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Following is a speech by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Dr E K Yeoh, at the 19th Annual Speech Day of the Hong Kong Chinese Women's Club College today (December 14):

Supervisor Mrs Mona Leong, Principal Mrs L S Wong, distinguished guests, teachers, parents, and students,

I am delighted to be invited to your 19th Annual Speech Day and to extend my congratulations to the Form 5 and Form 7 students graduating today.

The school

Under a motto of "Knowledge and Perseverance", your school has done a great job in providing students with a well-rounded education and promoting their balanced development in terms of ethics, intellect, physique, social skills and aesthetics. The remarkable academic results and active participation in extra-curricular activities and community services are testimony to the success of your school in nurturing students reach their full potential. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Supervisor, the Principal and all the staff for their vision, dedication and commitment to education, and wish the school continued success in the coming years.

The world around you

As you leave school, you face a world in which change is the rule. It is also time for you to grasp the opportunities and meet the challenges that lie ahead. There are a number of developments that will significantly affect each one of us in the years to come.

Firstly, the move towards a knowledge-based economy means that anyone equipped with knowledge and creativity stands a chance of succeeding, regardless of his or her social status or family background. The pre-requisite to achieving this goal is to equip ourselves through education. The Government has pledged to improve the quality and scope in education. We are determined to realize the objectives of the Education Commission's blueprint of education for the 21st Century - to enable students to have an all-round development as well as the attitude and ability for lifelong learning so that they could rise to the challenges in the new millennium.

Secondly, globalisation has brought about tremendous opportunities and challenges in the business world and the employment market. Businesses require different staff who have multiple skills and have a global perspective. Many new skills will also have to be acquired in a career, as knowledge and technology are evolving. It is important for you as young school leavers to equip yourselves. The Labour Department has launched the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme to help young people adapt to the working world.

Thirdly, the downturn of the external economy has hit Hong Kong at a time when we are undergoing structural adjustment. The environment has become increasingly competitive.

Developing yourselves

Opportunities and challenges will be abound not only in the external environment but also in your own development.

I am sure many of you will agree that at this stage of your life you may sometimes feel overwhelmed by the many challenges, academic and otherwise. But have you realised that this is in fact a golden opportunity for you to discover yourselves? We were not born alike, and everyone is endowed with different abilities. It is important that you identify your own strengths and make the best of them. Equip yourselves with the skills that match your talent, try to address your weaknesses as best you can, and you will find your place in society. This is not an easy process for many. This process of discovery is a continuing one and "significant breakthroughs" may occur at the time of your life. Reflection, self-analyses and feed-back from friends and family will facilitate the process.

To be sure, there are also bound to be ups and downs in life, and no one is immune to setbacks. Be prepared, and don't let these difficulties discourage you. With each attempt to overcome an obstacle with perseverance and determination, you are in fact enriching yourselves and moving one step closer towards maturity. At a later stage in life, when you look back at your adolescence, you will know that all of these valuable experiences are very much your own, and have indeed been instrumental in shaping what you are.

Rest assured that throughout this process, your friends, family members, the community and the Government is standing by you. We are committed to providing good education, to rendering support for young people's physical and psychosocial health, and to providing welfare services to young people in need. By providing holistic services, we help our young people to achieve personal fulfilment and equip them to assist in Hong Kong's development. But this is not a role for the Government alone. A crucial role should also be played by young people, families and the community.

Finally, let me thank you most warmly for allowing me to share your happy and memorable day. I hope you will treasure the education you have received, and remember what Benjamin Franklin said, "Genius without education is like silver in the mine." Thank you.

End/Friday, December 14, 2001

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