LADY Pamela Youde is a proud witness to the growing number of young scholars awarded academic honours in commemoration of her late husband, Sir Edward Youde. The annual dinner of the Association of the Fellows and Scholars of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund, held recently is a highlight of her hectic itinerary and one event that she will not miss. Since the association came into being in 1992, Lady Youde has been its honorary patron. Mr Peter Wong, the council chairman of the association, said: ''During her occasional visits to Hong Kong, Lady Youde always remembers us. Through her advice and arrangements, the association has been able to organise a series of activities in realisation of our three prime objectives: solidarity, scholarship and social awareness. ''Our latest function was a study tour to Beijing in August, which was initiated by Lady Youde during a meeting with Mr Lu Ping, and supported by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. ''The association intends to expand its scope of activities to include social and community services. ''To systematically implement the plan, a social service sub-committee has been formed. The first activity will begin in November with services for the mentally retarded,'' added Mr Wong. Speaking at the dinner, Legislative Councillor Hui Yin-fat said: ''Youde scholars have proved their academic excellence and society has expectations of you as community leaders. ''I, on behalf of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, extend my warmest welcome and support to your participation in voluntary social services.'' With a view to recent disputes over the establishment of facilities for the disabled within residential communities, the association has chosen to focus its services in this area. They are planning a visit to the Down's Syndrome Association Resource Centre in Tung Tau Estate next month. ''We are glad to be able to demonstrate our determination to live up to our objective of social awareness,'' said Mr Richard Tse, executive committee chairman of the association. ''I believe that not only society holds high expectations of us, but also that our honorary advisers in particular would wish to see our growth and contribution to Hong Kong.''
