Dear Parents and Students,
With deep sorrow, we bid farewell to Mr Tung Chee-hwa, the first Chief Executive of the HKSAR and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC. He was sincerely patriotic and devoted to Hong Kong, contributing greatly to its smooth return, stable transition, and the successful implementation of “One Country, Two Systems.” As we remember his unassuming and dedicated life, I hope our Pooi To girls will draw strength from him and learn from his deep love for Hong Kong and the country.
Mr Tung was Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive after its return to the motherland. At his inauguration on 1 July 1997, he said firmly, “The implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ is entirely in the hands of us Chinese.” These were not empty words; they have been put into practice in Hong Kong people’s lives. During his more than seven years leadership, he often worked “7–11” — from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. He led Hong Kong through the Asian financial crisis, stabilised the financial system, enabled strong economic recovery, and kept society prosperous and stable. With far-sighted vision, he promoted the signing of CEPA, opening a new path for economic integration with the Mainland and laying a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s long-term competitiveness. With this in mind, we really appreciate his courage and determination for Hong Kong’s long-term interests.
In education, Mr Tung stressed that “education resources must never be cut,” and even during fiscal austerity he fully supported education spending. He changed the academic structure from “5+2+3” to “3+3+4,” aligning universities with international practice. Students, you now sit only one public examination instead of two and still have the opportunity to enter university. This seemingly natural change was made possible by his vision and determination. He also introduced the associate degree system, so one examination would not determine one’s fate, opening another pathway for students. He advocated for whole-person development, biliteracy and trilingualism, and valued moral education and talent cultivation. Our Pooi To girls can now pursue dreams on a broader educational ladder because of his foresight.
As Chief Executive, Mr Tung said, “When Hong Kong is well, the country is well; when the country is well, Hong Kong is even better.” This expresses the close, interdependent relationship between Hong Kong and the country. He encouraged students to understand the motherland, because “to know the motherland is to know the future; those who do not understand our motherland do not understand the world.” After leaving his role, he continued to care about the country and Hong Kong. In 2020, he led the establishment of the Hong Kong Coalition, uniting society and helping Hong Kong overcome difficulties. We deeply respect his selfless dedication. He urged young people: “Be a proud, brave and responsible Chinese, a builder who takes responsibility for the country and Hong Kong.” He led by example; these were not empty slogans but the sincere exhortation of an elder who witnessed the country grow from weakness to strength.
I sincerely hope our Pooi To girls will take Mr Tung as a role model -- to put the country and Hong Kong first, face difficulties with firm will, and love the country and Hong Kong deeply. Let us start by understanding our country’s history and culture, caring for Hong Kong’s communities, studying hard, equipping ourselves and serving society. Let us carry forward the efforts of generations and jointly build a better country and Hong Kong.
Wishing everyone a joyous Mid-Autumn Festival full of warmth, happiness, and wonderful reunions.
Best Regards,
C. Cheung
