Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2005

The 62n d Congregatio for the Confermen t of Degree s w h a t costs have been e n d u r e d, a n d w h a t has been a c h i e v e d? I n t o d a y 's w o r l d , w h e re th e ma j or t r e nd i s globalization, h o w can C h i n a preserve its o w n u n i q u e i d e n t i t y ? Prof. K i n g p o i n t s o u t t h a t e a c h o f t h e t w o c u l t u r e s, E a s t a n d We s t, h a v e t h e i r s t r e n g t h s a n d weaknesses. W e s h o u l d n o t be c omp l a c e n t , n o r s h o u l d w e f e e l i n f e r i o r . W e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d W e s t e r n c i v i l i z a t i o n a n d r e c o n c i le t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o ns a n d t e n s i o n s b e t w e e n E a st a n d We s t, s t r i v i n g f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a p l u r a l i s t ic w o r l d w h e r e d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s c o - e x i s t i n h a r m o n y. P r o f. K i n g r e c o g n i z e s that, i n t h is l e n g t hy r e v o l u t i o n s p a n n i ng thre e centuries, th e p a th o f m o d e r n i z a t i o n h a s b e e n e n o r m o u s l y d i f f i c u l t a n d f r a u g h t w i t h d a n g e r , b u t t he w a y a h e a d i s g r o w i ng b r i g h t e r . E v e n as w e b i d f a r e w e l l t ot h e past, w e m u s t r e s p e ct h i s t o r y a n d l e a r n f r o m it , f i n d i n g o u ro w n place i nt h i s p l u r a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l i z e d society, i norder to develop o ur o w n potential, s t r i v e f o r the f u t u re a n d b u i l d a n e w o r d er of c i v i l i z a t i o n. Prof. K i n g came t o w o r k i n H o n g K o ng i n 1970, t h e r e a f t er p u b l i s h i n g a series o f theses o n H o n g K o n g society. Thes e i n c l u de The Administrative Absorption of Politics in Hong Kong (1975); Social Life and Development in Hong Kong (1981); The Special Character of Hong Kong's Polity and Its Democratic Prospects (1987); a n d One Country, Two Systems: An Idea on Trial (1995), a n d Hong Kong: A City with the Most Traits of Modernity in Chinese Societies (2000). H eh e ld t h a t i no r d e r t o u n d e r s t a nd H o n g K o n g , one c a n n o t o v e r l o o k t w o important threads: colonial rule a nd capitalism . I t is o n l y u p o n t h e t a p e s t ry w o v e n f r o m these t w o that w e can attempt a deep analysis: h a v i n g cast o f f c o l o n i a l i s m , w h i t h e r t h e p o l i t i c a l s y s t em a n d c u l t u r e o f H o n g K o n g ? A s C h i n a seeks a n e w o r d e r o f c i v i l i z a t i o n, h o w can H o n g K o n g t r a n s f o rm itself f r o m a colonial city into an international metropolis ? These ar e issues t h a t Prof. K i n g has b e en p o n d e r i n g i n r e c e nt y e a r s , a n d ones t h a t e v e r y o n e i n t he M a i n l a n d , T a i w a n a n d H o n g K o n g are concerned about. I n 1975, P r o f. K i n g w e n t t o C a m b r i d ge University i n E n g l a n d w h e r e he w r o t e h i s f i r s t essay o n u n i v e r s i t y e d u c a t i o n , e n t i t l e d ‘ T w o C u l t u r e s a n d T e c h n o l o g i c a l Humanism'. H e p o i n t e d o ut t h a t , i n a na t m o s p h e re wh e re there was interactio n between different c u l t u r e s a n d f i e l d s o fs t u d y , t h e u n i q ue i n t e r n a l s p i r it a n d e x t e r n al d y n a m i sm can b e t t e r m a n i f e s t t h e m s e l v e s. I n 1983 h e p u b l i s h e d The Idea of a University, a w o r k t h a t w a s the f r u i t o f m a n y years o f reflection a n d study. Prof. K i n g has been i n v o l v e d w i t h u n i v e r s i t y e d u c a t i o n f o r c l o s e t o f o r t y y e a r s, a n d has se t a ne x amp le o f p e r s o n al i n v o l v e m e nt b y m o v i n g f o r w a r d a l o ng t h is p a t h t o m a k e h i s i d e a s o f a u n i v e r s i t y a r e a l i t y. H eb e l i e v e s t h a t b o t h w e s t e r n m o n a s t i c e d u c a t i o n a n d t h e t r a d i t i o n a l Chinese academy attached equa l i mp o r t a n ce to k n o w l e d ge a n d c h a r a c t e r - b u i l d i n g . T he ideas o f the w i se m e n a n d p h i l o s o p h e rs o f the p a s t are t h e l i f e - g i v i n g h e a d w a t e rs o f t o d a y 's universities. Yet m o d e r n universities t e n d t o o v e r - e m p h a s i ze t he t e a c h i ng o f k n o w l e d ge a t the expense o fc u l t i v a t i o n o f the m o r a l character. T h e r e f o r e , Prof. K i n g e a g e r l y p r o m o t e s t h e p h i l o s o p h y o ft h e t r a d i t i o n a l C h i n e s e a c a d e my as a w a y t o enhance m o r a l education , w h i l e a t the same t i m e e m p h a s i z i n g t h e g l o b al v i s i o n a n d foresight crucial t o u n i v e r s i ty education. H e h as i n i t i a t e d d i v e r s e p r o g r a m m e s f o r He pointed out that, i nan atmosphere where there was interaction between different cultures and fields of study, the unique internal spirit and external dynamism can better manifest themselves. ...He believes that both western monastic education and the traditional Chinese academy attached equal importance to knowledge and character- building. The ideas of the wise men and philosophers of the past are the life-giving headwaters of today's universities. 2 8 Chinese University Bulletin Autumn • Winter 2005