Vice-Chancellor's Report 1985-87

to th e futur e o f mankin d an d t o b e abl e t o d o somethin g useful , i t wil l b e necessary, in additio n t o th e pursui t o f knowledge , t o harnes s ou r ow n inclination s and buil d int o ourselve s prope r an d constructiv e attitude s toward s life . Suc h attitudes wil l hel p stee r ou r ow n behaviou r i n th e righ t direction . I n th e past , theologians wh o understoo d th e importanc e o f attitud e t o behaviou r lai d grea t stress o n religiou s beliefs . Toda y som e o f u s ma y no t abid e b y an y religiou s teachings bu t i t i s nevertheles s importan t fo r u s t o liv e b y certai n firml y hel d values, t o se t fo r ourselve s som e forma l guideline s whic h gover n huma n behaviour. Onl y the n wil l ou r lif e an d conduc t b e imbue d w i t h th e upliftin g motive powe r tha t the y need . A sens e o f responsibilit y t o whic h I a m referrin g mus t b e a n integra l par t of ou r attitud e toward s life . W e hav e enormou s obligation s t o fulfi l i n lif e an d the fulfilmen t o f eac h obligatio n requires , a s a prerequisite, a serious, responsible attitude. Fo r instance , i f yo u decid e t o wor k i n th e fiel d o f socia l welfare , you shoul d hav e a n unequivoca l feelin g o f responsibilit y toward s relievin g th e suffering o f th e destitute . Onl y w i t h thi s sens e o f responsibilit y wil l yo u wor k in rea l earnest . Althoug h you r technica l knowledg e ma y stil l b e wanting a t thi s stage, yo u wil l no t los e you r way . O n th e othe r hand , thos e peopl e wh o posses s an abundanc e o f knowledge bu t no t a sense of responsibilit y wil l no t necessaril y perform th e tas k a t han d bette r tha n you . Thi s i s a guidin g principl e whic h I think w i l l appl y t o al l kind s o f huma n endeavours . I believ e a solemn sens e o f responsibility i s a prerequisite t o th e fulfilmen t o f obligations . Quite recently , ther e ha s bee n a grea t dea l o f discussio n o n th e subjec t of mora l educatio n i n Hon g Kong . A s moder n society' s attitud e toward s variou s behaviours ar e changin g al l th e time , i t i s difficul t t o establis h fir m an d unequivocal mora l standards . T o som e people , thi s ma y sugges t tha t th e promotion of mora l educatio n coul d b e a problematic proposition . However , whil e the fine r point s o f moralit y i n thei r essenc e ar e inevitabl y changing , ou r ow n attitudes toward s lif e coul d stil l b e governe d b y som e meaningfu l guidelines . A n d thes e guideline s ca n serv e a s basic tenet s i n th e conduc t o f mora l education. The concep t o f responsibilit y ma y b e a simpl e on e bu t i t i s on e suc h guideline. I believ e tha t i f you starte d buildin g u p you r ow n sens e of responsibility from thi s ver y momen t on , afte r a perio d o f tim e yo u woul d discove r tha t your desir e an d abilit y t o d o bette r i n lif e woul d increas e an d yo u woul d no t labour unde r a sense o f los s o f directio n an d a sens e o f emptiness . Graduates o f Th e Chines e University , yo u ar e i n th e springtim e o f life . Your succes s i n th e futur e wil l obviousl y depen d o n you r ow n effort s i n variou s areas. Bu t takin g a serious, responsibl e attitud e toward s lif e i s wha t yo u ca n d o now an d wha t yo u shoul d d o no w a s the firs t thin g o n you r lis t o f priorities. T o take th e argumen t on e ste p further , I fee l tha t concurren t w i t h buildin g u p a sense o f responsibility , yo u shoul d als o pa y attentio n t o buildin g u p th e spiri t of enterpris e w i t h i n yo u s o a s t o reinforc e you r othe r positiv e attitudes . Wh en I sa y a n enterprisin g spirit , I d o no t mea n th e wil l t o figh t fo r power an d profits . I mea n a fearless , determine d dedicatio n t o self-improvement. In th e cours e o f goin g throug h life , guidin g ou r behaviour s wit h a serious sense o f responsibility , w e wil l mee t obstacle s alon g th e way . W e wil l b e confronted w i th temptation s an d w e wil l b e pu t unde r pressure . A t thi s point , i f we retrea t o r withdra w easily , al l ou r previou s effort s wil l hav e bee n i n vain . To stan d steadfast , no t t o los e hear t i n th e fac e o f al l thi s require s th e stron g support o f a n indomitabl e spirit . Thi s spirit , i t ma y b e said , i s a condition fo r upholding th e sens e o f responsibilit y whic h I spok e abou t earlier . For societ y a s a whole, th e mor e ther e ar e o f peopl e wh o hav e a sense o f 29