The Emerging University 1970-74

V I Campu s De ig n a dDevelopmen Uns t i n t ed admi r a t i o n i s the keynot e o f comment s f r o m visitor s on their firs t sigh t o f the campu s o f The Chines e Un i ve r s i t y of Ho ng Kong . Th e site , its physica l p l an t an d surrounding s d o indee d wa r r ant superlatives . Nestle d i n the hill s o f th e Ne w Territorie s overlooking T i d e Cov e t o th e eas t an d To l o Ha r bou r t o th e nor t h , the sit e rise s f r o m 1 4 fee t abov e se a leve l a t it s wate r peripher y t o 460 fee t i n th e centr e an d command s a n i nsp i r i n g panorami c vie w of th e su r r ound i n g landscape . 1 9 6 3 - 6 9 On th e inceptio n o f th e Un i ver s i t y i n 1963 th e Ho n g K o n g Gove r nment commi t t e d itsel f t o p r ov i d i n g th e Universit y w i t h a suitable campu s site . I t subsequently offere d a tract comprisin g about 18 9 acre s nea r th e t ow n o f Shatin , Ne w Territories . Wh i l e this sit e coul d accommodat e th e i n i t i a l building s require d t o hous e the Un i ve r s i t y headquarter s an d centra l activitie s an d Ne w Asi a and Un i t e d Colleges , i t afforded littl e spac e fo r futur e expansion . Fu r t her i t wou ld perpetuat e th e separatio n o f Chun g Ch i Colleg e f r om th e res t o f th e Un i ver s i t y b y a distance o f five miles . Thes e two fact s wou l d constitut e i nsurmoun t ab l e obstacle s t o th e realization of th e closel y integrate d an d viabl e p r og r amm e wh i c h th e Un i ve r s i ty planner s contemplated . A 273-acr e trac t contiguou s t o th e 57-acr e campu s o f Chun g Ch i Colleg e wa s a t tha t tim e bein g use d b y Governmen t t o obtai n fill fo r th e giganti c Plove r Cov e D a m Project . App l i ca t i o n wa s made t o Gove r nment fo r this trac t an d afte r lon g negotiatio n app r oval wa s received , thank s t o the un t i r i n g effort s o f th e lat e Sir Cho - Y i u Kwa n , Cha i rma n o f the Un i ve r s i t y Council . A l t houg h the land , i nc l ud i n g tha t occupie d b y Chun g Ch i College , wa s no t f o rma l ly conveye d t o th e Un i ver s i t y un t i l Ju l y 1970 , Governmen t had fou r year s earlie r grante d au t ho r i t y t o proceed w i t h th e development o f th e sit e i n accordance w i t h a n approve d Maste r Deve l opment Pla n projecte d t h r oug h 1975 . M u c h o f th e credi t fo r th e eye-catchin g magnificenc e o f th e campus shoul d g o to Mr. I . M . Pei , a n i n t e r na t i ona l ly fame d architect wh o cam e t o Hong K o n g i n November 196 6 a t the i nv i t a t i on o f the Vi ce-Chance l l o r t o advis e o n th e desig n an d layou t of the site . Du r i ng hi s visi t M r . Pe i mad e a detailed inspectio n o f th e sit e and wo r ke d closel y w i t h th e Un i ve r s i t y Ar ch i t ec t , th e Hon . W. 77