14th Gordon Arthur Ransome Oration: continuity and change.

* Chief Secretary for Administration Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government PR China Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Datuk Dr Yeoh Poh Hong, Dr Chee Yam Cheng, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply honoured to be invited to deliver the 14th Gordon Arthur Ransome Oration, following in the footsteps of previous illustrious speakers. I am particularly honoured that you have chosen a career civil servant from Hong Kong. My only claim to your noble profession is that I grew up surrounded by doctors in the family, whose personal qualities and conscientious practice of their different disciplines have had such a profound effect on my sanity, spiritual and physical well-being.