Bulletin Number Four 1984

The announcement made it clear that the future o f Hong Kong must be decided in accordance w ith the overriding principle that the integrity o f Chinese sovereignty must be respected; at the same time it also showed that both the Chinese and the British Governments are sincere and determined in their wish o f maintaining the prosperity and vitality o f Hong Kong, and would take necessary practical measures towards this end. With its detailed and specific provisions, the Draft Agreement presents to us no less than a blueprint for the future development o f Hong Kong. It is a good blueprint, and the goals envisaged therein are most commendable. Neverthe less its realization cannot depend on the two Governments alone, but rather hinges on whether the Hong Kong people would now put their shoulder to the task at hand and fu lly take up their responsibility to themselves. The two most urgent tasks now facing the Hong Kong people are: one, to learn the art o f self- government and, two, to understand China and to strengthen their ties and cooperation w ith China. Hong Kong people have in the past excelled in their single-minded pursuit o f overseas trade development and economic growth, which are what make Hong Kong it is today. Unfortunately, this preoccupation has been pursued to the neglect o f their sense o f community and o f their own roots, resulting in antipathy and fear towards participation in and discussion o f public affairs, and incomprehension and alienation towards all things associated w ith Mainland China. Now that Hong Kong people have to stand up and manage its own affairs, and to deal w ith China in an increasing number o f matters, it is clearly high time that deficiencies in our public sense and ‘China sense' be remedied at the earliest possible moment. The Chinese University o f Hong Kong, on the other hand, has been established by no other than scholars who came directly from Mainland China, and is therefore not separated from China by cultural or linguistic barriers. As a matter o f fact, the educa tional goal long cherished by the University is precisely to further develop Chinese culture and to work for a coalescence o f the East and the West. It is therefore only natural that students o f the University have always shown concern and understanding for China, this Arts Festival being a ready example o f their commitments; similarly dedicated efforts over the years by the University for strengthening the academic ties between Mainland China and Hong Kong have also come to fruition. Thus, at this historical moment, I am fu lly confident that both our colleagues and students would yet exert them­ selves for making even greater contribution towards ensuring a bright future for Hong Kong and towards the modernization o f China, such as has always been the aspiration o f the University. Students performing at the opening ceremony o f the Chinese A rts Festival NEWS 5