XN000022-1972-06-30 — Page 9

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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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