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Following is the remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at Kellogg-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) EMBA Programme Global Ranking Celebration Ceremony at Government House this evening (October 28):
Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am so proud. I am so proud of what you have achieved. As Paul just said, we must dare to dream where we want to go. And then if we try hard enough, we will get there. So let this be an example for the whole of Hong Kong. Thank you very much HKUST.
With what you have achieved, we know we will make Hong Kong the centre of excellence for education in this part of the world and hopefully one day for the whole world. We know we are positioning ourselves right as Asia's premium business centre and we know we will be Asia's world city.
Human resource is actually Hong Kong's only resource. It is important for us to nurture that resource, that very precious resource. In a knowledge economy, we need good education. Good education also provides every citizen of Hong Kong the equal opportunities to participate in activities of this community, equal opportunities for upward social mobility. So the Government is obligated to provide good quality education.
I have said many times every dollar spent on education, Fanny, is not expenditure. It is an investment. Both Arthur Li and Fanny actually agree with me very much on this issue. But we also need to know that every tax-payer's dollar is being spent wisely on education. But it is also our obligation, especially in a time of enormous financial pressure of huge deficit, we need particularly to be sure that every dollar is being spent wisely. Whatever cut there might be needed, I just want to tell you, we don't want education quality to be compromised anyway whatsoever. I am relying on you to make sure that is going to be the case. Thank you.
From 1998 onward, HKUST and the Kellogg started this joint programme together. It is a wonderful journey you have made. In such a short time, you have achieved what many of us thought would be very difficult. But you have done it. We are proud of you. We thank you for your effort. But don't stop here because we are only the ninth best in the world and we expect you to do better. Thank you very much.
Ends/Tuesday, October 28, 2003
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