XN000022-1977-04-29 — Page 13

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FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1977

BOYS COMPLETE TRAINING AT SEA SCHOOL

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY INSPECTED A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 10 BOYS WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED TRAINING AT THE HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL IN STANLEY.

HE ALSO PRESENTED CERTIFICATES TO THE GRADUATES WHO WILL BE JOINING THE LOCAL SHIPPING COMPANIES AS TRAINEES CLASS | ON BOARD SHIPS.

MR. AKERS-JONES AND HIS WIFE LATER TOURED THE SCHOOL AND SAW OTHER BOYS UNDERGOING VARIOUS FORMS OF TRAINING, THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SCHOOL, BRIGADIER N.G.A. NOBLE.

ADDRESSING THE GRADUATES, MR. AKERS-JONES RECALLED THAT HE HIMSELF WENT TO SEA AT THE AGE OF 17 AS AN APPRENTICE AND SERVED FOR FOUR YEARS ABOARD A NUMBER OF SHIPS IN THE FAR EAST.

+I HAVE NEVER REGRETTED THE TIME SPENT AT SEA AND ALL THAT I LEARNT FROM IT, HE SAID.

HE TOLD THE BOYS THAT THEY WERE ON THE THRESHOLD OF GREAT ADVENTURE, GOING TO STRANGE PLACES, MEETING STRANGE PEOPLE AND ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND POSSIBLE DANGER.

+YOU WILL FACE THESE ENCOUNTERS WELL EQUIPPED BY YOUR TRAINING HERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE LEARNED THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR YOUR FELLOW MEN.

+ IF YOU DO THIS, YOU WILL FULFIL THE HIGH TRADITIONS OF SERVICE AT SEA,+ HE SAID.