17th Congregation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Speech by Prof. Reuben Chu

Professor Jin-Guang Teng, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, Members of The Polytechnic University, Distinguished guests, Graduates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon. First, let me express my sincere appreciation for the honour I have been given to officiate the 17th Congregation and Faculty Prize Presentation Ceremony.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the Congregation and Faculty Prize Presentation Ceremony today. It is a great joy to convey congratulations to each one of you on behalf of the members of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, alumni and friends. The Faculty of Construction and Environment and its predecessors have been a major provider of professional education for the Hong Kong construction and engineering industries for over seventy years. Your hard work, devotion to quality, dedication of your professors and staff and vision of your management have contributed to this notable achievement.

Dear young graduates, today marks an important day in your lives and a significant milestone in your career’s journey. Facing intense competition to enter this Faculty, you have pursued your academic work with great dedication. By your hard work and by adhering to high standards, you have earned your degrees and awards. It is a moment of pride for you as much as it is for your professors, parents and those who had any part in shaping your life so far.

Now as you embark on your journey into the real world, I’d like to share some findings with you. According to the Quarterly Report conducted in March 2011 by the Census and Statistics Department, the overall gross value of construction works by major contractors in Hong Kong has been rising since 2009. Moreover, as major infrastructure projects are being rolled out in phases, demand of engineering services in Hong Kong will remain high. These major projects imply that our young graduates will play an important role in the future development in Hong Kong.

In closing, I’d like to share some thoughts with you. Engineers nowadays need to understand the world that they operate in, to be well-versed not only technologically but also in business practices, history and even sociology and psychology, to successfully tackle problems.

Today, a large number of senior or top executives are taking part in continuous learning to gain better skills and knowledge. With globalization, opportunities for learning and higher studies are now made available to a far wider community of people. What this means for young graduates like you is that competition will come fast, as more and more people upgrade themselves to secure better jobs. My advice for you is to look at the long term rather than be too preoccupied with short-term gain.

Dear graduates, you have already equipped yourselves with an excellent education foundation. Please do not stop here! Get out there and try out new things in pursuit of your goals. The future holds exciting opportunities for Hong Kong, and our young graduates today are well placed to seize them.

Having mentioned all the above, don’t be scared. With your qualification as a graduate of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, you will certainly be able to achieve your goal just by carrying on with your passion.

My final wish for you is this, that the friends you are seated with in this graduation ceremony be your friends for life. May they be a shoulder to lean on in times of fortune and trouble. On this special occasion, I hope that you will also take the opportunity to thank your loved ones for their encouragement and support. I congratulate you once again on your achievements.
Good Luck to all of you and thanks for listening.
Thank you.