A New Era Begins 1975-78

V I I I The Institute of Chinese Studies The Institute of Chinese Studies was established in November 1967 ， signifying the University's determination to make Chinese Studies a major programme which could make significant contributions to higher education throughout the world. Functionally and symbolically the Institute of Chinese Studies reflects the distinctive educational mission of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, as described in Section I of this Report. Since its founding, the Institute has assisted universities in bo th Asian and Western countries to develop programmes o f Chinese Studies. Scholars from many parts of the world have visited the University to confer w i th members o f the Institute and to use its resources. Basic Concept The Institute is based on a broad and unified concept o f Chinese Studies. The application of the Western empirical method to the study of Chinese culture is one of its basic tenets. Equally important, the concept followed by the Institute recognizes that Chinese civilization is the only existing civilization w i th an unbroken tradition f r om the earliest origins and that there must have been methods and techniques implicit i n Chinese classical works which would make a contribution to modern methodology. The Institute, therefore, has accepted the following basic principles to promote Chinese Studies: (1) to adopt a broad and interdisciplinary approach; (2) to create a new synthesis between the East and the West; and (3) to search for continuity from early to contemporary periods in the development of Chinese culture. Main Objectives The Institute has, therefore, the following objectives: (1) To promote the Chinese Data Programme so that every Research Institute/Centre i n the University wi ll start its own storage and collection of relevant data in its own field to support research projects and enrich its teaching programmes; (2) To encourage the exchange of knowledge and expertise in Chinese Studies through its well-planned exhibits, seminars, lectures, conferences, exchange scholar programme and publications; (3) To promote scholarship in Chinese Studies in Hong Kong and overseas by serving as an international centre for Chinese studies capable of effectively rendering research facilities to other research institutions and maintaining mutually beneficial cooperation wi th them; and 63