Vice-Chancellor's Report 1985-87

‘Sens e o fResponsibility ’ an d ‘Spiri t o fEnterprise ， Twenty-Sixth Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees (8th December, 1983) Mr. Pro-Chancellor, Members of the University, Ladies and Gentlemen, We ar e gathere d her e toda y t o confe r degree s o n student s o f th e University who hav e successfull y complete d thei r programme s o f studie s a t th e undergraduate or postgraduat e level . Sittin g befor e u s ar e mor e tha n a thousan d young me n an d wome n wh o hav e receive d thei r educatio n a t the Universit y and wh o ar e abou t t o make thei r contributio n t o society. I n their presenc e I feel prou d o f the persona l growt h tha t ha s take n plac e i n these surrounding s but I als o fee l th e burde n o f responsibility weighin g heavil y o n me , becaus e when graduate s ente r th e servic e o f th e communit y the y ar e puttin g themselve s on trial . Mor e tha n that , the y ar e als o puttin g th e Universit y o n trial , albei t indirectly. A Universit y exist s t o serve an d improv e th e societ y fro m wh i c h i t springs. Fo r thi s reason , a university w i l l b e judge d b y th e contributio n its teachers an d it s student s ar e abl e t o make t o the societ y wh i c h support s th e institution. Ove r th e pas t twent y years , Th e Chines e Universit y o f Ho n g Kon g has mad e som e progres s an d achievement s o f wh i c h w e ca n b e proud . Th e credit for thi s i s due t o members o f the Universit y Council , th e academi c staff , the student s an d th e alumn i o f th e University . Ma y I ， on behal f o f th e staff , the student s an d th e alumni , tak e thi s opportunit y t o expres ou r deepes t gratitude t o our forme r Counci l Chairma n Si r Yuet-keun g Kan , wh o retire d from th e pos t afte r eleve n year s o f distinguishe d service . Unde r hi s chairmanship, a unifie d Universit y campu s cam e int o being , an d th e Universit y underwent a majo r reorganizatio n an d sa w unprecedente d chang e an d expansion . I should als o lik e t o expres ou r gratefulnes s t o ou r presen t Coun c i l Chairman , Dr. th e Hon . Q . W . Le e fo r hi s all-ou t suppor t t o an d concer n fo r th e University. Further developmen t o f th e Universit y w i l l depen d o n greate r effort s o n our par t i n th e righ t direction . Th e responsibilit y fo r thi s fall s especiall y heavil y on thos e o f yo u wh o ar e graduatin g today . In th e pas t a s i n th e future , th e primar y objectiv e o f th e Universit y mus t be th e promotio n o f learning an d th e educatio n o f the youn g talent s o f ou r society. Th e spiri t whic h sustain s suc h long-ter m effort s come s fro m th e sens e of responsibilit y whic h w e fee l toward s society , toward s ou r cultura l tradition , and toward s th e futur e o f mankind . Today , takin g advantag e o f thi s opportunit y of speakin g t o yo u a s yo u ar e leavin g th e University , I woul d lik e t o dwel l o n the concep t o f responsibilit y an d tel l yo u wha t m y expectation s ar e wher e yo u are concerned . In thi s moder n da y an d age , rapi d development s i n scienc e an d technology have create d ove r th e year s a n undu e emphasi s o n knowledg e per se, t o th e neglect o f cultural value s an d attitudes . Wh i l e th e importanc e o f knowledg e cannot b e disputed , i t is necessar y fo r u s t o appreciat e tha t man' s behaviou r i s not totall y governe d b y knowledg e alone . Knowledg e determine s wha t ma n is able t o do . I t cannot dictate , wha t ma n want s t o do . Wh a t ma n want s t o d o is determined b y hi s value s an d aspirations . Peopl e w i t h th e sam e leve l of knowledge can d o quit e differen t things , an d i n th e process , thei r impac t o n societ y and cultur e ca n b e ver y different . I f we wis h t o make a positive contributio n 28