It’s indeed a great honour and duty for me to pay homage to a great Hakka and a great Mauritian.
There is a saying that those who can’t, teach and those who can, do. Edouard Lim Fat gives the lie to traditional prejudices by being both a teacher and a doer. He achieved the highest position in Academia by being a University Professor and at the same time, a successful entrepreneur.
This is where I recognise in him the sterling qualities of our Hakka forebears who have always been known to be laborious, unbending, unprejudiced, courageous and innovative.
The highest and most enduring legacy that forms part of our history is the Export Processing Zone, which is his great contribution as a Patriot to the economic development of the country. This sector which is one of the solid pillars of our economy has pulled thousands of families from unemployment at Independence time and continues to ensure the continued economic and social progress of our Countrymen.
Edouard Lim Fat will always be remembered as the Father of the Mauritius Export Processing Zone.
Joseph TSANG MANG KIN