THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1981
1
ROYAL MESSAGES TO LIFE SAVERS
***
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN HAS SENT A MESSAGE OF WARM CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD WISHES TO THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY WHICH CELEBRATED ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY (THURSDAY).
AND IN ANOTHER MESSAGE, HRH PRINCE MICHAEL OF KENT SAID THE HONG KONG BRANCH'S RECORD IN TRAINING LIFE SAVERS IS GREATLY ADMIRED BY ALL THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF BEACHES AROUND THE WORLD.+
THE MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS WERE READ AT THE SOCIETY'S SILVER JUBILEE DINNER BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE.
SIR MURRAY IN HIS OWN STATEMENT, SAID: NOTHING IS MORE ELOQUENT OF YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THAN THE 13 000 LIVES YOU HAVE SAVED OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS. THE DEBT OWED TO YOU IS ENORMOUS.+
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF SIR MURRAY'S SPEECH AT THE SILVER JUBILEE DINNER OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH:
+I AM COMMANDED BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN TO READ HER REPLY TO YOUR MESSAGE.
PLEASE CONVEY MY SINCERE THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY FOR THEIR KIND MESSAGE OF LOYAL GREETING SENT ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR SILVER JUBILEE. WAS VERY PLEASED TO RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE AND SEND MY WARM CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD WISHES TO ALL CONCERNED ON THIS VERY SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY. I AM GREATLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING SOME OF YOUR MEMBERS WHEN THEY COME TO LONDON FOR THE SOCIETY'S COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE IN JUNE. ELIZABETH R
+I HAVE ALSO BEEN ASKED BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE MICHAEL OF KENT TO READ TO YOU HIS REPLY TO YOUR MESSAGE:
AS COMMONWEALTH PRESIDENT I WAS THRILLED AND DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE THE KIND MESSAGE FROM THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY ON THE OCCASION OF THE IR SILVER JUBILEE.
FROM THE VERY START THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE SOCIETY HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT PART IN OUR COMMONWEALTH WIDE ORGANISATION AND ITS RECORD IN TRAINING LIFESAVERS IS GREATLY ADMIRED BY ALL THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF BEACHES AROUND THE WORLD.
I SEND YOU ALL MY VERY WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY. YOU HAVE CERTAINLY JUSTIFIED THE GREAT FAITH LORD MOUNTBATTEN HAD IN YOU WHEN HE INITIATED THE FORMING OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH IN 1956.
I MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING REPRESENTATIVES OF YOUR BRANCH DURING OUR COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE IN JUNE.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF SENDING YOU MY PERSONAL BEST WISHES. I HAVE THE HAPPIEST MEMORIES OF OUR MEETING IN 1974.
/TC BOTH