Vice-Chancellor's Report 1985-87

for example , th e developmen t o f representativ e governmen t an d th e formulation of th e Basi c La w o f Hon g Kong . Give n th e valuabl e experienc e tha t ha s been acquired , ou r peopl e wil l n o doub t gai n politica l maturit y i n du e course , and lear n t o vie w thes e issue s i n long-ter m perspectiv e an d cop e w i t h the m b y more suitabl e an d effectiv e means . I full y believ e ou r interest s woul d b e i n goo d hands. Still, man y far-sighte d peopl e hav e pointe d ou t tha t whateve r th e prescription for Hon g Kong' s futur e politica l system , i t wil l b e unrealisti c t o expec t that it s actua l operatio n an d developmen t ca n b e isolate d fro m majo r politica l trends i n China . Therefore , t o car e fo r th e long-ter m interes t o f Hon g Kong , one reall y canno t affor d t o confin e one' s attentio n t o Hon g Kon g alone , bu t must rathe r kee p i n clos e touc h w i t h event s an d change s throughou t China . Besides, i t woul d als o b e unworth y o f us , wh o eve n thoug h resident s i n Hon g Kong nevertheles s hav e grow n u p an d hav e bee n educate d a s Chinese, t o thin k of bu t ou r ow n rights , an d forge t tha t w e als o ow e somethin g t o ou r peopl e an d our culture . In fact , ther e hav e alway s bee n a numbe r o f peopl e i n Hon g Kon g wh o have concer n fo r Chin a an d hav e mad e contribution s t o China . Durin g th e past fiv e o r si x years , Chin a ha s adopte d a n open-doo r polic y i n orde r t o pul l in outsid e resource s an d expertis e fo r acceleratin g he r economi c an d technological development an d expandin g he r manpowe r trainin g programmes , thu s providing the entrepreneurs , professional s an d intellectual s i n Hon g Kon g w i t h fresh opportunitie s o f furthe r expandin g thei r activitie s an d full y utilizin g thei r talents. Wh i l e i n a country o f on e billio n peopl e thei r influenc e canno t bu t b e limited, the y hav e nevertheles s b y driv e an d enthusias m starte d a grea t deal . Witness, fo r example , th e investin g i n an d buildin g u p o f hotel s an d industrie s in man y differen t areas , includin g th e Specia l Economi c Zones , a numbe r o f coastal citie s an d eve n area s i n th e remot e northwest ; th e buildin g o f school s and universitie s throug h generou s donations ; expandin g academi c co-operatio n and exchange ; a s wel l a s providin g assistanc e i n th e trainin g o f managemen t personnel a t man y levels . Som e result s hav e alread y com e ou t o f thes e endeavours, an d indee d i t ma y b e sai d tha t thi s i s th e wa y i n whic h th e peopl e of Hon g Kon g hav e demonstrate d thei r sens e o f responsibilit y toward s China . From no w on , a s th e relationshi p betwee n Hon g Kon g an d Chin a furthe r grows, thi s kin d o f wor k wil l n o doub t increas e i n importanc e an d variety , an d inevitably s o wil l ou r responsibility . However, fo r Chin a t o becom e trul y modernized , i t woul d no t b e enoug h to simpl y increas e investments , improv e industria l enterprises , expan d education and introduc e ne w technology . Effort s a t a mor e fundamenta l leve l ar e called for : sh e woul d hav e t o achiev e n o les s tha n th e transformatio n o f he r ethos an d o f he r institutiona l framework . Thi s crucia l poin t firs t dawne d o n the far-sighte d thinker s o f th e countr y a s earl y a s th e en d o f th e las t century , when attempt s t o catc h u p w i t h th e Wes t throug h direc t industria l an d arm s build-up prove d a failure . Ye t Chin a bein g a n immens e countr y w i t h a stron g tradition stretchin g ove r severa l millenia , i t ha s been difficul t fo r he r t o quickl y respond t o th e challenge s o f moder n civilization , whic h i s itself making progres s at eve r increasin g spee d a t th e sam e time . Tha t i s wh y Chin a i s stil l underdeveloped today i n he r institution s an d idea s despit e th e continuou s effor t o f many thinker s t o wak e he r u p throughou t th e bette r par t o f a century . I t i s therefore o f grea t significanc e tha t Chin a recentl y announce d th e adoptio n o f a 'long-ter m open-doo r policy ' a s a cardina l an d irrevocabl e stat e policy ; tha t she emphasize d tim e an d agai n th e importanc e o f liberatin g one' s thinking' , 34