THURDAY, MAY 30, 1985
GOVERNOR OPENS NEW CHINA FLEET CLUB
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING DOTTED THE EYES OF TWO LIONS AND CUT A RIBBON TO DECLARE OPEN THE NEW PREMISES OF THE CHINA FLEET CLUB IN WAN CHAI.
SIR EDWARD WAS GREETED ON ARRIVAL BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CLUB, CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER GOTTO, RN, AND THE GENERAL MANAGER, MR PHIL BALDWIN.
AFTER UNVEILING A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CLUB, SIR EDWARD MET THE CLUB'S TRUSTEES, MR MARTIN BARROW AND MR MICHAEL SANDBERG.
SIR EDWARD, WITH THE TRUSTEES, THEN WENT INTO THE RECEPTION HALL TO CUT A CAKE AND TO OFFER A TOAST.
THE CLUB STARTED AS A NAVAL CANTEEN IN 1934. IT NOW OCCUPIES NINE FLOORS IN A 26-STOREY BUILDING DEVELOPED FROM ITS ORIGINAL SITE IN GLOUCESTER ROAD, AND PROVIDES ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES RESTAURANTS, BARS, A THEATRE AND A SWIMMING POOL. IT HAS MORE THAN 2 500 MEMBERS, INCLUDING SERVICEMEN AND LOCAL RESIDENTS.
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LETTER FROM LOWER ALBERT ROAD
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(TEXT OF A SPEECH BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, AT THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB TODAY.)
+WHILST I WAS MOST GRATIFIED TO BE INVITED TO BE HERE TODAY, AND WHILST I AM CONSCIOUS THAT THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB HAS CERTAIN EXPECTATIONS THAT A FREE LUNCH WILL BE PAID FOR, I MUST MAKE IT CLEAR AT THE OUTSET THAT I AM STANDING UP HERE AS A MATTER OF COURTESY, FEAR I HAVE NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO SAY OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE: SHALL NOT BE AIRING A POLICY INITIATIVE SHALL NOT BE DEFENDING A POLICY DECISION I SHALL NOT BE TAKING AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT A FASHIONABLE SUBJECT OF THE DAY I SHALL NOT BE CONTRIBUTING TO ONE OF THE POPULAR CONTROVERSIES THAT HAS ENGAGED YOUR ATTENTION RECENTLY, OFTEN VERY SPECULATIVELY, SOMETIMES QUITE FRANTICALLY AND, ABOVE ALL, I SHALL NOT BE MAKING A FAREWELL SPEECH IN AN ATTEMPT TO LEAVE BEHIND A LEGACY OF WISDOM. I SHAN'T EVEN CONSCIOUSLY TRY TO AMUSE YOU. THERE IS NO FUTURE IN THAT, IF I'VE LEARNED ONE LESSON OVER THE YEARS, IT IS THIS: NEVER TAKE ANYONE'S SENSE OF HUMOUR FOR GRANTED. I'VE LEARNED THAT LESSON THE HARD WAY, THAT IS TO SAY, VIA THE ACUTE EMBARRASSMENT OF DEATHLY SILENCE WHEN A CLEVER CRACK, OR AN ANECDOTE, OR A SHAGGY DOG STORY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IF NOT THE HOUSE DOWN AT LEAST A RIPPLE OF POLITE LAUGHTER.
/+MIND YOU,