A New Era Begins 1975-78

Board's plan to set up a graduate programme in Comparative Literature before the end of the next triennium will open up new vistas in the study of world literature by including Chinese literary view. The Board responded to the students' desire for a sense of greater personal involvement in what they are studying and consequently offered more courses on modern and contemporary literature in 1977-78. The minor programme i n Translation was incorporated into the Chinese Board beginning wi th 1977-78. It will remain a minor programme but play a more significant role in making bilingualism more effective. The Music Board also began to give emphasis on 20th Century music in response to students' desire. One of its most impressive developments, however, is the establishment of its Archives of Chinese Music described above and the offering of Chinese Music as a minor programme in 1973-74. It is the intention of the Music Department to offer a major undergraduate programme and then a postgraduate programme of Chinese Music at the Graduate School. Both have been planned carefully and have to wait for the availability of leadership and manpower. Developments in Science The Chemistry Board of Studies started a seminar system since 1974-75. Staff and graduate student seminars meet about once a week. The Mathematics Board after years of preparation and study is now ready to offer a new minor programme. Beginning wi th 1978-79, a minor programme in Statistics will be introduced and a new field is added to the Faculty of Science. The most meaningful development in the Biology Board is the revitalization of the Marine Science Laboratory which was completed in May 1971 on the shore of Tolo Harbour. With the appointment of the chair Professor and an associate director, the Laboratory conducted a comprehensive study of nutrient cycling and plankton populations wi th the cooperation of the Government's Agricultural and Fisheries Department.. The project was carried out because of its impact on maintaining and improving the quality of Tolo Harbour. An interdisciplinary research programme was planned wi th emphasis on mariculture. Two senior staff have been added in 1977 and extension to the laboratory has been under construction since early 1978. The Green Paper Issue In November 1977, the Education Department of the Government published The Green Paper on Senior Secondary and Tertiary Education which raised educational policy issues of serious concern to The Chinese University. In its section on higher education, the Paper proposed a principle of institutional conformity to which The Chinese University took strong exception in defense o f its distinctive educational goals and programme, as described in Section I of this Report. It is not possible to reproduce here in detail the specific assumptions and arguments of the Green Paper i n support of a proposal that the two universities 40