Bulletin Special Supplement Professor Arthur K C Li: A Six-Year Term as Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University (1996–2002)

羅德學人有多少個是中大學生，就可 見一斑。 自覺十分幸運，在中大有一流的 敎硏隊伍，精幹的行政人員，高素質 的學生。那種齊心合力的團隊精神， 那種融合中西傳統的校園文化，令人 工作得特別開心，特別有滿足感。 • 中 大 內 外 都曾 有 人 議 論 你 的 領 導風 格，更有人給你「阿瑟王」、「沙皇」等 外號，你對這有甚麼看法？ •呀哈，這個嗎？我是知道的。一名大 學員工就曾對我説：「李校長，人家説 你是個惡人，『炒人』是手起刀落毫不 留情的。但這幾年下來，我發覺你是 個挺熱情挺『好人』的校長!」 這 些 外 號 對 於 不 熟 悉 我 的 人來 説，或許會聽而信之；但熟悉我的， 自會知道我是怎樣的一個人。 十四年在醫學院的日子，我給某 些人的印象也許是「惡」和「強橫」，這 個毫不稀奇，因為那些是「掙扎求存」 the University' s finance s an d instal l effectiv e monitoring an d auditin g mechanisms . I was ver y pleased t o se e that the Universit y ha d cleared al l it s debts befor e I left. It s finances remaine d very health y throughout th e si x year s despit e ongoin g cut s i n government funding . My mai n sourc e o f gratificatio n wa s seein g th e change i n the mindse t o f CUHKers . The y no w hav e far greater confidence i n themselves and in the ability of th e Universit y t o achiev e excellence , t o elevat e itself t o a higher plane . That ha s become somethin g tangible, no t just a vision o r a dream. And n o longe r do researcher s at the University view foreign researc h as necessarily bette r than thei r own . Such confidenc e ha s g r ow n w i t h socia l recognition, whic h th e Universit y trul y deserves , o n the grounds of its many accomplishments. Take a look at th e internationa l rankin g o f it s EMB A an d MB A programmes i n the las t two years , count the numbe r of Rhodes Scholars (HK region) that have been CUH K students and it' s plai n a s daylight. I fee l mysel f extremel y luck y a s a vice- chancellor t o hav e worke d wit h outstandin g teachers an d researchers , first-rat e admin - istrators, and brillian t students . The warmth o f collegiality an d tea m spirit , an d th e excitin g bicultural milie u o f the campu s mad e m y jo b an especially happ y and fulfilling one . • Ho w would you describe your leadershi p style and respon d t o label s suc h a s ‘Kin g Arthur ' and ‘th e Tsar'? • Aha , ther e yo u are ! You know , somebod y i n the Universit y onc e tol d me , ‘Prof . Li , I was a bit anxiou s whe n yo u too k u p th e vice - chancellorship becaus e you ha d a reputatio n for bein g difficult. Peopl e sa y you fir e peopl e without battin g an eye. Bu t I've grown t o fin d you war m an d prett y nic e i n these few years! ' Those wh o hav e ha d the chance t o wor k closely wit h m e wil l kno w wha t kin d o f a person I really am . During m y 1 4 year s a t th e Facult y o f 情見乎詞 Ou r Immediat e Pas t Vice-Chancello r 31