Vice-Chancellor's Report 1985-87

‘T oge t oth e fa ron emus t s ar t wit h th e near . Nineteenth Congregation — Congregation for the Installation of the New Vice-Chancellor and for the Conferment of Honorary Degree (2nd October, 1978) Your Excellency, Dr. Li, Ladies and Gentlemen, It i s no w fiftee n year s sinc e Th e Chines e Universit y o f Hon g Kon g firs t came int o being . Durin g thes e fiftee n years , owin g t o th e devote d effort s an d outstanding leadershi p o f our firs t Vice-chancellor , Dr . Choh-Min g Li , th e University ha s acquire d th e statur e an d magnitud e tha t i t possesses today . No w that Dr . L i ha s retire d o n hi s laurel s an d th e Universit y Counci l ha s entruste d me w i t h th e heav y responsibilit y o f carryin g o n hi s work , I am onl y to o awar e of th e difficult y o f followin g th e footstep s o f m y illustriou s predecessor . I t does give m e comfort , however , tha t th e Government , th e Counci l an d th e community of Hon g Kon g hav e alway s accorde d u s thei r ful l suppor t an d show n u s close concern , an d tha t ou r staf f an d student s ar e eve r unite d i n servic e o f th e University. W i t h thei r blessing , ma y I hav e th e courag e o f continuing th e important missio n o f furtherin g education , a vocation which , say s a Chinese proverb, take s a hundred year s t o fulfil . Bu i l d i ng upon existing foundation As th e Universit y ha s no w define d it s goal s an d formulate d it s policies , the mai n tas k befor e u s i s that o f buildin g upo n ou r existin g foundation , in order t o fully achiev e th e grea t aim s an d specia l missio n whic h Th e Chines e University ha s se t fo r itself . The firs t an d foremos t ai m o f ou r Universit y i s t o provid e fo r th e youn g people o f Hon g Kon g a basic curriculu m o f worl d standar d i n th e Humanities , the Socia l Science s an d th e Natura l Sciences , suc h tha t the y wil l gro w u p in the bes t o f academi c environmen t and , upo n graduation , ca n joi n th e rank s o f the educate d wit h prid e an d b e read y t o tak e o n th e importan t tas k o f advancing society an d enrichin g it s culture . Throughou t th e years , th e Universit y ha s devoted muc h tim e an d effor t t o thi s end . I t has doubtles s mad e considerabl e contribution toward s th e raisin g o f academi c standard s an d producing a growin g cultural awarenes s i n Hong Kong . Bu t whateve r achievemen t w e ma y hav e attained, ther e i s certainly n o roo m fo r complacency , fo r ou r responsibilit y remains heav y an d th e roa d ahea d i s long . Consolidatio n an d strengthenin g o f the basi c curriculum , therefore , mus t continu e t o be a major concer n o f th e University. Professional training Hong Kon g i s a modern societ y w i t h a high degre e o f specialization . Th e bulk o f th e manpowe r nee d her e wil l b e fo r thos e wh o hav e undergon e professional training i n additio n t o th e basi c curriculum . Thu s th e Universit y alway s lays equa l emphasi s o n th e paralle l developmen t an d co-ordinatio n o f th e two , and continuousl y expand s professiona l school s an d department s fo r th e trainin g of expert s i n education , busines s management , socia l work , mas s communication, as well a s electronics an d compute r science . A n d i n a few years ' time , th e newly-established Facult y o f Medicin e wil l heral d i n ye t anothe r ne w er a i n ou r professional education . O n th e othe r hand , eve n thoug h specialis t trainin g an d technical skill s ar e th e mainsta y o f a developin g society , on e mus t no t forge t that th e mora l value s an d integrit y o f professiona l peopl e ofte n pla y a decisiv e 17