FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1980
3
+(ANYWAY) I THEN OBTAINED A COPY OF YOUR ORDINANCE
WHICH
I RECALLED WOULD HELP A LOT: AND IT DID. AND HERE, SIR, MAY I MAKE A PERSONAL COMMENT. I REMEMBER PARTICULARLY WELL THE CARE AND ATTENTION THE INSTITUTION GAVE TO THE FRAMING OF YOUR ORDINANCE, AND ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTION- ONE OF WHICH AT 4(1) IS TO DISCOURAGE DISHONOURABLE CONDUCT AND PRACTICES ARISING IN THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION.+ IT IS VERY GOOD INDEED TO KNOW THAT, IN HONG KONG AT ANY RATE ENGINEERS HAVE INSISTED UPON STATING THUS THEIR MORAL OBLIGATIONS SO FIRMLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY. I AM PROUD AND PLEASED THAT THAT IS SO.
+NEVERTHELESS, EVEN YOUR ORDINANCE DID NOT GIVE ME EXACTLY WHAT I WAS SEEKING IN TERMS OF DEFINITION...... WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE ARE ENGINEERS?
+NO DOUBT YOU HAVE READ THAT ADVERTISEMENT WHICH GOES SOMETHING LIKE ... +BUY ONE AND THEN YOU WON'T HAVE TO ASK YOUR DAD+? YOU HAVE?
YOU HAVE? WELL I'LL BET YOURS IS RATHER MORE UP-TO-DATE THAN MY ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITTANICA BUT WHICH NEVERTHELESS DID ANSWER MY QUESTION. AND I SHOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY NEWLY ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE WITH YOU NOW AND I QUOTE 'SO DIVERSIFIED ARE THE SERVICES REQUIRED OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS THROUGHOUT THE WIDE RANGE OF INDUSTRIES, PUBLIC UTILITIES AND GOVERNMENTAL WORK, AND IN THE DISCOVERY, DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES, THAT MEN OF EXTREMELY VARIOUS PERSONALITY AND PHYSIQUE MAY ACHIEVE SUCCESS. (NO GUARANTEE YOU SEE ALL SORTS, THE LONG, THE SHORT AND THE TALL, ANY SORT MAY BECOME ENGINEERS BUT NOT ALL MAY APPARENTLY ACHIEVE SUCCESS.)
+'QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL HONESTY, COURAGE, INDEPENDENCE OF THOUGHT, FAIRNESS, GOOD SENSE, SOUND JUDGEMENT, PERSEVERANCE, RESOURCEFULNESS, INGENUITY, ORDERLINESS, APPLICATION, ACCURACY AND (OF COURSE) ENDURANCE. AN ENGINEER SHOULD HAVE ABILITY TO OBSERVE, DEDUCE, APPLY, TO CORRELATE CAUSE AND EFFECT, TO CO-OPERATE, TO ORGANISE, TO ANALYSE SITUATIONS AND CONDITIONS, TO STATE PROBLEMS, TO DIRECT THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS (AND BY GOLLY THEY CERTAINLY DO, DON'T THEY). HE SHOULD KNOW HOW TO INFORM, CONVINCE AND WIN CONFIDENCE BY SKILFUL AND RIGHT USE OF FACTS. HE SHOULD BE ALERT, READY TO LEARN, OPEN-MINDED, BUT NOT CREDULOUS (EVEN THOUGH IF MY DEALINGS WITH THE FRATERNITY ARE ANYTHING TO GO BY MANY EXPECT ME TO BE CREDULOUS). HE MUST BE ABLE TO ASSEMBLE FACTS, TO INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY, TO DISCRIMINATE CLEARLY BETWEEN ASSUMPTION AND PROVEN KNOWLEDGE. HE SHOULD BE A MAN OF FAITH, ONE WHO PERCEIVES BOTH DIFFICULTIES AND WAYS TO SURMOUNT THEM. HE SHOULD NOT ONLY KNOW MATHEMATICS AND MECHANICS, BUT SHOULD BE TRAINED TO METHODS OF THOUGHT BASED ON THESE FUNDAMENTAL BRANCHES OF LEARNING. ORGANISED HABITS (WAIT FOR IT) OF MEMORY AND LARGE CAPACITY (NO, NOT FOR BOOZE - ALTHOUGH MANY HAVE THAT ABILITY TOO-AS EVIDENCED HERE TONIGHT) CAPACITY FOR INFORMATION ARE NECESSARY. HE SHOULD HAVE EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCIENCES AND OTHER BRANCHES OF LEARNING AND KNOW INTENSIVELY THOSE THINGS WHICH CONCERN HIS SPECIALTIES. HE MUST BE A STUDENT THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER AND KEEP ABREAST OF HUMAN PROGRESS.
/+HAVING BEEN