Bulletin Vol. 7 No. 8 Apr–May 1971

Boards of Governors/Trustees , guests , staf f and students. Among th e guest s wer e studen t representative s o f othe r post-secondary institution s an d secondary schools . An educationa l an d valuabl e experienc e Address of His Excellency the Chancellor Sir David Trench The Chines e Universit y o f Hon g Kon g Studen t Union, whic h w e ar e inaugurating today , i s a University body, establishe d unde r th e Statutes , an d i s t o b e distinguished fro m th e Studen t Union s o f th e thre e Foundation College s o f th e Universit y whic h hav e bee n in existence fo r many years. But, som e tim e ago , th e Studen t Welfar e Committee, consisting o f staf f and students of the University , undertook t o dra w u p a draf t constitutio n for a University Student Union . Late r o n th e wor k wa s take n ove r by a Preparatory Committe e fo r The Chinese Universit y of Hon g Kon g Studen t Union , whic h consiste d o f students only , bein g 3 fro m eac h College . Th e draf t constitution prepare d b y thi s Committe e wa s submitted to a special Student Committee o f 45, th e whole studen t body b y referendum , an d th e Studen t Welfar e Committee. Finally, th e revise d draf t wa s approve d b y th e University Counci l i n October 1970 . Preparation o f the Constitution ha s therefore bee n quite a lon g an d involve d process : an d I imagin e th e whole procedur e ha s taugh t th e valuabl e lesso n tha t t o achieve anythin g worthwhil e i n thi s worl d involve s difficulties an d complexitie s probabl y undreame d o f when th e projec t i s firs t mooted . I f th e student s concerned have learn t tha t th e wis h ma y b e fathe r t o th e deed, bu t i s a long , lon g wa y fro m accomplishin g th e deed itself , thi s i n itsel f wil l hav e bee n a n educationa l and valuabl e experience . I hope i t i s one whic h wil l b e remembered by succeedin g Executiv e Committees of th e Union: an d tha t the y wil l hav e learnt to avoi d the facil e misconception, onl y to o curren t i n th e worl d to-day , that th e mer e expression of a simplistic motion , howeve r imaginative an d desirabl e i t ma y b e i n principle , doe s not mea n tha t i t i s eithe r simpl e o r eas y t o follo w up . This i s somethin g t o b e remembere d bot h i n relation t o the Union' s ow n project s an d t o an y suggestion s mad e to th e Universit y authorities . Indeed , on e o f th e mos t useful purpose s o f Studen t Unions , a s o f al l youn g people's organizations , i s t o teac h th e member s how t o set abou t achievin g no t onl y beneficia l bu t concret e results from their meetings and deliberations . The aim s o f th e Unio n ar e certainl y one s whic h are wort h achieving . The y ar e t o unit e th e student s o f the Universit y i n a spirit o f democrac y an d autonomy , to promot e studen t welfare , mora l well-bein g an d intellectual development, t o organiz e athleti c activities , an d to serv e th e community . T o thes e aim s I woul d ad d acting a s a n effectiv e bridg e betwee n th e student s an d the Universit y authorities , an d promotin g respec t an d understanding betwee n th e two . Thi s i s vita l t o bot h sides, i f th e Universit y i s t o prospe r an d flouris h a s th e breeding ground of intelligence tha t i t ought t o be . One final word . A Universit y i s a community o f intellect: an d i t i s b y th e exten t t o whic h you r Unio n displays intellec t an d intelligence , an d common-sens e generally, tha t i t wil l b e judge d an d wi n respect. Th e more respec t yo u ca n gai n i n thi s way , th e mor e sympatheti will you r view s an d representations b e received an d considered ; eve n wher e a measur e o f disagreement remains . I hav e pointe d ou t o n a numbe r of occasions , an d I will d o s o again , tha t th e validity o f an argumen t remain s totall y unaffecte d b y th e strengt h of convictio n o f th e perso n wh o expresse s i t o r th e vehemence wit h whic h i t i s expressed . Validit y depend s on reason , and reason only; not on emotion o r dogma or anything else; and in a community o f intellec t thi s ought to b e instantl y apparen t t o all . Nevertheless , I woul d certainly hop e tha t yo u wil l stil l no t fai l to retai n thos e qualities o f livelines s an d fres h imaginatio n i n you r approach t o matter s o f interes t t o yo u whic h ar e th e particular, and , if I may say so as an older man, the mos t endearing qualitie s of youth . And now , I ver y sincerel y wis h you r ne w Unio n well. I hav e ever y confidenc e tha t yo u wil l b e abl e t o serve a s tha t necessar y bridg e between the studen t bod y and th e Universit y o f whic h I spoke . You r governin g bodies ar e going t o hav e a difficul t task : indeed , a very difficult one . Th e leas t th e res t o f th e studen t body ca n do i s t o choos e you r leader s wisely, avoiding the merel y flamboyant; suppor t the m loyally ; le t the m kno w you r views bu t respect thei r final decision: i n short, give them a chance . Thes e ar e th e minimu m dutie s o f th e studen t body a s a whol e toward s th e Union , an d you r electe d representatives hav e the right to expec t i t from you . H. E. the Chancellor Sir David Trench addressing the congregation - 2 -