Vice-Chancellor's Report 1985-87

which th e Worl d Healt h Organizatio n ha s designate d Hon g Kon g a s one o f th e six majo r centre s i n th e world . The y hav e als o le d t o a rapid expansio n o f th e master's degre e programme , thu s layin g a good foundation fo r th e doctora l programmes now unde r activ e planning . Thi s i s indee d a heartening development . In addition , sinc e moder n civilizatio n i s but on e integra l entit y an d Hong Kon g a metropolita n cit y closel y linke d t o th e res t o f th e world , th e Universit y mus t devote itsel f t o th e expansio n o f oversea s contact s an d the promotio n o f variou s exchange schemes , includin g th e Internationa l Asia n Studie s Programme . Only b y s o doing ca n th e Universit y transcen d th e confine s o f it s geographica l location an d ran k amon g universitie s o f internationa l standing , thereb y fulfilling its intellectua l responsibilit y t o Hon g Kon g an d t o Chines e culture . Not onl y ar e th e tw o task s o f encouragin g researc h an d promotin g international co-operation meaningfu l i n themselves ; the y are , i n m y opinion , als o valuable asset s i n th e developmen t o f universit y education . Thei r importanc e can onl y increas e wit h th e progres s o f th e university . Although Th e Chines e Universit y ha s becom e a n institutio n o f a diversified nature, it s metho d o f instructio n an d it s developmen t hav e al l bee n i n accordance wit h th e spiri t w i t h whic h i t wa s firs t founded . Thi s ca n readil y b e seen fro m it s curriculum , mediu m o f instructio n an d emphasi s o n researc h activity. I t i s m y convictio n tha t suc h a polic y no t onl y meet s th e need s o f Hong Kong , bu t als o give s th e Universit y a uniqu e statu s an d imag e i n th e realm o f highe r education . Whil e th e Universit y ha s a prope r historica l concern for th e past , i t ha s a greater concer n fo r th e futur e an d it s rol e a s a drivin g force fo r progress . Th e presen t academi c syste m o f th e Universit y i s th e bes t vehicle fo r makin g us e o f thi s force . Thi s i s indee d wha t ever y staf f membe r and studen t i n th e Universit y an d I mysel f firml y believ e in . ‘ A good beg i nn i ng is ha lf way to success ， The Universit y ha s bee n i n existenc e fo r barel y fiftee n years . Eve n i f w e go bac k a littl e further , t o th e tim e whe n individua l College s wer e firs t established, the histor y o f ou r Universit y stil l fall s shor t o f thirt y years . Viewe d i n the ligh t o f th e Chines e conceptio n tha t i t take s a hundred year s t o educat e a man, thi s i s a ver y shor t perio d indeed . Bu t i n thi s shor t spa n o f time , Hon g Kong ha s already grow n from a n entrepo t servin g nearb y region s t o a metropoli s tan cit y wit h a populatio n o f clos e t o fiv e millio n an d industrie s o f th e mos t diversified kinds . An d i t i s stil l evolvin g a t a n acceleratin g pace . Th e Chines e University ha s bee n mos t fortunat e i n havin g th e generou s suppor t o f al l concerned and th e thoroug h plannin g an d vigorou s leadershi p o f Dr . Li . I t no w stands o n a soli d foundation , bu t th e tas k confrontin g u s toda y i s n o les s lik e sailing agains t th e currents , whic h allow s n o res t an d demand s unrelentin g vigilance. The worl d i n thi s moder n ag e neve r cease s t o change , an d academi c pursuits brea k ne w groun d almos t ever y day . We wh o ar e th e staf f an d student s of th e Universit y mus t therefor e unit e ou r heart s an d joi n ou r hands , kee p u p our spirit s an d vitality , an d b e unsparin g i n ou r effort s an d unceasin g i n ou r intellectual endeavours . Onl y i n thi s wa y ca n w e sta y abreas t o f th e time s an d contribute t o th e developmen t an d progres s o f society , an d thu s no t fai l th e many peopl e wh o hav e hig h hope s an d dee p concer n fo r us . I t i s indee d a formidable yet challengin g task . Ther e i s a n ol d sayin g whic h goes , T o ge t t o the fa r on e mus t star t wit h th e near' , an d anothe r prover b says , ‘ A goo d beginning i s hal f wa y t o success ，. As th e Universit y ha s confidentl y mad e it s first ste p forward, w e shal l steadfastl y continu e th e journe y whic h i s s o wel l begun. 19