It is indeed a pleasure for me to be presenting the Prince Mahidol Awards for 1998 at today's ceremony. I should like to thank the Board of Trustees and all concerned who have done such good work all along to honour His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol of Songkla, so that his accomplishments are more widely recognized by people of the world.

In education and research for progress in the medical and public health fields, persons concerned need to possess not only a strong commitment, endurance, and readiness for personal sacrifice, but must also have great compassion for their fellow man, so as to be able to persevere until success is finally achieved. Accordingly, the pioneer work by Doctor Rene Favaloro in bypass operation on coronary arteries, Professor Doctor Harvey D. White's treatment of acute myocardial infarction with thrombolytic enzymes, and the development of a rapid diagnostic method of identifying the influenza virus by Professor Doctor Kennedy F. Shortridge, thus enabling Doctor Margaret F.C. Chan to control the outbreak of the virus, are all significant achievements which greatly benefit the world population at large. I should like, therefore, to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the four of you who are the recipients of the Prince Mahidol Awards for 1998, and to say to each of you that yours is a good example to follow in order to generate in others the will and willingness to engage in hard work, both physical and mental, involving personal sacrifice, for the welfare and progress of all mankind.

I should also like to extend to all of you mu good wishes for your happiness and success. May you be blessed with good health, physical and mental, as well as intellectual capability, so as to be able to contribute further to the well-being of people the world over. I also wish all of you who are gathered here today great happiness and prosperrity for always.