Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1997

T H E 5 2 N D CONGREGATION for the Conferment of Degrees The 52nd congregation for the conferment of honorary, higher, and first degrees was held at the University Ma ll on 12th December 1996. Over 4,500 graduates, guests and staff members attended the ceremony. The campus swarmed w i th radiant students in academic gowns, posing for photos with family members, friends, and teachers. It was the Rt. Hon. Christopher Patten's last congregation as Chancellor of the University, and Prof. Arthur K. C. Li's first degree - conferring congregation as the University's Vice-Chancellor. On the occasion, honorary doctorates were awarded to three distinguished persons. Sir Michael Atiyah was conferred the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa. Dr. Lee Hon-chiu, chairman and managing director of Hysan Development Company Ltd., and the Hon. Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, convener of the Executive Council, received the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. Their citations were written and delivered by Prof. Serena Jin and Prof. Andrew Parkin, who have served as public orators since the 49th congregation in 1995. Sir Michael Atiyah, who was originally scheduled to address the congregation, had to cancel his trip to Hong Kong due to health reasons. His speech was delivered by Prof. Andrew Parkin. Of the other 3,655 graduates this year, 3,123 were awarded bachelor's degrees, 463master's degrees, 68 Ph.D. degrees, and one an MD degree. The number of doctorates was a record high, and among them was the University's first Ph.D. in music. The four colleges and the Part-time Degree Programmes also held separate graduation ceremonies on the same day.