Vice-Chancellor's Report 1985-87

Vice-Chancel lor 's Repor t Introductio n This i s the thir d an d las t repor t I a m goin g t o present a s Vice - Chancellor o f The Chines e Universit y o f Hong Kong . I t covers th e developments o f th e Universit y durin g th e tw o academi c year s o f 1985 / 86 an d 1986/87 . I n Ap r i l 1986 ， I intimate d t o th e Counci l m y wis h t o retire a t the en d o f m y presen t ter m a s Vice-Chancello r o n 30t h September, 1987 an d thi s wa s give n sympatheti c consideratio n b y the Council an d the y eventuall y consente d t o it . O n th e ev e o f m y retirement therefore an d befor e I mov e o n t o repor t o n m y las t tw o year s o f Vice-Chancellorship, I woul d lik e t o pa y persona l tribut e t o th e man y people wh o hav e give n m e thei r support , encouragemen t an d guidanc e during m y nin e year s a s Vice-Chancellor an d t o who m I woul d lik e to show m y respec t an d gratitude . The Universit y ha s ha d four Chancellor s i n thi s nine-yea r period ， namely, Hi s Excellenc y Si r Murra y MacLehos e (no w Lor d MacLehose) , His Excellenc y Si r Edwar d Youde, Hi s Excellenc y Si r Davi d Akers-Jone s and currently , Hi s Excellenc y Si r Davi d Wilson . A s Chancellor s o f th e University, al l o f them hav e show n a genuine interes t i n its development. Their war m concer n an d wis e counse l hav e alway s bee n a sourc e of strengt h t o th e Universit y community . I hav e als o ha d th e pleasur e of workin g closel y w i t h tw o Counci l Chairmen , Si r Yuet-Keun g Ka n (now Pro-Chancello r o f th e University ) an d Dr . th e Honourabl e Q .W . Lee, a s wel l a s tw o Vice-Chairme n o f th e Council , th e lat e Dr . R.C . Lee an d Dr . th e Honourabl e P.C . Woo . The y hav e no t onl y bee n exemplary i n thei r dedicatio n t o publi c servic e i n Hon g Kong , bu t als o made valuabl e contribution s t o th e University . Unde r thei r abl e leadership, the Counci l o f th e Universit y ha s worked smoothl y an d effectivel y towards accomplishin g it s tasks. Th e Universit y ha s benefite d muc h from thei r staunc h suppor t an d judicious advice . Dr. th e Honourabl e Q .W . Le e wa s als o th e Foundin g Treasure r o f the Universit y befor e h e becam e Chairma n o f th e Counci l i n Octobe r 1982; Dr . th e Honourabl e Lydi a Dun n an d th e Honourabl e Pete r Poo n Wing-cheung hav e serve d a s Treasurers afte r him . Durin g th e pas t nin e years, ther e wer e period s whe n th e Universit y experience d financia l stringency especiall y durin g th e les s prosperou s year s an d Governmen t had t o impose cas h limit s o n th e tertiar y educatio n institutions . Th e University i s indeed fortunat e tha t owin g t o th e pruden t managemen t 1