Enclosure No.4.
SIR ROBERT HO TUNG'S ADDRESS OF WELCOME ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY 1st MAY, 1946.
Your Excellency, it is with a great sense of honour and good fortune that we, representing the residents of this Colony, are gathered here on this historic occasion to extend to you, Sir, a most warm welcome on your return to resume your office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
As we all recall, five years ago this Colony was invaded by a ruthless enemy. Even under great oods, you, Sir, were
determined to resist the invasion with whatever force you had at your command, strictly in accordance with the teachings of the great sages that to bend not to power and force is one of the characteristics of a great man. Although you, Sir, sub- sequently fell into the hands of the enemy as a prisoner-of-war and had, together with more than a million other citizens of this Colony, to submit to his atrocious treatment, it is the se very misfortunes that brought about among the allied nations a stronger unity of purpose and an undefeatable spirit of heroism, which eventually culminated in our great victory.
To your gallant resistance, Sir, and to those who gave their all for the cause, we render the greatest respect and admiration.
Hong Kong has now been liberated these eight months, but under the inspiring leadership and direction of His Excellency Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt, Brigadier MacDougall and other able officers, the work of rehabilitation of the Colony has shown remarkable progress.
With thankfulness in our hearts,
we rejoice at the resumption of the Civil Administration which was interrupted in December, 1941, and are happy to have again as our fatherly administrator you, Sir, who were prevented by the interruption of your period of office from bestowing upon us the full benefits of your great ability. We sincerely believe that, added by past experience, you, Sir, will lead the Colony on to greater achievements in the spheres of politics, economics and social welfare. We are convinced, moreover,
that the sense of deliverance from an intolerable yoke, already instilled in us by Admiral Harcourt, will be consolidated under your administration.
the people
In surviving the grim ordeal of the war years, of Hong Kong have learned the true meaning of the famous saying of Mencius about the difference between subduing men by force and subduing them by virtue, and have thus learned to appreciate the difference between dictatorship and democracy. We trust that the Government will maintain a sympathetic understanding of the sufferings and hardships which the people have undergone and that its policy will, as in the past, enable them to live and trade in peace and contentment. We on our part, assure you, Sir, of our loyalty, co-operation and support, and pray that your wise leader- ship will inaugurate an era of progress and harmony. We now wish you, Sir, every success in your administration. May prosperity and plenty descend upon Hong Kong.
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