Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2003

A ma j or o f the four-year language education programme, Hon-yin finds that the extra year of University life has enabled him to become more involved in campus and student activities, allowing him to understand better the University's academic system and organizational structure. He also believes that the University's credit unit system gives him more flexibility in arranging the progress of his studies, allowing h i m mu ch mo re space f or a l l - r o u nd development. Student Organizations as Reflections of Society Analysing the development of student organizations on the campus, Hon-yin said that there are always enough participants to form a cabinet for departmental or boarders' societies, because service targets are few and acquainted w i th each other. However the same cannot be said o f co l l ege- and university-level student unions. A deterrant is the image of the university student as a spokesperson for the masses, which some may find intimidating, especially when such a role may not sit well with the government. He lamented that far from being a cradle of self-government, the student union can only manage to form a new cabinet once every three years. ‘The three-year degree programme is partly responsible as it leaves students time for little else, apart from studying and engaging in part-time employment to cover their daily expenses. The current case is that when a student assumes office, he or she is expected to stay until graduation. By that time, there'll hopefully be others who are spurred on by intolerance of the situation to form a cabinet. This is very much in line with the general atmosphere o f Hong Kong society,' he observed. Besides, he said, there are always ‘freeloaders' who are just doing it to gloss up their resume and scholarship application. This leaves the serious officials with all the 'dirty work' and an unimaginable amount of pressure. ‘Unlike secondary school student unions which only need their teachers' stamp of approval, university-level unions need the endorsement of the students,' he said. ‘However, far too often, students only speak up when they feel their interests are threatened. And when thus jolted out of their apathy, they engage in a lot of mud-slinging and finger- pointing after all is said and done.' Despite the hardships, Hon-yin's student union offices have subjected him to equal doses of the sweet. 'Being the target of students' slings and arrows is not exactly pleasurable but success in securing resources and services for fellow students or organizing activities for their benefit can be rewarding, especially since their needs are similar to mine,' he remarked. The Way Ahead As the University turns 40, it needs to search for a new vice-chancellor, to decide on the question of institutional integration, and to internationalize. Hon-yin said he does not have strong views on integration, but he predicts that Hong Kong's universities w i l l slowly stratify and focus resources on their respective strengths. 'On the issue o f integration, understanding the government's true intentions is of utmost importance. The students are concerned whether integration w i l l result in fewer resources and whether it w i l l complicate university administration.' 'As a student, I hope the new vice- chancellor w i ll be someone willing to lend a ear to students—not necessarily do as they say but be ready to hear them out. I also hope he/ she will be supportive of student activities,' he said. 'Hong Kong students are too narrow- visioned,' he continued. 'They rarely engage in an intellectual debate over theories or beliefs. The University is now increasing its intake of non-local students as part of its internationalization endeavour. This w i ll not only induce CU students to work harder but w i l l also boost our knowledge of other cu l t u r es. But on the other hand, the appearance of more and taller buildings w i ll only make this beautiful campus suffer the same cluttered fate of much of the rest of Hong Kong,' Hon-yin concluded. Recounting Their Experiences at CUHK 19