Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1997

Putonghua courses run by the New Asia Yale-in-China Chinese Language Centre. Equipped w i th knowledge in either the Chinese language, culture, or philosophy, and connections built during their stay in Hong Kong, many alumni have found jobs in Hong Kong, mainland China, and other parts of Asia after completing their degrees at their home institutions. lASP figures show that there are currently some 100 alumni working in Asia, w i th the majority i n Hong Kong and mainland Chinese cities. Dr. Leung believes that Asia w i ll be the h ub of i n t e r na t i onal trade and commerce in the next few decades. And w i th its prime location in the centre of Asia, Hong Kong w i ll play a crucial role in this Asia-Pacific era. lASP is supported academically by the University's academic faculties, research institutes and centres. Moreover, the University Library, i n particular the Universities Service Centre, boasts an e x t en s i ve c o l l e c t i on on mainland China, Hong Kong, and Asian studies. These factors w i ll continue to contribute to lASP's development into a programme unequalled in importance in the 21st century, drawing in even more students, academics, and sinologists to Hong Kong from different parts of the world. Going from Strength to Strength The cooperation agreement between the Yale-China Association and the Office of International Studies Programmes responsible for running the programme was renewed for three years during lASP's 20th anniversary celebration. Both parties have full confidence in lASP and w i ll continue to work closely in the 1998-2001 t r i e n n i um to f u r t h er i mp r o ve t he programme. The alumni who travelled thousands of miles for the reunion were excited about the future of the programme. In the last seminar session, about 40 of them resolved to set up the Alumni Association of the lASP w i th the goal of promoting international exchange and interaction between eastern and western cultures. Six memb e rs w e r e e l e c t ed to be t he association's first office bearers and wou ld draw up the association's constitution as well as plans to network with other alumni and to support the lASP's goals. Representatives of the First and the Latest Batches of IASP Alumni From left: An Minh Truong Phan and Tomoko Kawabata (1996-97); Prof. Kazuo Yoshihara and Dr. Alfredo Co (1977-78); and Prof. Tsuyoshi Takahashi (1977-79). To Prof. Tsuyoshi Takahashi (right one), associate professor and vice-director of the International Division of Soka University, participation in lASP has helped him personally, academically, and professionally. Through living in Hong Kong he was able to familiarize himself with Chinese culture and patterns of thought, and contemporary Chinese history. Dr. Alfredo Co (right two), currently a professor at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, finds the lASP experience enriching and memorable. The programme allowed him to immerse himself in Chinese culture, and he was most impressed by the enormous collection at the CUHK libraries on his discipline — classical Chinese philosophy. lASP 20th Anniversary Reunion 5