Bulletin Winter 1978

only meets the needs of Hong Kong, but also gives the University a unique status and image in the realm of higher education. While the University has a proper historical concern for the past, it has a greater concern for the future and its role as a driving force for pro- gress. The present academic system of the University is the best vehicle for making use of this force. This is indeed what every staff member and student in the University and I myself firmly believe in. " A good beginning is half way to success" The University has been in existence for barely fifteen years. Even if we go back a little further, to the time when individual Colleges were first established, the history of our Universtiy still falls short of thirty years. Viewed in the light of the Chinese conception that it takes a hundred years to educate a man, this is a very short period indeed. But in this short span of time, Hong Kong has already grown from an entrepot serving nearby regions to a metropolitan city with a population of close to five million and industries of the most diversified kinds. And it is still evolving at an accelerating pace. The Chinese University has been most fortunate in having the generous support of all concerned and the thorough planning and vigorous leadership of Dr. Li. It now stands on a solid foundation, but the task confronting us today is no less like sailing against the currents, which allows no rest and demands unrelenting vigilance. The world in this modern age never ceases to change, and academic pursuits break new ground almost every day. We who are the staff and students of the University must therefore unite our hearts and join our hands, keep up our spirits and vitality, and be unsparing in our efforts and unceasing in our intellectual endeavours. Only in this way can we stay abreast of the times and contribute to the development and progress of society, and thus not fail the many people who have high hopes and deep concern for us. It is indeed a formidable yet challenging task. There is an old saying goes, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step", and another proverb says, "A good beginning is half way to success". As the University has confidently made its first step forward, we shall steadfastly continue the journey which is so well begun. New Vice- chancellor Dr. Ma Lin comes from a family of distinguished scholars. Educated at King's College, Hong Kong, he went on to study Chemistry at the West China Union University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1947. He then went to England to pursue post-graduate studies at the University of Leeds and was awarded the Ph.D. degree in Protein Chemistry in 1955. A career in research and teaching followed. After spending a year in England as post-doctoral fellow at University College Hospital (London) and St. James' Hospital (Leeds), he returned to Hong Kong in 1957 and was appointed to the lecturing staff of the University University in 1965 as Senior Lecturer and was instrumental in establishing the Biochemistry Programme. During his sabbatical year in 1969, he worked at the Hormone Research Laboratory of the University of California. He was promoted Reader in 1972 and Professor of Biochemistry in 1973. Dr. Ma has many publications to his credit. The results of his scholarly research on clinical biochemistry and hydatidiform mole have appeared in many academic journals of international repute. Dr. Ma has played a leadership role inuniv the Senate Committee on Staff-Student Relations and Dean of the Faculty of Science. His abiding interest in local community work is well-known. The World Health Foundation (Hong Kong) has recently invited him to be its member. He has been appointed by Hs Excellency the Governor to b a member of the Council of the University of Hong Kong for a period of three years from 1 st October, 1978. 5