XN000022-1987-02-17 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987

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MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SIR EDWARD HELD IN LONDON

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THE LATE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WAS PRAISED AT A MEMOR I AL SERVICE IN LONDON TODAY (TUESDAY) AS A DIPLOMAT WHOSE SKILL AND DEDICATION HAD MADE A VITAL AND HISTORIC CONTRIBUTION TO THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG.

SIR EDWARD WAS A LOYAL AND INCREDIBLY HARD WORKING OFFICIAL WHO HAD BEEN PREPARED TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING, INCLUDING HIS HEALTH AND ULTIMATELY HIS LIFE, ON BEHALF OF THOSE HE SERVED, THE HEAD OF THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE, SIR PATRICK WRIGHT, TOLD THE CONGREGATION IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

HE SAID SUCH CHARACTERISTICS HAD ALWAYS INSPIRED THE ADMIRATION, RESPECT AND AFFECTION OF SIR EDWARD'S COLLEAGUES DURING HIS NEARLY 40 YEARS IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.

OPENING HIS ADDRESS, SIR PATRICK DESCRIBED SIR EDWARD AS A MUCH-LOVED GOVERNOR WHOSE SUDDEN DEATH HAD BEEN DEEPLY MOURNED IN THE TERRITORY, AS WAS EVIDENCED BY THE THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES IN CONDOLENCE BOOKS AND BY THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THRONGED THE STREETS FOR THE FUNERAL PROCESSION.

+THOSE OF US WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THAT SERVICE IN ST JOHN'S CATHEDRAL -- THE FIRST OCCASION, SINCE SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL'S FUNERAL IN 1965, WHEN THE FULL PANOPLY OF BRITISH STATE CEREMONIAL HAD BEEN ACCORDED TO A COMMONER -- WERE ABLE TO SHARE IN AN ACT OF COMMEMORATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR TEDDY YOUDE'S LONG SERVICE TO HONG KONG,+ SIR PATRICK SAID.

+TODAY, WE ARE GATHERED TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE LIFE AND GIFTS OF A FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE.+

SIR PATRICK NOTED THAT MUCH OF SIR EDWARD'S CAREER HAD BEEN SPENT IN PEKING AND HONG KONG, OR DEALING WITH FAR EASTERN QUESTIONS IN WASHINGTON AND LONDON.

HE HAD EARLY IN HIS CAREER SHOWN AN EXCEPTIONAL GIFT FOR CHINESE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE, AND DURING HIS GOVERNORS HIP OF HONG KONG HIS KNOWLEDGE OF CHINA, AND ABILITY TO SPEAK BOTH MANDARIN AND CANTONESE, HAD ENDEARED HIM TO PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS.

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+ONE OF HIS COLLEAGUES HAS DESCRIBED HOW HE WAS ADORED BY THE TEA-HOUSE OWNERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, WITH WHOM HE WOULD STOP FOR CONVERSATION ON HIS WAY TO SEE THE KINGFISHERS ON A WEEKEND WALK.+

HOWEVER, HIS COMMITMENT TO THE AREA AND LANGUAGES OF HIS SPECIALISATION WAS EQUALLED ONLY BY HIS COMMITMENT AND DEVOTION TO THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE ITSELF, SIR PATRICK SAID.

/THOUGH SIR