Vice-Chancellor's Report 1990-93

Memorial service for Dr. Chi'en Mu 1990. A great historian and Confucian scholar, Dr. Ch'ien made monumental contributions in education and the promotion of traditional Chinese culture, and had been closely associated with the University, and New Asia College in particular, for over 40 years prior to his death at the age of 96. Equally sad is the loss of our former University Librarian, Dr. Painan Wu. Dr. Wu joined the University in September 1990 and had worked exceedingly hard for the library extension project and the launching of the library computerization system. His death on 10th January 1992 put an untimely end to his efforts to further improve our library system, but his dedication and enthusiasm have inspired others working in the library to continue with his good work. Alumni Over the past three decades, the University has trained more than thirty thousand graduates who are now making contributions in various sectors and professions in Hong Kong and overseas. I am particularly pleased to see more alumni who are able and willing to help augment the development oftheir almamater in numerous ways. I wholeheartedly welcome alumni like Prof. S. Y. Cheng, Prof. Eden Yu, Prof. Lee Kam-hon, and Prof. Nyaw Mei-kau who have chosen to assume a professorship at the University, as well as Prof. Yau Shing-tung of Harvard University, Prof. Tsui Lap-chee and Prof. Choi Man-Duen both of Toronto University, who have established a distinguished career overseas and are helping the University to enhance its international linkages with major centres of excellence worldwide. Prof. Yau has further accepted the University's appointment as professor and as director of our new Institute of Mathematical Sciences. We are also very grateful to alumni like Mr. Thomas H. C. Cheung, who has donated generously to the alumni fund and the student activities fund. At the same time, we are proud of each and every graduate who is dutifully and vigorously serving the community with the benefit of the expertise and educational experience they have acquired from this university. The formal inauguration o f the Convocation this September would provide a more effective channel for the alumni to show their concern and support for University affairs. Donors Thanks to the many benefactors, foundations, and grants agencies, the University has been raising from 60 to well over 100 million dollars each year from non-government sources during the past few years. Traditionally, the donations were used to support scholarships 41