To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, students from YK Pao School sang a song entitled "Below the Lion Rock" at the "Shanghai-Hong Kong Family and Friends" event. The Shanghai Hong Kong Association invited the students to perform at the event. President of YK Pao School Wu Zijian was also invited to attend the event.
The Shanghai Hong Kong Association organised the “Shanghai-Hong Kong Family and Friends” event to highlight the many exchanges and cooperation between the two cities, especially in education, professional growth and family lives. About 250 government officials and residents from Shanghai and Hong Kong attended the event, aiming to showcase the long history of cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong and further enhance the two cities' friendship.
"Below the Lion Rock" by Joseph Woo is a song that captures Hong Kong's underlying spirit. Pao students worked hard to learn this song, which is sung in Cantonese rather than the native Mandarin of students from the mainland. Carol Zhang, a music teacher at the Primary School, led the students during rehearsals, which sometimes took up part of their lunch break. After observing the students' performance, the director of the “Shanghai-Hong Kong Family and Friends” event exclaimed: "You really sing the song accurately!"
In the process of learning the song, students learned a lot about Hong Kong's development and its close ties with the mainland, Ms. Zhang said.
Below the Lion Rock
In life there is a joy
and often tears are inevitable
If we as one can meet beneath the Lion Rock
there will be more smiles than sobs
In life, it is often rough
and it is hard not to have any worries
If we are on the same boat
we can all help each other beneath the Lion Rock
and leave our differences behind
Let go of the conflicts we have with each other
and go chase after our dreams
On the same boat
we commit to staying with each other
If we are not afraid
there is nothing to dread
When we are together at the ends of
the skies and seas
we can all challenge our difficulties
together hand in hand
We as one can overcome hardships
and strive to write down
the timeless story of our home
Our Hong Kong students exemplify Pao School's inclusive spirit and emphasis on multiculturalism. Jennis, a student parent from Hong Kong with both daughters attending Pao School, said that Hong Kong's development is linked closely to the mainland's.
She added, “By teaching the students the right values and character traits, the school has impacted their growth as well as our own family in a very positive way. We have been deeply touched by the founders' vision of helping China to strengthen itself through education."
Finally, she praised Pao School's core values of compassion, integrity and balance. As long as Pao students carry those values in their heart, they will be able to meet any challenges their future lives bring and contribute positively to their homeland and the world, she said.
YK Pao and Hong Kong
During the Sino-British negotiations on the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty, YK Pao served as an unofficial ambassador for the Chinese side thanks to his key high-level relationships in both Beijing and London. Indeed, YK Pao had a close friendship with paramount Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping as well as a good relationship with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He frequently travelled between London and Beijing and even went to the White House to meet with President Reagan and Vice President Bush. He adroitly explained the Chinese position to the British and Americans, ensuring that mutual understanding between China and Britain prevailed. In some media reports, he was described as a "political matchmaker" and "civilian ambassador." YK Pao's tireless shuttle diplomacy ultimately helped pave the way for Hong Kong's smooth return to Chinese rule.
Because of the key role YK Pao played in Hong Kong's return to China, he was invited to serve as the vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee. In that role, he helped formulate and implement the Sino-British Joint Declaration to ensure Hong Kong's smooth transition to China.
On the afternoon of December 19, 1984, Deng Xiaoping and Margaret Thatcher attended the signing ceremony of the Sino-British Joint Declaration at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
YK Pao (front row, fifth from left) was appointed by the National People's Congress as a member, and Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee to participate in the drafting of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
YK Pao School was founded to commemorate YK Pao's love for China, love for Hong Kong, and support for education. I hope that our students, like Mr. Pao, will become global citizens with Chinese hearts.
Philip Sohmen
Co-Founder and Executive Deputy Chairman
of YK Pao School
