with you always.

Thank you.

Photo: The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, attended Diocesan Girls' School Speech Day. Photograph shows Mrs Chan presenting awards to outstanding students.

End/Tuesday, January 25, 2000

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