Bulletin Number Four 1983

130，more than triple the figure for 1977, when the Programme was launched. A distinctive feature of this University is its emphasis on a balanced education. All students are required to take General Education courses, which aim to broaden the students' horizon, sharpen their faculties and develop their power of critical thinking so that they may take up their role in the ever-changing world. It is gratifying that the University has over the years gained international recognition, especially for its research efforts. The numerous papers by our staff appearing in well-established academic journals serve to bear testimony to their hard work. The University's three research institutes - Institute of Chinese Studies, Institute of Science and Technology and Institute of Social Studies — and their research centres are also very active, with projects ranging from the purely academic to those with direct relevance to society. Dr. Choh-Ming Li, founding Vice-Chancellor of the University, said with remarkable insight that setting up a new university in the twentieth century is a tremendous challenge. Indeed, we have encountered countless difficulties in the last twenty years, which could not have been overcome without the united effort of members of the University. It is really heartening that we have also been blessed with the moral and material support of all sectors of the society, who have demonstrated great faith in the University, so that we may forge ahead with our plans of development. Though relatively young, we have laid a solid foundation and built successfully on it. We are pleased to look back with pride, and at the same time we are looking ahead, not with complacency, but with confidence in our ability to accept new challenges. Our immediate plans for the next decade include expansion of the Departments of Computer Science and Social Work, the Faculty of Medicine and the School of Education. On the threshold of another decade, let me reiterate our pledge to make our utmost efforts to contribute to the academic world as well as society at large. Ma Lin 5