Vice-Chancellor's Report 1982-85

D r . Le e Kam- ho n an d D r . L i u Pak-wa i (Membe r an d Secretary ) wa s appointed b y m e toward s th e en d o f 1983 , an d intens e wo r k b y thi s group togethe r w i t h D r . F .C . Chen , wh o wa s invited t o j o i n the m i n their deliberation s (wi t h Mis s Lind a Hu an d Mr. S.W . Le e assisting i n secretarial wo r k ) throughou t th e bette r par t o f th e f o l l owi n g yea r le d to a Report submitte d t o m e i n Novembe r 1984 . The majo r refor m propose d i n th e Repor t i s i n thre e directions . First ， the credi t uni t syste m w i l l b e used solely a s the basis for studen t assessment an d the classification o f degre e honours, whil e a t the same time keepin g intac t th e Statutor y rol e o f th e externa l examiner . Second, the curriculum i s thoroughl y restructure d 一 th e mi no r subject , formerly compulsory , i s to become optiona l and greater emphasis is t o be give n t o genera l educatio n an d t o studen t choic e i n curriculu m balance. Las t bu t no t least , genera l educatio n an d languag e requirements are strengthened. A s can be readily appreciated , thes e proposal s for sweepin g changes testify to the thoroughness an d decisiveness w i t h wh i ch th e Specia l Pane l tackled th e problems the y wer e face d wi t h . I n th e earl y par t o f 198 5 I referre d th e Repor t fo r commen t an d discussion t o the Senate, the Faculty Boards , the Boards o f Studies an d the Studen t Unions . A s it s recommendation s wou l d lea d t o drasti c changes an d wou l d se t ou r undergraduat e educatio n o n a totally ne w and ， in my view , muc h improve d footing , I wa s very muc h heartene d by th e war m receptio n i t f oun d w i t h i n th e Universit y commun i t y . D r . Clar k Kerr , ou r Counc i l Membe r f r o m overseas , als o rea d th e Report w i t h interes t an d mad e usefu l comments , an d I a m deepl y appreciative o f hi s suppor t an d encouragement . W i t h thi s suppor t f r om al l sectors o f the University behin d it, th e Report w i t h it s recommendations can no w b e expecte d t o b e accepte d b y th e Senat e w i t h relatively fe w changes , an d t o b e implemented i n th e nea r future . Development o f Academic Programmes (a) Undergraduat e Programme s I no w g o on to othe r academi c developments , wh i c h als o claime d a large por t i o n o f ou r attention . Th e foremos t t o com e t o mi n d are , naturally, th e Facult y o f Medicin e an d th e Part-tim e Undergraduat e Degree Programme s (PDP) . I t wa s i n th e summe r o f 1984 ， after th e delay o f one year and much anxiety , tha t the Prince o f Wales Hospita l at Shati n wa s finall y i n commissio n an d clinica l teachin g coul d begi n there. Thi s magnificen t establishmen t wh i c h w i l l b e ou r teachin g hospital w i l l serv e th e entir e Shati n region , an d fo r thi s w e ca n al l b e justly proud . W e ar e indeed deepl y gratefu l fo r th e hel p give n b y Si r 4