Bulletin Vol. 7 No. 8 Apr–May 1971

I wis h th e Unio n an d it s office-bearer s ever y success i n achievin g you r aims . I am sure you wil l do so , and good luck t o you . Imperative t o see k frank , selfless an d harmoniou s cooperatio n Dr. Choh-Ming Li's Address I am delighte d t o b e invited t o say a few words at the Inauguratio n o f Th e Chines e Universit y Studen t Union. T o sa y tha t I am delighte d i s perhaps a n understatement — the pleasur e i s manifold. The establishmen t of Th e Chines e Universit y Studen t Unio n signifie s tha t now ther e wil l b e a n organizatio n tha t represent s an d serves th e entir e studen t bod y an d play s a n importan t role i n th e universit y community . I t als o bring s bac k happy memorie s tha t mak e m e fee l close r t o yo u tha n ever before . Now tha t yo u hav e bee n swor n i n t o becom e officers o f th e Studen t Union , yo u ar e goin g t o fac e many problem s tha t ar e analogou s t o th e problem s o f The Chines e University . A s w e al l know , Th e Chines e University i s a federa l university , compose d o f thre e Foundation College s an d th e Central Activities. I n order for suc h a federa l universit y t o wor k smoothly , thes e four part s mus t cooperat e i n a sincere , selfles s an d harmonious manner . Thi s i s th e wa y t o distinguis h ourselves i n th e academi c world . I f th e differen t component parts shoul d distrus t one another, it would be s o easy and natural for the attitude o f "You the University , We the College", or "Wethe University , You th e College " to develop . Shoul d thi s attitud e persis t and flourish, the University coul d not possibl y exist . Just lik e th e Universit y itself , th e Universit y Student Unio n i s establishe d b y the entire studen t bod y of th e whol e university , wit h th e thre e Colleg e Studen t Unions as corporate members . It is, therefore, imperative for you t o see k frank , selfles s and harmoniou s cooperation and participatio n fro m th e Chun g Ch i Studen t Union, th e Ne w Asi a Studen t Unio n an d th e Unite d Student Union . Abov e all , ther e mus t no t b e a "Yo u the Universit y Union , W e th e Colleg e Union" , o r "We the Universit y Union , Yo u th e Colleg e Union" attitude , which, i f i t shoul d persis t an d flourish, woul d surel y betray th e Universit y Studen t Union . I know tha t yo u will encounter many practical difficultie s as you go along, but I firml y believ e tha t yo u wil l overcom e them . Th e task o f developin g a harmoniou s an d cohesiv e unio n with thre e componen t part s wil l provid e a n excellen t opportunity t o nurtur e an d develo p th e capacit y t o tolerate an d respec t opinion s othe r tha n you r own , which i s essentia l t o th e proces s o f democracy . In m y undergraduat e days , I, too , wa s electe d a responsible membe r o f a Universit y Studen t Unio n an d am, therefore , familia r wit h th e bitter-swee t tast e o f being an active union member. Speaking as an ex-studen t union officer , I can assur e yo u tha t the studen t unio n is an ideal laboratory for responsible citizenshi p and leadership. With suc h a n excellen t trainin g ground , yo u wil l gain valuabl e experienc e t o serv e th e public . Ther e is no doubt tha t yo u wil l become responsibl e citizens , dedicating yourselves t o th e welfar e an d promotio n o f culture not onl y fo r th e loca l communit y bu t fo r th e worl d a t large. I t is on thi s confident note tha t I congratulate yo u and wis h yo u al l th e bes t o f luc k an d success ! Laying o f Foundatio n Stone s o f New Building s o f Unite d Colleg e A ceremon y o f th e Layin g o f th e Foundatio n Stones o f th e Ne w Building s o f Unite d College was held in fin e weathe r o n 18t h Marc h a t th e Colleg e Sit e i n Shatin. The ceremon y bega n wit h a n openin g speec h b y Mr. T.C . Cheng , Presiden t o f th e College , i n whic h h e welcomed the guests and thanked the Hong Kong Government for its financial grants, the Society o f Jesus and the Maryknoll Sister s fo r their generous contributions to th e cost o f buildin g th e firs t Colleg e studen t hostel, and Mr. Cheung Yok-luen andMr. Wu Chung for their munificen t donations o f hal f a millio n dollar s eac h t o th e Colleg e Endowment Fund . He then invited Lady Trench, wife o f His Excellency the Governor Sir David Trench, to address the assembly . He r Ladyshi p note d th e tremendou s progress the Colleg e had made since Mr. Cheng was seconded by th e Governmen t t o hea d i t earl y i n 1963 , expresse d her pleasur e a t th e College's ability t o rais e some 18 % of the tota l cos t o f the new buildings, and finally expresse d the hop e tha t th e Colleg e would , whil e retaining its fine traditions an d loft y ideal s o f providin g goo d highe r education fo r the youth o f Hong Kong, go from strengt h to strength , an d woul d no t be afraid to experiment wit h new idea s and programmes so as to meet the challenge o f a changin g world . Tea reception after the Ceremony - 3 -