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Friday, June 30, 1972
"HONG KONG NEEDS LEARNED PEOPLE"
The Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, said today Hong Kong
desperately needs learned people of all ages.
Speaking at the foundation-stone laying ceremony of New Asia
College at the Chinese University in Sha Tin, he said Hong Kong already
had plenty of enthusiasm, plenty of enterprise, plenty of hard work,
commercial instinct, even compassion.
"But to turn it into the place we want it to be, and to obtain the
resources to do this, we need the help, at all levels of people with the
skills and knowledge and comprehension that can only be acquired from
a basis of learning: the sort of learning that can be acquired here," he said.
Sir Murray continued: "And what a lot there is for such people to
do in Hong Kong and how short we are of them, whether in industry, the
professions, business, the places of teaching or Government."
However, he pointed out that learning must also be an end in
itself, and he rejected the sausage machine concept of a university whose
only object was to turn out types in short supply.
"Learning and knowledge for its own sake is what gives a university
inspiration authority and repute and gives it the ability to command the
respect of those who learn in it.
"And if the pursuit of learning for its own sake involves some people
wanting to push doors marked "pull" or walk up escalators that are going
down, I suggest that this may be regarded with a benevolent eye
reason, " he said.
Note to Editors:
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The full text of Sir Murray's speech at the foundation- stone laying ceremony of New Asia College is contained in a Supplement to today's Daily Information Bulletin.
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