Vice-Chancellor's Report 1990-93

bibliographic search by users from access points on the Campus Backbone Network is much faster and easier. Compact Disk Read-Only- Memory (CD-ROM) networking was made available at the University Library in early 1993 and w i ll be extended to all L AN users on the campus in due course. The University Library System has also launched a scheme to redistribute its collections on a subject-oriented basis, so that readers can locate books and journals of the same subject in one library. The University Library w i ll house collections on science, social science, and business administration, while the branch libraries w i ll concentrate on collections related to the humanities. Contributions to the Community The Chinese University of Hong Kong has its specific roles to play locally in Hong Ko ng and globally as a member o f the international academic community. As a modern university we are expected to provide an all-round education in specialized knowledge areas straddling the humanities, sciences and professional disciplines, and be accessible to all who have the ability to pursue a tertiary education. We are expected to serve as a knowledge pool to consult for and advise local industries and businesses as well as the government. We are also expected to direct our research efforts to the creation ofnew knowledge to facilitate the progress o f the human race. We have put in place organizations to carry out these functions, and we have produced many graduates who are our ambassadors-at-large in different parts of the world. Public Service by Individuals and University Units A direct form of contribution to the community is participation of the University's individual staff members in the work of various government, semi-official, and private committees and bodies. Among the innumerable organizations to which staff members have rendered their service over the last three years are the Hong Kong Productivity Centre, the Hong Kong Examinations Authority, the Industry and Technology Development Council, the Environmental Po l l u t i on Ad v i s o ry Committee, the Education Commission, the Education Committee, the Hospital Authority, the Supplementary Med i c al Professions Council, the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation, the Hong Kong Sports Institute and the Vocational Training Council. University graduates on the other hand have made their contributions indirectly through their service in various occupational sectors. Statistics in appendix 3v demonstrate how graduates from different faculties put to 33