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

been launched in response to the needs of a knowledge-based society and a new economy. Academic an d administrative units have also been asked to define their respective visions and missions, identify their areas of strength, and formulate actio n plans for the comin g years. It is now obvious that the University has all the software to pursue excellence — staff and students of calibre, high morale, and a conviction for success. And much of the hardware t o g o wit h i t w i l l becom e availabl e soon . I n th e pipeline ar e a Centre fo r Chinese Archaeology and Art, phase II of the Engineering Building Complex, extensio n facilities fo r th e Facult y o f Education , a teaching hotel, a new bloc k fo r th e clinica l departments o f the Facult y o f Medicine, a purpose-designed building fo r centralize d science laboratories, an extension to the University Administration Building, new studen t hostels, and a teaching centre at the Bank of America Tower in Central. Everywher e o n the campus ar e signs o f growt h and expansion, bearin g testimony t o the vitality o f a thriving university . Imbued wit h a sense of direction and with al l the necessary suppor t systems properl y instituted, the University is well on a stable, defined course towards progress and greater achievements. What reall y distresse d me was not being able to disclos e th e government' s invitatio n earlier, due to procedural technicalities, which led to unnecessary speculation and worries, created difficulties i n hand-over arrangements , an d increased the workload o f man y colleagues. I am relieved to note that all has now been settled and am grateful to those who ar e affected for being so understanding and obliging i n the process. I thank them sincerely fo r all the help they have rendered me. Twenty year s here and The Chines e University ha s become a n inseparable part of m y personal growth and career development, and it w i ll alway s occupy a prominent plac e in my heart. What tugs me time and again on the eve of my departure are the many fon d memories o f the things we di d together, the days we spen t together, the achievement s we have made together. Equally hard it is for me not to be remembering the argument s and adversities that we had, the crises and controversies that we faced , the heat and the heartache that we endured. Through these tribulations we have learnt to unite and work as a team; we have turned trials int o strengt h and reinforced our bonds, with much the same spirit that holds the University a s it now proudly stands . While I mus t leav e thi s lovel y campu s t o tak e u p my ne w duties , my thought s w i l l always be with you . And I eagerl y look forward to being invited to join you to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the University nex t year. Arthur K.C . L i Vice-Chancellor 25th July 200 2 (First carried in the specia l issue of CUHK Newsletter o n 30th July 2002 ) 中文大學校刊•特刊 Chines e University Bulleti n • Specia l Supplemen t 42