Kin Tak’s Farewell Speech
The Honorable Mr. Leung, Mr. Wu, Dr. Lam, Dr. Liu, honorable guests,
ladies and gentlemen,
Greetings
It is my honor to be here this evening to speak at the 37th
Inauguration Ceremony of the Politics and Public Administration
Association. I am delighted to see many of you here. And it is indeed
a great pleasure to listen to the insightful speeches of Mr. Leung and
Mr. Wu.
I must congratulate the Executive Committee of the Association,
under the chairmanship of Mr. Arthur Chan, for organizing such an
impressive Ceremony. This event is not only the commencement
of the era of the incoming cabinet. It is also the ceremonial end
of the term of office of the Association’s Executives of Session 2008-
2009.
Brief Review of the Work of Executive Committee 2008-2009
The previous year has been challenging for the Association.
Fortunately, with the support of our members and the Department
of Politics and Public Administration, we managed to sail through the
angry sea and saw a steady growth.
When being inaugurated, the outgoing cabinet vowed to serve
the members of the Association and the Department
wholeheartedly. We vowed to arouse students’ awareness of current
affairs. We vowed to promote the scholarly study of political science
in the University.
The Executive Committee of Session 2008-2009 have done our
very best to fulfill these promises, and the results are generally
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satisfactory. Thus, with no reservation, we can proclaim: we keep
our election promises, and we get our job done.
Vote of Thanks
Ladies and gentlemen, the Association would undoubtedly
not be as successful as it is now, without the assistance of
numerous parties. On behalf of the outgoing executive
committee, I would like to take this opportunity to express our
gratitude to each of them.
To all our current members and alumni, we say thank
you. Thank you for your trust and dedication. The Association could
not be legitimately and effectively operated without your mandate.
Your presence in our functions is an encouragement for us to strive
for the best. Your feedbacks of our events are valuable to the
improvement of our service.
To all past executives of the Association, we say thank
you. Thank you for your advice and support. PPAA would not be that
smoothly ran if you have not given us sufficient help. You have been
the guardian angels of the Association.
To all our partner student organizations, we say thank
you. Thank you for your friendship and cooperation. It is the efforts
of the various parties in the Social Science Society Council that
made our relationship exceptionally harmonious. It is the impressive
work of our learned friends from the Society of the Department
of Government and Public Administration of CUHK that made
the 34th Intervarsity Political Science Debate a success.
Last but not least, to our home department, the
Department of Politics and Public Administration, we say
thank you. Thank you for your continual guidance and assistance.
PPAA is grateful to have the Department to work with us throughout
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the past years. The incoming cabinet should always bear in
mind that they must be thankful to have such an invaluable
and supportive partner.
Words to the Incoming Cabinet
The time of the new cabinet has come! Welcome onboard for
the unique voyage with PPAA!
A Canadian legal scholar, Prof. Allan Hutchinson, once wrote,
“On a voyage of discovery there is no chart to follow and no
grand manual to consult. On the oceans of possibility, one
must dream his own destinations and steer his own
courses”.
Executives of session 2009-2010! Be daring to dream. Be
prepared to serve. And most importantly, be not afraid of
greatness. Do what you ought to do. And do what you dream to do.
Leave the legacy of yours in the history of PPAA.
I am confident that, as a cohesive and innovative 12-man strong
team, you could find your own way, surpass all your
predecessors and grow the Association beyond its limit.
I must say, however, this journey may not be as easy as you
might have expected. It is always possible to encounter a storm in a
seemingly peaceful sea. Remember to stay together.
Remember to stay strong. Remember to stay with your
dream. By then, no hurricane could stop you to glory.
Good luck, and enjoy! What makes life fascinating is not the
destination. It’s the journey. I hope that, decades later when you
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recall the moment spent in the Association, you will tell the others
proudly that, “This was our finest hour.”
May I wish you all every success in the forthcoming year.
Thank you.
