Madam Ting, Reverend Chow and Honored Guests:

　We gather here today to attend the memorial
service of Mr. Lawrence Ting. Deep in my heart,
I feel a grave sense of pain and memory.

　I remember well the day back in May 1966, right
here at this very same church where Lawrence and Sylvia exchanged their wedding vows. The wedding ceremony was officiated by the same Rev. Chow. Dressed in impeccable white military uniform, looking handsome and intelligent, and in high spirit, Lawrence was then a young cadet officer. The scene is still so vivid in my mind.

　Lawrence and I were classmates of the Chinese Military Academy, 30th class. A student of strict discipline, Lawrence excelled in the pursuit of academic studies and demonstrated leadership ability. During the 4th year at the Academy, he was chosen as the group leader of the Honor Practice Group, the highest position given to a cadet student. In tribute to the position held by Lawrence then, we have in our presence today the incumbent group leader, participating at the service.

　The Academy adheres to the motto of dignity and honor. When Lawrence was chairman of the Dignity & Honor Committee, I was a member of the committee. Whenever he presided over the cadet tribunal court, Lawrence always emphasized strongly in enforcing regulations particularly in regard to infringement of the Academy's motto.

　The Academy was founded in 1924. On the Founding day in 1961, the most esteemed Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek personally presided over the celebration ceremony, during which he inspected the cadet troops. On this special occasion, Lawrence was the commanding officer of inspection of the cadet troops which needless to say was a high honor for a cadet officer.

　Upon graduation, Lawrence was chosen to further military training in the Army Infantry School in the USA where he received strict training as a paratrooper, airborne, as well as in Ranger Commando training courses. It is known, these are considered the strictest and toughest training courses, which to complete is not an easy task. Lawrence passed all these courses, returning home and served as military instructor at the Infantry Academy.

　In 1964, he won the most coveted scholarship from the Ministry of Defense. At that time, only one scholarship in Electrical Engineering was granted and Lawrence Ting was chosen. Lawrence went to Columbia University to study Electrical Engineering. He not only enhanced his academic pursuit, but also met his future bride Miss Sylvia Fei. In May 1966, they got married right here in this very same church. I participated also at the happy occasion.

　At this point, I want to particularly emphasize that Lawrence and Sylvia are devout Christians. Over the past decades, they have been lifetime members of the big family of the Grace Baptist Church.

　Lawrence turned 65 this year. He has nine brothers and sisters. His eldest brother, Shan-shi of the movie industry, was the recipient of the Best Director Award at the third Asian Film Festival. Shan-shi, I recall well what you told me at Lawrence & Sylvia's wedding reception back in 1966. You said that "Being a Chinese, there is a strong need for endurance, and to be a Chinese soldier one must endure more". To this day these words remain well on my mind.

　Lawrence has four outstanding children, Iris, Joyce, Albert, and Arthur. These four illustrious children completed their education in the United States, especially Albert who graduated from Harvard University and obtained his Master degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They are hardworking and industrious young men and women who have already shown capabilities to carry on the legacy their father has left behind.

　Mrs. Ting is not only an exemplary wife and mother but also a dedicated social and volunteer worker. She has been the Chairperson of the Deacons Committee of the Grace Baptist Church for a period of 10 years and is currently the Chairwoman of the National YWCA of Taiwan. Together, Lawrence and Sylvia find time to devote themselves to the need and well-being of others.

　After 10 years of distinguished service in the army, in accordance with regulation, Lawrence was discharged with honor. He then joined China Gulf Plastics Corporation for a period of 20 years where he rose from the ranks of Plant Manager to President of the corporation.

　During his career at China Gulf Plastics Corporation, Lawrence was also active in sports development of the country. He served as Vice Chairman of the R.O.C. Olympic Committee (Mr. Henry Hsu was Chairman of R.O.C. Olympic Committee at that time) and the Chief de Mission of the Games of the 21st Olympiad in Montreal. It was a difficult task as Mainland China was exerting a lot of pressure and the international environment was most unfavorable. However, this did not deter Lawrence. He actively advocated that sports should not be influenced by politics. In the end, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) adopted his recommendation that Taiwan should participate in the Olympic Games under the name "Chinese Taipei", and Mainland China under the name "Chinese Beijing". This equality of participation for the Olympics has become the norm in the international community until now. We should specially pay tribute to Lawrence for this outstanding accomplishment for the country.

