Bulletin Number Four 1987

The Fourth Hong Kong Internationa l Comparative L iterature Conference A conference on ‘Problems and Possibilities in Chinese- Western Drama' was held at the University from 17th to 21st August, 1987. It was the fourth International Comparative literature Conference sponsored by the Comparative Literature Research Unit o f the English Department o f the University since 1979. A series o f sixteen seminars were staged during the Conference. The participants exchanged views on major issues concerning East-West comparative drama studies, such as the prime cases o f influence, the diverging views on theatrical performance, and the general aesthetic differences between drama in China and the West. Twenty-five papers were presented. The University played host to fo rty or so parti cipants from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and overseas. Among them were: Mr. Yang Xun from the Ministry o f Education in Beijing, Professor Liu Hou-sheng from the Association o f Chinese Dramatists, Beijing, Professor Xia Xie-shi from the Editorial Department o f Shanghai Theatrical A r t, Professor Zhu Zhao-nian from Central Drama Institute, Beijing, Professor A. Owen Aldridge from St. Peters' College, Professor Kao Yu-kung from Princeton University, Professor James S. Moy from the University o f Wisconsin, Professor Wang Ching-hsien from the University o f Washington, Professor Leo Lee Ou-fan from the University o f Chicago, Professor Tseng Yong-yih, Professor Chang Ching-erh and Dr. Chang Han-liang from the National Taiwan University, Professor Hwang Mei-shu from Tamkang University, Taiwan, and Professor Lai Sheng-chuan from National Academy o f Performing Arts, Taiwan. The opening ceremony o f the Conference was held at the University Conference Hall. Dr. Ma Lin, the Vice-Chancellor, gave the welcoming address, which was followed by the introductory remarks by Dr. John J. Deeney ， Acting Chairman o f the English Department. Internationa l Conference on Overseas Chinese An International Conference on ‘The Overseas Chinese (in Asia) between the Two World Wars' was held on 18th and 19th September at the University. The Conference was jo in tly organized by the Overseas Chinese Archives o f the Centre for Contem porary Asian Studies o f the University and the South Seas Society of Singapore, and was sponsored by the Lee Foundation in Singapore. The Chairman o f the organizing committee o f the Conference was Dr. Ng Lun Ngai-ha and its Secretary, Dr. Chang Chak-yan. Fifty-six participants from various countries took part in the Conference. Professor G.H. Choa, the Acting Pro-Vice- Chancellor, officiated at the opening ceremony and addressed the gathering. Dr. Wang Gungwu, Vice- Chancellor o f the University o f Hong Kong, delivered a keynote speech on ‘The Question o f Assimilation in Overseas Chinese History between the Wars'. A t the two-day Conference w ith eleven sessions, twenty-nine presentations were made by notable scholars and researchers from Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Conference papers covered the following major themes: (1) Data collection and application; (2) Relationships between overseas Chinese and their local governments and political activities; (3) Relationship between overseas Chinese and Chinese political movements; (4) Nationalism o f overseas Chinese and the anti-Japanese movement; (5) Organ­ ization and development o f overseas Chinese com­ munities; (6) Mobility and economic activities o f overseas Chinese society; (7) Provincialism of overseas Chinese and their response to the policy o f assimila­ tion; and (8) Education o f overseas Chinese. The participants held an in-depth discussion on and exam­ ination o f various issues and problems concerning the life o f the Asian Chinese during the inter-war years, a period o f great significance and impact on the modern development o f the Asian countries in general and the Asian Chinese in particular. Conference proceedings w ill be duly published in book form. 19