Honorary Adviser His Honour Judge Clement LEE’s address at Speech Day 2025 – Tough Times, Tougher Spirit

2025.12.05
 

The Honorary Adviser of Queen’s College Old Boys’ Association (QCOBA) and District Judge, His Honour Judge Clement LEE Hing-nin, officiated at the Annual Speech Day 2025 this afternoon (December 5) and delivered his address on “Tough Times, Tougher Spirit”. Earlier, he joined QCOBA’s fund-raising exercise with “Labor omnia vincit” calligraphy works by Chinese paintings and calligraphy specialist Dr CHUI Pui-chee (1997) for the QC Education Fund

Following is his address:

Chairman TANG (Chairperson of School Management Committee, Mr TANG Kai-chak), Principal CHAN (Mr Eric CHAN Cheung-wai), President Kevin of QCOBA (Mr Kevin CHU Kai-ming), Chairperson Ms CHAN (Ms Christina CHAN Hoi-yan) of QCPTA (Queen’s College Parents-Teachers’ Association), teachers, parents and my dear fellow QC brothers,

Tough Times, Tougher Spirit

I revised the script of this speech back and forth in two weeks with a heavy heart and misty eyes, seeing the silver lining in our unity as one. Students and teachers showed their solidarity and mourned the victims of the fire tragedy on campus and beyond. I must recognise the school’s efforts in maintaining this important milestone (Speech Day), but adjusting it as a never-ending lesson of empathy. For example, in the recent charity walk, Team QC has raised funds for donations. I visited the Wang Fuk Court residents admitted into the transitional housing in Tai Po to show support and walk with them. All these tested our preparedness, response and above all, service.

Today, as you graduate from this humble public school, your diploma is not just a certificate of academic achievement. It is a weighty token of expectation and responsibility. On this significant occasion, I wish to share four reflections with you: integrity, diligence, contribution and innovation.

First, integrity isn’t just a vague idea; it’s an active state of being, built on three pillars: conscience, consequence and code.

Conscience is the quiet voice from the bottom of our heart. Before any code or school rules are consulted, our conscience asks the simple question: “Is this right?” It is an instinctive judgment of true or false. Yet, conscience alone isn’t enough. We must look outward to the second pillar, consequence. We must be responsible for our actions or omissions. A single compromise can erode trust, damage reputation and hurt others. Let’s take a break and ask not just “Is this right?”, but also “What will be the consequence?”, especially in the era of fake news, conspiracy and revenging posts in social media. Social media operators, for commercial reasons or ulterior purposes, use algorithms to push similar messages to you, resulting in developing anger or even extreme ideas. You have to double your efforts to avoid indulging in, or becoming addicted to, using AI (artificial intelligence) or other platforms.

Finally, we have the code, such as laws and rules. It’s the rules we live by – our personal values, school’s rules, company’s ethics and community’s laws. A code gives conscience structure and defines consequence. A code represents public interest, much more important than individual interest. When we align our actions with a strong code, we move from just having good intentions to demonstrating principled behavior. “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break and forever to repair.”

Second, diligence. The QC foundation is making excellence our DNA. At Queen’s College, we have all experienced nights burning the midnight oil. We’ve all felt the pressure of balancing academics with extra-curricular pursuits. My favourite sports, tennis and soccer, in school days have shaped my life. Without diligence on training, we could not have won the first runner-up in Division 2 in the inter-school tennis competition, just one year after we formed the school team. Without any team play, we could not have elevated from Division 3 to Division 1 in the inter-school soccer competition in three years. Once diligence becomes your habit, it will be transformed into resilience, which enables you to overcome any kind of life challenges.

Third, contribution. The QC ethos is aligning personal success with societal good. Our motto “Labor omnia vincit” means “work conquers all”. This points not only to personal accomplishment, but also a spirit of service and contribution. We are here for something greater than ourselves. Tennis and soccer have transformed my hobbies into contributions after work. I have been promoting sportsmanship, sports law and economy, sports mediation/arbitration and a fair doping system, something as important as a fair trial.

An education at QC was never meant to produce self-serving individuals. QC nurtures us with a big heart. My dear brothers, you have received one of the finest educations and possessed immense opportunities, but with great ability comes great responsibility. Whether you become a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, a scientist, an artist, a public servant or an entrepreneur, I urge you to ask yourselves day by day: Does my work improve the lives of others? Can my knowledge help solve a pressing problem in our society? May I share a famous quote from a judge: “Although I am a judge, I am also a person of faith and I believe that in the end we will all be judged, and it will not be by how much we have taken, but by how much we have given.”

Fourth, innovation. The QC mission is to bridge our past and our future. Our founders, in a time of turmoil, established this school to enlighten minds – that was their innovation. Our predecessors have gone through the First and Second World War. They led trends and drove progress – that was their innovation. Now, the legacy of QC spirit has been passed to you. Your battlefield may be the nanotechnology lab, the metaverse, green technology combating climate change or innovative policies promoting social equity.

Class of 2025, graduation is not an end. It is a brand new beginning. You transformed from a student into part of the alumni community, from a boy to a man. I hope you have been better. Please take with you all that Queen’s has given you – knowledge, character, vision and a sense of duty – and set forth with courage! Create the stories of your own generation. Write the next chapter in the annals of Queen’s College. May you return, after all your journeys locally and beyond, still that Queen’s man with a passionate heart and a sparkle in your eyes!

Before we close this special evening, let’s extend our heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives in the Tai Po Wang Fuk tragedy. Our thoughts are with all affected families. We also express our profound gratitude to the firefighters, emergency teams, volunteers and all personnel who have worked tirelessly during this tragedy.

Times are tough, but our spirit is tougher. Let’s heal and rebuild together. Show our solidarity. I’m sure you will be part of us not long after. Sons of QC, raise your voices in thunder. We are listening, and so does the rest of Hong Kong. Thank you very much.

Queen’s College Old Boys’ Association
December 5, 2025