Bulletin Winter 1977

the keener the competition, the more compli­ cated and d ifficu lt the examinations become. The heavy burden o f examination has induced schools to be extremely examination-oriented, even kindergartens. To rectify this lamentable situation, I think we should in the first place help to raise the standards o f the less privileged schools, otherwise, any proposal to do away w ith examinations w ill be like putting the cart before the horse. O f course, higher education is a completely different matter and all we can do is to try to convince the Government to increase the number o f places at the universities. Q. You have been w ith this University for twelve years. What do you think o f its organization, staff and students? A. The Chinese University is a young university, w ith the strength and weaknesses characteristic o f youth. It has drive, liveliness and open- mindedness; at the same time, it is inexperienced and prone to make mistakes. In these fourteen years, members o f the community have from time to time voiced criticisms— a heartening fact, because criticisms are an indication o f concern. It is also gratifying that this Univer sity has taken w ith an open mind all well- intentioned and reasonable criticisms and has in fact made improvements w ith the help o f the critics. Before I proceed to give my opinion on various aspects o f the University, I would like to point out that my close association w ith the Chinese University may prevent me from having detached and really objective views, but this may be compensated by my “ inside" know­ ledge o f the institution w ith which I have lived for twelve years. The Chinese University has since its establishment adopted the federal system, which is ideal for a university w ith three constituent colleges. United, New Asia and Chung Chi were previously located res pectively on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. With this geographical separation, the Colleges were compelled to have their own administration and to carry out their teaching duties independently in the early years, w ith the Central Units as the coordinator. How ever, the duplication o f work, both adminis trative and teaching, was later found to be a great waste for an integrated university on a unified campus, i.e. after United and New Asia had moved to the Shatin campus. The Univer sity therefore decided to accept the recommen dations o f the second Fulton Commission, and was re-organized in 1977-78. It can be seen that re-organization under these circumstances was absolutely necessary. As for the Chinese University's staff and students, I notice that they are really proud o f being members o f the University and identifying themselves w ith it. Our history is still too short for a character o f our own to emerge, but it w ill come about as long as we have a common objective and a strong sense o f belonging to the University. The majority o f our teachers joined the Uni versity w ith the intention o f serving the Chinese community in Hong Kong; therefore, they are most w illing to do their best for the students as well as the University. Our students, mostly coming from not very well-off families, treasure very much their chance o f receiving higher 4