Vice-Chancellor's Report 1985-87

and th e nee d fo r reassessin g th e essenc e o f socialis m an d it s cours e o f development. This show s tha t Chin a ha s learne d th e painfu l lesso n fro m he r recen t history, an d has come t o full y realiz e th e disastrou s effec t o f a close an d inward - looking mentality . Sh e i s therefor e no w determine d t o lear n fro m other s an d seek chang e i n th e mos t fundamenta l way . Indee d i t ma y b e sai d tha t recen t reforms i n economi c an d managemen t policie s hav e al l sprun g from thi s realization and determination . The peopl e o f Hon g Kon g ar e wel l awar e o f th e significanc e o f thi s majo r transformation, an d the y ar e trul y heartene d b y thi s change . Th e fac t tha t th e Sino-British Join t Declaratio n o n Hon g Kong' s futur e ha s been accepte d by th e majority o f th e loca l peopl e i s n o doub t closel y relate d t o th e inevitabilit y o f historical an d politica l developments , bu t surel y i t mus t als o ow e somethin g t o the content s o f th e Join t Declaratio n whic h ar e bot h reasonabl e an d detailed , as wel l a s t o th e innovativ e an d dynami c ne w fac e o f Chin a whic h w e no w witness. W i l l thi s determinatio n t o refor m persis t an d reac h ever y are a o f nationa l life? Ho w ca n i t gai n sufficien t suppor t t o launc h China int o a new an d moder n era? Thes e ar e question s whic h concer n ever y singl e Chinese , an d th e searc h for thei r answer s i s surel y a tas k fro m whic h th e Chines e intellectua l canno t escape. This i s not t o overloo k tha t fo r man y year s China ha s been unde r a highl y centralized politica l system , w i t h i n whic h man y intellectual s wer e consciou s that no t muc h weigh t woul d b e attache d t o thei r humbl e views , an d some eve n felt the y reall y ha d n o righ t t o mak e themselve s heard . I believ e thi s situatio n is no w changing . A moder n societ y mus t valu e th e intellect . I t mus t therefor e be a n ope n societ y whic h i s decentralize d i n decision-making , i n orde r tha t i t can dra w upo n th e talen t an d wisdo m o f al l o f it s educate d peopl e i n th e mos t effective manner . I n suc h a society, th e valu e o f an intellectua l doe s not merel y lie i n hi s abilit y o f solvin g practica l problem s b y us e o f specialize d knowledge , but als o arise s fro m th e fac t tha t h e can , o n strengt h o f hi s learnin g an d foresight, voic e opinion s an d tak e stand s o n majo r nationa l issues . Wh i l e suc h opinions an d stand s ma y no t alway s be correct , an d ma y no t hav e direc t bearin g on th e politica l process , nevertheles s i n th e lon g ru n the y ma y wel l shap e th e overall politica l an d cultura l developmen t o f societ y a s a whole. T o exer t suc h influence ca n b e sai d t o b e th e mos t fundamenta l responsibilit y o f a n intellectual, and t o creat e th e condition s i n whic h th e intellectua l ca n exer t thi s influence can als o b e sai d t o b e th e mos t pressin g tas k facin g a country whic h seek s to modernize . China ha s now reverse d th e previou s tendenc y o f relegatin g th e educate d class t o a minor role . Sh e has , i n fact , affirme d th e valu e o f intellectua l labou r and recognize d th e crucia l rol e o f educatio n an d knowledg e i n th e proces s o f modernization. Furthermore , th e devolutio n o f power , th e separatio n o f stat e leadership fro m enterpris e management , an d th e driv e fo r bringin g i n a younger and bette r educate d leadershi p hav e no w al l bee n give n hig h priorit y a s part o f an overal l reform . Thes e change s hav e bee n se t i n motio n onl y relativel y recently an d a s ye t canno t b e expecte d t o sho w significan t results , especiall y since entrenche d practic e a s wel l a s shee r inerti a ar e providin g considerabl e resistance. Stil l ther e i s n o disput e tha t th e rol e o f th e intellectua l i s no w o n the rise , an d thei r view s an d opinion s ar e bein g give n muc h greate r attentio n than before . A n d i t i s reasonabl e t o expec t tha t the y wil l shoulde r eve n greate r responsibilities i n mor e area s an d a t man y differen t level s i n future . There hav e alway s bee n ver y man y wel l educate d peopl e i n Hon g Kon g 35