Bulletin Spring 1989

Opening of Lady Shaw Building The Lady Shaw Building, a new academic building, was formally opened on 12th January at a ceremony officiated jointly by His Excellency the Governor and Chancellor of the University, Sir David Wilson, and the donor of the Building, Sir Run Run Shaw. The new building located at the University Mall has a gross area of 13,500 square metres. The five-storey building houses temporarily the University's engineering programme and the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology. It is equipped with teaching facilities for engineering and science studies as well as student amenities. The first two floors accommodate carpark spaces while facilities on the upper floors include offices, classrooms, laboratories, computer rooms and conference rooms. There are also six lecture theatres with different capacities. The building was constructed at a total cost approaching $30 million. This was funded by a donation of $10 million by Sir Run Run Shaw plus interest accrued thereon and a government subvention of $17.6 million. About 250 guests attended the opening ceremony, at which the following speech was delivered by Professor Charles K. Kao, Vice- Chancellor of the University: Sir David, Sir Run Run, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this opening ceremony of the Lady Shaw Building. Lady Shaw Building is an important new academic building at this University. With a gross area of 13,500 square metres, it provides some much needed teaching facilities as well as more room to accommodate the expanded programmes in science and technology here in this University. I must express our deep gratitude to Sir Run Run Shaw for his very significant donation which together with the capital grant we received from the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee (UPGC) has enabled us to construct the Lady Shaw Building in this expanded form. The timely completion of this building allows our engineering programme and the extension of our biotechnology programme to be accommodated. These programmes have been developed at this University in response to the urgent need to encourage the high-technology based industries that Hong Kong needs to sustain its fast growing economy. For the last three years, our colleagues have worked hard to design a broad-based engineering programme having unique features. It is an integrative programme based on electronics and computer science, the two core subjects which are now at the centre of all engineering activities. Four areas of specialization will be offered in different stages. Apart from electronics and computer science specialization we have introduced information engineering and we will be adding system engineering specialization in due course. These programmes will produce a new breed of engineers, ones who can adapt to rapid changes in modern industry and contribute significantly to Hong Kong's future needs. This year we are implementing the engineering programme under the Faculty of Science. Hopefully the engineering faculty itself will be set up as soon as we have resolved technical difficulties with the UPGC. In fact, UPGC has included funding for the development for this programme in CUHK's budget for this current triennium from 1988 to 1991. Along with the development of the engineering programme, we are rapidly increasing our efforts to link our academic activities with the needs of Hong Kong community. In addition to our active advisory committees led by Hong Kong's leaders in the commercial and industrial sectors, we have established the Office of Industrial and Business Development to coordinate and expand our relationships with local and 5