A New Era Begins 1975-78

Pi-Ch'iu Building The Pi-Ch'iu Building, representing the first phase of the planned project, was completed just before the end of the economic recession in Hong Kong. Determined to push on in face of adversities, the University made an appeal for financial support and found the community sympathetic and responsive. The Ho Tim Charitable Foundation came forward to underwrite the entire cost of the 4-storey Pi-Ch'iu Building with HK$2.3 million. The Building has an area of 23,000 square feet, accommodating at the present the following units: The Chinese University Press, the Centre for Communication Studies, the Institute of Social Studies and the Humanities, the Computer Science Department, the offices of the Faculties of Arts, Business Administration and Social Science, as well as the University Media Services Unit. On the ground and first floors is a TV broadcasting studio of professional standard for the training purposes of the Board of Journalism and Communication. The opening of the Pi-Ch'iu Building in April 1977 by Sir Y. K. Kan marked a new era in the academic development of The Chinese University. Together with the Sui-Loong Pao Building and the Lecture Hall Complex and the remaining half of the Building under construction, it will form a Central Activities Complex to serve the Faculty of Arts, Business Administration and Social Science just as the Science Centre has served the various Boards of Studies of the Faculty of Science since 1972. In these buildings, various centres/units/programmes function as parts of an organic institution, sharing facilities and maintaining daily contacts, thus enriching instruction and research programmes of one another. As stated above, the Pi-Ch'iu Building is being constructed in two phases, and the Block B will be ready for occupancy in autumn 1979. The Building is one of the largest on campus. Sui-Loong Pao Building At about the same time the Pi-Ch'iu Building was built, on the same side of the Mall but nearer to the University Library, the Sui-Loong Pao Building was under construction. It was donated by Sir. Y. K. Pao, a distinguished local businessman, in honour of his father. At one stage in 1975 the building had to be temporarily suspended because of economic recession. During this particularly difficult time, Sir Y. K. Pao demonstrated concern for the development of business education by making available HK$3.29 million to cover the entire cost of the Building. It was completed in September 1977 and officially opened in January 1978 by His Excellency the Chancellor, Sir Murray MacLehose. This four-storey building has a usable area of 14,000 square feet and provides much needed space for teaching purposes, particularly in Business Administration. Lecture Hall Another addition to the Central Activities Complex is the lecture hall complex, costing one million dollars contributed by a warm friend of The Chinese University who wishes to remain anonymous. The 88