Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2001

administration, he was made a Knight Commander o f the Order o f the British Empire in June 1997’ thus gaining a title. The newspapers Sing Tao Daily and Hong Kong Standard named him Leader of the Year in 1997. Collecting a reputation as a trouble-shooter in his various government posts, Sir Donald finds that there is no substitute for a careful study of any problem that arises, looking at it methodically, seeking a solution that has the best chance of working, given the various constraints, rather than following pre-conceived ideas; seeking also a n imaginative solution with a chance o f lasting, rather than leaping hastily into ill-conceived improvisations. There then needs to be a large dose of determination to carry well-planned actions through to their right conclusions. As a realist, he is keenly aware that some problems, regrettably, are insoluble. His work with the Harvard University Outreach Programme shows his concern for the good of young adults in an international context. This perhaps follows from his own family and his role as a caring father. He wants to secure our future as well as present prosperity. To secure this future, we need thinkin g people, creative people, and critical intelligence geared to our needs; we need to be keenly aware of technological change. This interest in young people is also reflected in his long-standing association with The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He visited United College and met wit h members of the University back in the days when he was Shatin District Officer. He graciously officiated at the opening of our M B A Programme's Town Centre in 1997. He was guest of honour at the 20th Anniversary Ball of our Federation of A l umn i Associations in 1998. Earlier this year, he was guest speaker at our Forum on the 1999—2000 Budget jointly organized by the Faculty of Business Administration and the Department of Economics. This occasion was an extremely useful one for the staff and students because it afforded open and significant discussion of a number of matters such as th e Cyberport, taxation and public expenditure, the restructuring o f financial institutions, and the introduction o f mainland talent int o the Hong Kong equation. Mr . Tsang has enjoyed many debates and talks with our students since the early eighties. No rman Douglas wrote that ' No great man is ever b o m too soon or to o late.' Mr. Tsang emerged just when Hong Kong needed him. He is certainly the man of the moment. About four hundred years ago Sir Francis Bacon wrote that the four pillars of government are religion, justice, counsel, and treasure. Donald Tsang is a perceptive counsellor, a Financial Secretary who has managed the government's treasure very well, even during recession, and a religious ma n who values each day his quiet times reserved for prayer in St. Joseph's Church, Garden Road. A monarch may have ennobled him but his culture, his education, his family, and his own integrity made hi m what no monarch can create: a gentleman. Because of the daily press we all think we know a good deal about him. Yet, Mr . Vice-Chancellor, he is a gentleman whose worth you know well, for he is an old friend of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. It is now my special privilege to present one o f our ablest leaders, The Honourable Donald Yam-kuen Tsang , for the award o f the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. Chinese Universit y Bulleti n S p r i n g . Summer 2 0 00