Bulletin Vol. 8 No. 4 Nov 1971

The University will continue to have the benefit of Sir Cho-Yiu's guidance and support for he has consented to serve on the Council as a member for another two years. Dr. Choh-Ming Li's Remarks The birth and the development of The Chinese University of Hong Kong owe a great deal to Sir Cho-Yiu Kwan. The critical role he has played lies in his chairmanship first of the Preparatory Committee from April 1961 to June 1963, of the Provisional Council from June to October 1963, and of the University Council from October 1963 to the present. Over this period of ten years his contributions to the University have been too many to enumerate. May I highlight two of his major contributions since the establishment of the University at the end of 1963 that will always be remembered. One is his full and unfailing support of the University administration over these first years when we have had to overcome many difficult and knotty problems. His wise counsel has steered the administration away from many traps and pitfalls, and his sympathetic understanding and unfailing support have greatly enhanced the strength and courage of the administration to meet various challenges. But I am sure Sir Cho-Yiu would be a little surprised that I stressed this part of his contribution first. For his other contribution has been even more personal to him, and that is the securing of the grant of 273 acres of crown land for the University campus from the Hong Kong Government. Land is probably the most scarce commodity i n Hong Kong. Even with the Government's agreement in principle to grant the land to the University, it required immense legal talent and negotiating skill to overcome the many problems along the way. Representing the University in this matter, Sir Cho-Yiu handled the negotiations single-handed - with heavy personal sacrifice in time and effort. I believe it was largely his unquestioned integrity and selfless devotion to public interests that hastened the consummation of the negotiations for the land grant to the University on July 3, 1970. I may state unequivocally that without the land The Chinese University would not exist as it does today. That statement describes exactly the major contribution of Sir Cho-Yiu to the University. Having served the University over all these years, Sir Cho-Yiu has now come to his retirement from the chairmanship of the Council. For sentimental reasons, because of his long association with the Council, he has contributed to the construction cost of the Council Chamber which will be known as the University Conference Hall. As you see, it is one of the handsomest halls, i f not the handsomest, in the whole of Hong Kong. Appropriately it is equipped with simultaneous translation facilities. It is our good fortune and luck that The Chinese University has rapidly become known to the world university community. Sir Cho-Yiu's role in the development of the University has so impressed our friends abroad that Marquette University is honouring Sir Cho- Yiu by contributing his portrait to the University which is displayed in this University Conference Hall. This expression of goodwill from a major university in the United States reflects the growing genuine understanding of the East and the West and the growing real desire for a meaningful intercultural exchange. The gesture is all the more moving because it was totally unexpected. And we feel all the more honoured by the presence of Dr. John Cowee, Provost of Marquette University, who conies all the way to join us today to honour Sir Cho-Yiu. Originally, Father Raynor, President of Marquette University, and Mr, Eliot Fitch, until recently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Marquette University, were going to accompany Dr. Cowee, and Father Raynor himself was going to unveil the portrait. Unfortunatel neither has been able to come for medical reasons. I hope Dr. Cowee will convey to them our warm greetings and our wish for their speedy recovery. Finally let me also thank all of you for coming to join us on this happy occasion. Dr. John W. Cowee's Remarks Marquette University throug h my presence extends warm greetings from Mr. Eliot G. Fitch, Chairman Emeritus of its Board of Trustees, and from The Very Reverend John P. Raynor, Society of Jesus, President of the University. Both Mr. Fitch and our President planned for many months to be here today. In fact our Trustees' Annual Meeting, scheduled Wednesday October 6th was postponed to October 20th to assure their presence at your University for this significant day. It was only with great reluctance that each remained behind as directed by their respective medical doctors. - 4 -