The First Six Years 1963-69

M r. S.F. B a i l e y was appointed as permanent Secretary to the UGC in June 1967, From then on，the Un ivers ity dealt d irec tly w ith the UGC in a ll financia l matters, recurrent and capital. The UGC is responsible for the contro l o f Un ive rs ity bu ild ing programmes w ith regard both to the build ings themselves and the scales and stand ards to wh ich they shall be bu ilt. Detailed p lann ing began as soon as a capital programme for 1968/1971，phase I, had been agreed upon. Members o f the Un ivers ity Grants Committee made the ir second visita tion to the Un ive rs ity in M a rch 1969. Professor W .G . B e a s l e y re s ig n e d i n January 1 9 6 9 , a n d h is p la c e w a s ta k e n b y : Professor D . D a ic h e s , Department o f English, University o f Sussex. Du ring this visit, members o f the UGC held d irect meetings w ith a ll strata o f the Un iversity members inc lud ing student representatives. The V ice-Chancellor prepared a memorandum to review the T rienn ium 1967/1970, and to outline the development program me for the Quadrenn ium 1970/1974. This memorandum was to be used as a basis for fu rthe r discussions at a la ter date. Wh ile the UGC has played a v ita l role in the fie ld o f higher education in Great B rita in for some years, the UGC in Hong Kong has only recently begun to assume its role as an im pa rtia l advisory body to the Universities as well as the forma l channel o f commun i cations between Government and the Universities on financial matters. To those un fam ilia r w ith the UGC system, it can best be described as the equivalent o f the M in is try o f H ighe r Education, only the M in is te r is w ithou t portfolio. A very pleasant wo rk ing relationship has been established between the UGC and the U n ive r sity. The UriivcEsity relies on the im pa rtia l and expert advice offer ed by the UGC and is encouraged by the interest and support that the UGG Jias evidenced in the development and grow th o f the University. Campus Land has trad itiona lly been at a prem ium in Hong Kong. I t is often considered in terms o f square feet. Fortunately, the Govern ment at the onset comm itted itse lf to provide a suitable campus for the Un ivers ity and subsequently offered a trac t comprising about 189 acres at Shatin. This site was chosen from several possi ble locations and was capable o f accommodating the in itia l b u ild ings required to house the Central Offices and New Asia and Un ited 14