　I was Superintendent of the Chinese Military Academy in 1990. Coincidentally, Lawrence was elected Chairman of the Chinese Military Academy Alumni Foundation for which he served consecutively for 13 years. As a gesture of appreciation to his alma mater, Lawrence had generously donated to the Academy and set up a scholarship in foreign language and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" for outstanding cadets. Today, Mr. Chen, who is currently head of the Foreign Language Department, is also with us. Lawrence had won great respect from the cadets and instructors alike. For this reason, Superintendent of the Academy, Lieutenant-General Yang, together with representation of students and teachers are here today to present the Academy Color to Lawrence.

　Ladies and gentlemen, you will see in front of you the Color of the Chinese Military Academy. This is the same Academy Color that Dr. Sun Yat-Sen used when he founded the Whampoa Military Academy in 1924. It is the same Color used when Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek was appointed as Superintendent of the Academy. This flag has a significant impact to Chinese modern history and also attributed the highest honor to the Academy. Nothing would be more meaningful than the draping of this Academy Color over the urn of Lawrence S. Ting's ashes and with two of the Whampoa Bugle Corps sounding "The Call of Taps" (Lights Out).

　Today, I am greatly touched that the former Deputy Mayor of Ho Chi Minh City is here with us. He is an old friend of Lawrence. When Lawrence decided to invest in Vietnam in 1990, his main consideration was to coordinate with our government's "Go South Policy" and recognized that Vietnam was a new emerging socialist country. Having gone through 10 years of wars, and over 30 years of French and American occupations, Vietnam implemented the open door policy in 1986. Lawrence aggressively launched a full-scale development program. The Vietnamese has similar customs such as ours, and the people are hardworking and diligent. Due to these factors, Lawrence decided to expand his business in Vietnam.

　However, what was astonishing was his selection of the marshy lands south of Ho Chi Minh City to serve as chosen sites for development. During the French and American occupations, these marshes were used as camps of the Vietcong. General Chang Ting-Chao, who is amongst us today, was with Lawrence during that period, and has been a principal witness to the difficulties Lawrence encountered during those days. Ladies and gentlemen, Lawrence had successfully overcome enormous difficulties and it was through perseverance that Lawrence was able to demonstrate the unyielding and determined Whampoa spirit - unafraid of hardship, not intimidated by obstacles and turning difficulties into opportunities.

　Under the joint effort of Chairman Ting and Mr. Tsien of the Central Trading & Development Corporation (CT & D) and the dedication and resoluteness of all their colleagues, they have overcome difficulties that blocked their way. Just as a reference, I understand that tens of thousands of truck-trips were made to bring earth from the central mountain range to fill out the swamp ground. They built the Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, rated by the British as the top export processing zone in the Asia Pacific. He established the Hiep Phuoc Power Plant, which supplies 45% of the power demands of Ho Chi Minh City during dry season, and lighting almost one out of every two bulbs. Most significantly, the Saigon South Urban Development Project has been selected as Best Urban Design by the American Institute of Architects. Today, it is the nucleus that mobilizes the development of Ho Chi Minh City. It has provided tens of thousands of employment opportunities to the people of Vietnam and has generated considerable amount of foreign currencies for the Vietnamese government.

　I was the representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam from 1998 to 2002. I personally witnessed the various infrastructures undertaken by the overseas investments of Messrs. Ting and Tsien of CT&D.

　To show its highest respect and admiration for the contribution Mr. Lawrence S. Ting has made to Vietnam, the government of Vietnam, through its Prime Minister, equivalent to what we refer to here as Premier of our country, has awarded him with Vietnam's highest honor, the Labor Medal - an honor he truly deserved.

　All through his life, like a soldier, honor and dignity is above everything, and it is most regretful that he has chosen to sacrifice his life in upholding his firm belief. As we grieve and mourn over the loss of our beloved friend, we pay homage to the eternal memory of Lawrence's spirit, determination and noble character, and may he rest in peace in the arms of our Lord.

　Thank you.