************************************************************
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, at Hong Kong Baptist University 55th Anniversary Celebrations Launching Ceremony and Institute of Creativity Founding Ceremony this evening (March 28):
Mr Wong, Professor Chan, Nobel Laureates, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening. It is my great pleasure to attend this double celebration.
First of all, I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to Hong Kong Baptist University on its 55th Anniversary and on the founding of the Institute of Creativity.
Throughout your 55-year history, Baptist University has gathered extensive experience in providing broad-based and creativity-driven education.
The University has also remained faithful to the commitment set out by the school's founding fathers back in 1956. That commitment is to provide whole-person learning.
I would also like to add Dr Daniel Tse and Professor Ng Ching Fai here who are my old friends. They have started and have carried this commitment.
True to its roots, the University at the same time has continued to move with the times.
It is appropriate that Baptist University is marking your 55th Anniversary in the most creative way possible. The establishment of your Institute of Creativity will help to nurture new talents for our rapidly changing environment.
The Institute also demonstrates the University's vision and commitment to promoting a research culture and generating fresh ideas.
The Hong Kong Government places strong emphasis on creative development in all forms. Areas include innovation and technology, arts and culture as well as scientific research and development.
The Government is also committed to strengthening the internationalisation of our higher education sector. The high-quality facilities and learning environment at Baptist University will attract more talented students from around the world to pursue their studies in Hong Kong. I have seen in your very warm video that you do have alumni and students from all around the world, and I encourage you to continue to recruit students from all around the world.
This will enhance cultural and intellectual exchanges as well as enable local students to broaden their horizons. These are some of the ways that Hong Kong will be able to maintain its competitiveness as a knowledge-based economy.
I am delighted that Baptist University has seized the opportunities brought about by the implementation of our New Academic Structure to refine its undergraduate programmes and curriculum.
Under the very capable leadership of Professor Chan and with support from leading scholars from Hong Kong and around the world, I have no doubt that the university will achieve the goals set out in its Vision 2020 strategy.
Ladies and gentlemen, on this landmark occasion, I congratulate Hong Kong Baptist University on its 55th birthday. I also wish the Institute of Creativity every success in nurturing talent for a bright and creative future.
Thank you.
Ends/Monday, March 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 20:06
NNNN
Windows Media format
Real Media format