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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1977
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THEN WALKED THROUGH THE LIBRARY AND INSPECTED SOME OF ITS WELL-DESIGNED BOOK RACKS AND EQUIPMENT. THE PRINCESS ALSO TALKED TO SOME OF THE STUDENTS WHO WERE READING AT THE IR DESKS AND ENQUIRED ABOUT THE IR STUDIES AND CAREER.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE ACCOMPANIED PRINCESS ALEXANDRA AND THE HON. ANGUS OGILVY IN THE VISIT TO THE POLYTECHNIC. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY DR. CHUNG AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ON ARRIVAL.
VITAL ROLE OF POLYTECHNIC IN HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
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THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF HRH PRINCESS ALEXANDRA'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC LIBRARY TODAY.
+THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR YOUR WELCOME. I AM SO VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY TO VISIT THIS IMPORTANT CENTRE OF HIGHER TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
+NO PLACE OF LEARNING IS COMPLETE OR EFFECTIVE WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE LIBRARY, PROVIDING THE RAW MATERIALS ON WHICH STUDENTS AND RESEARCH WORKERS MAY BUILD THEIR KNOWLEDGE, AND SO I AM DELIGHTED THAT YOU HAVE ASKED ME TO OPEN SUCH AN ESSENTIAL ADDITION TO YOUR POLYTECHNIC.
J
+HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY DEPENDS UPON ITS ABILITY TO SELL ITS MANUFACTURED GOODS IN COUNTRIES OVERSEAS. TO SUCCEED IN THIS, IN TODAY'S HIGHLY COMPETITIVE WORLD, HONG KONG NEEDS THE SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE WHO WORK IN ITS INDUSTRIES.
+THIS POLYTECHNIC, THEREFORE, IS PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BY TRAINING STUDENTS IN A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL SUBJECTS.
+I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT MOST OF THE GRANT MADE BY BRITAIN HAS BEEN SPENT ON BOOKS FOR THE LIBRARY. THIS GRANT SHOULD BE SEEN AS A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF BRITISH SUPPORT FOR THE ROLE OF THE POLYTECHNIC, AND ALSO AS A GESTURE OF FRIENDSHIP FROM GREAT BRITAIN TO HONG KONG.
+ IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO DECLARE THE LIBRARY OPEN, AND MY GOOD WISHES GO TO ALL THOSE WHO STUDY HERE, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.+