Vice-Chancellor's Report 1985-87

whole. A s state d i n th e preambl e t o th e Universit y Ordinance , on e o f the mission s o f th e Universit y i s t o stimulat e th e intellectua l an d cultural development o f Hon g Kon g an d thereb y t o assis t i n promotin g it s economic an d socia l welfare . A s th e territor y i s carefull y steerin g it s course i n developin g int o a highl y autonomou s regio n unde r th e sovereignty o f Chin a i n it s run-u p t o 1997 ， this missio n i s acquirin g a deeper meanin g an d a new reality . I n fulfillin g thi s missio n th e University must als o adop t a longer vie w an d a wider perspectiv e whic h extend s beyond th e territory' s immediat e horizon . The Universit y i s goin g t o celebrat e it s twenty-fift h anniversar y next year . Wh e n th e foundin g father s lai d dow n th e charte r fo r th e establishment o f thi s Universit y a quarte r o f a centur y ago , the y ha d the visio n o f creatin g a trul y bilingua l institutio n w i t h Chines e a s th e principal mediu m o f instruction , a s wel l a s a centr e o f excellenc e dedicated to th e advancemen t o f learnin g an d research , whic h provide s a congenial atmospher e fo r promotin g cultura l interchang e betwee n China an d th e West . A f t e r al l thes e years , on e canno t hel p bu t admir e their foresight , fo r thes e tenet s continu e t o b e vali d a s th e Universit y charts it s cours e int o th e twenty-firs t century . Full y committe d t o suc h missionary visions , th e Universit y wi l l b e makin g stead y progres s i n th e years t o come . Th e Universit y ha s alread y identifie d engineering , lega l and architectura l studie s a s ne w area s o f academi c development , an d plans ar e unde r wa y t o expan d it s postgraduate an d research programmes . I a m confiden t tha t w i t h th e guidanc e o f th e Council , th e generou s support of the benefactor s an d friends o f the University , a s well as the dedication and har d wor k o f it s staf f an d students , th e Universit y w i l l accomplish thes e task s an d w i l l g o fro m strengt h t o strength . M A L i n Vice-Chancellor July 198 7 14