Freer flows of funds and closer financial ties within the region, after all, will provide much-needed support for investment activities and business dealings over the years to come. D.  Concluding remark  Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to conclude my talk today by restating my firm belief in the promising future of the Thai economy, and stressing again the pressing need for the country to move forward to the long-term agenda of competitiveness and sustainable growth. In these days, once we get so used to reacting to new information in the marketplace, it does not take long before we get so involved in the battle scene that we might lose the long-term perspective. It also does not take long before we forget that meaningful upgrading takes a careful, deliberate planning to truly succeed and a considerable amount of time to unfold. Given many challenges at home and abroad, moving Thailand forward is sure to be an arduous task. As a non-crisis country this time, it is wise to stay vigilant since “good” time is still the time when bad loans are made and imbalances accumulate. It is much wiser, however, to also use this time to make a head start toward the brighter future. The world is moving toward greater speed and greater interconnectedness every second, and to thrive in such environment, a balanced mix of demand management and structural reforms is a prerequisite. They are entrance tickets to a safe, undisrupted trip on the road to prosperity over the years to come.
Norman T L Chan: Master’s degree 2009–2010 graduation ceremony Speech by Mr Norman T L Chan, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, at The Chinese University of Hong Kong master’s degree 2009–2010 graduation ceremony, Hong Kong, 17 December 2010. *  *  *  Professor Wong, Professor Lee, Faculty Members, Graduates, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honour to be invited to speak at today’s Graduation Ceremony. I am so happy to see so many fine men and women graduating today. All of you have made well earned accomplishments that make your parents and families feel very proud. On this joyful day, it is clearly a time for celebrations and photograph-taking with families and friends. However, some of you may, when you have a few quiet moments of your own, ask yourselves these questions : What would I become in 10, 20 or 30 years’ time? Have I chosen the right field or career? What does it take to succeed and make a name in the society as so many of my CUHK seniors have done before me? These are very pertinent questions and certainly I did ask myself these questions when I attended my own graduation ceremony in the CUHK some 34 years ago. In talking about successful people, I am sure all of us have our own idols. But very few people will disagree with me if I refer to Bill Gates as a prime example of success.