Bulletin Summer‧Autumn 1993

5. M o v i n g t o w a r d s M a t u r i t y 1 98 7 - 9 3 New Social a nd Eco nomic E n v i r o nm e n t A t the close o f the 1980s and the b e g inn in g o f the 1990s ， H ong Kong's role as an in te rna tiona l financial centre and an interface between China and the w o rld became increasingly im ­ portant. The H ong K ong Government at abou t the same time decided to expand the tertiary education sector an d p ro v id e m o re re sou rce s fo r research, so that the te rrito ry could have the necessary m anpow e r and ex pertise to p lay its role more effectively. Against such a background the U n ive r sity's th ird vice-chancellor, Prof. Charles K ao ， assumed office in 1987. Under his leadership, significant changes were in trodu ced to reinforce the founda tion o f the U n ive rsity and to prepare it fo r greater responsibilities locally and in te r­ nationally. The F o u r t h Constituent College — Shaw College Preparation w o rk fo r the establishment o f a fo u rth college began as early as 1986, w h e n the University received a pledged d o na tion from Sir Run Run Shaw fo r the purpose. The dona tion came at a most oppo rtune time as the facilities o f the three existing colleges had been considerably over-stretched b y the substantial expansion in student numbers. Shaw College adm itted its first batch o f students in 1988 and new facilities fo r the college were o ffic ia lly opened fo r use in 1990. T h ird vice-chancellor, Prof. Charles K. Kao, a rriv in g in H ong Kong in 1987 F o und ation stone laying ceremony o f Shaw College, 1987 (from left ： S ir D a v id Akers-Jones, S ir R un R un Shaw a n d S ir Q uo-w ei Lee) 13