Speech at the 120th Anniversary Celebration of Sir Ellis Kadoorie (Sookunpo) Primary School

12 April 2011 (Tuesday)

120^th Anniversary Celebration of

Sir Ellis Kadoorie (Sookunpo) Primary School

Speech by Mr Michael M Y Suen, GBS, JP
Secretary for Education

Headmistress, Deputy Head, all honourable guests, parents, teachers and students :

I have come here tonight to celebrate the 120^th anniversary of Sir Ellis Kadoorie Primary School. I am also here to watch a musical for which a lot of efforts must have been put in by the whole school.  But by far the most important reason why I am here is to witness and to celebrate the achievements of your children, who will one day become the pillar of our society.

To some of you, tonight represents the opportunity to showcase yourselves to the audience, to shine amongst the rest your musical talents and your steps and moves.  To others, it may be about an ultimate triumph over the inevitable stage fright.  Yet to some amongst you, tonight is about celebrating your ability to train, rehearse and overcome challenges as a team.  It could even be about your first time putting make-ups on, in front of parents that is.

So, my plea to the performers, let us hear your voices, see your moves, and admire at the team spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.  Let us feel that you are performing not just for the school or parents, but also for yourselves, because you have earned your place on this stage, and you should treasure every moment of it, the way your school motto suggests.

Tonight the time is yours, go “Seize the day”.

Thank you.