Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2005

he was g u i d ed b y a principle: first grasp th e key elements of the operatio n of a m i n i s t ry or a d e p a r t m e n t, a n d t h r o u g h this , achieve a c omp r e h e n s i v e u n d e r s t a n d i ng of the entire setup. In management he expected delegatio n of authority t h r o u gh the layer s of the hierarchy a nd a d i v i s i o n of labour across different units; b u t d e l e g a t i o n m u s t be a c c o m p a n i e d b y accountability, and the division of labour mu s t lead to cooperation . W i t h these ma n a g eme n t concepts Dr. L i e n w e n t about the business of state w i t h a l i g ht t o u c h, m a k i n g the graves t decisions w i t h littl e effort. Dr. L i e n is a ma n of cautious w o r d s a n d s c r u p u l o us deeds . H e has a generous m i n d a nd a l o f t y vision, a v i s i on abou t w h a t c o u ld be achieved i n th e days t o come. A s a result he b o l d l y u n d e r t o o k, against al l o d d s, the historical ' j o u r n e y of peace' to the M a i n l a n d on 26 A p r i l 2005. The j o u r n e y inaugurate d the first dialogue between the Chines e Commu n i s t P a r t y a n d t h e K u o m i n t a n g i n 56 y e a r s, catching the attentio n of the w h o l e w o r l d . It b r o u g h t h o pe f o r peace across the T a i w an Strait, a n d p o i n t e d a w a y t o w a r d s greater p r o s p e r i t y f o r the Ch i n e s e p e o p le t h r o u g h collaboration. The j o u r n e y o f peace lasted o n l y e i g ht days, b ut its i mp a c t is i mme n s e . A s Dr. L i e n s a i d d u r i n g h i s p u b l i c l e c t u re a t P e k i n g U n i v e r s i t y , the p u r p o s e o f his v i s i t t o the M a i n l a n d w a s to a c h i e ve w i n - w i n result s t h r o u gh peaceful means . It is not possible to stop th e wh e e ls o f h i s t o r y a n d g o v e r nme n t s s h o u l d act accordin g to the w i l l of the peopl e o n b o th sides of the Strait . G i v e n the present global context, those i n a u t h o r i ty s h o u ld seize the opportunities to create a p r om i s i ng future . Henceforth, the Chinese people ar e l a u n c h e d on a peaceful path to prosperity. The path ma y be arduous a nd the j o u r n ey ma y be long; b ut t h i s is o u r d e s t i ny a n d w e m u s t f o r g e o n courageously, w i t h o ut l o o k i ng back. D r. L i en C h an is h a p p i ly ma r r i e d; M r s. L i e n , w h o h o l ds a M a s t e r ' s degre e i n biochemistry f r om the Un i v e r s i ty o f Connecticut a n d an h o n o r a r y d e g r ee f r o m St . J o h n ' s Un i v e r s i ty i n the Un i t e d States, is w e l l - k n o w n f o r her elegance a n d r e f i n e d w r i t i n g s . T h e y h a ve t w o sons a n d t w o d a u g h t e r s , w h o are a l l a c c o m p l i s h e d i n t h e ir c h o s en f i e l d s o f study. Dr. Lien's illustrious p u b l i c career a nd the domestic bliss have for a l o n g t i me bee n t h e cause o f a d m i r a t i o n a n d e n v y , as i f P r o v i d e n c e has b e s t o w ed a special f a v o u r. Howe v e r , such success mu s t also be attributed to his i mme n se effort s over the past decades, b o l d l y me e t i ng challenges a n d scaling n e w heights one after another. Ov e r these years Dr. Lien has shouldere d the immense burden of leading the Ku om i n t a n g a nd mo t i v a t i n g its g r o w t h a n d d e v e l o pme n t. A f t e r the j o u r n ey of peace a nd h a v i n g created a n u n e q u a l e d o p p o r t u n i t y f o r m u t u a l l y b e n e f i c i al c o o p e r a t i on acros s the Strait, he relinquished the h e lm o f the party i n July 2005 to assume an h o n o r a r y chairmanship. He thus set an e x c e l l e nt e x a m p l e f o r d e m o c r a c y , r e n e w al a n d r e f o r m w i t h i n his p a r t y . M r . Chancellor, i n recognition o f his u n s w e r v i n g c o m m i t m e n t to t h e s e r v i ce of t he c o u n t r y a n d i ts p e o p l e , h is i n n u m e r a b l e acts o f b e n e v o l e n ce w h e n h o l d i n g v a r i o u s p u b l ic offices, a n d his e x emp l a r y statesmanship a nd d e d i c a t i o n to the p u b l i c g o o d, ma y I present Dr. L i e n C h a n for the a w a r d of the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. Translated from the Chinese citation written by Prof . Serena Jin As a leader and a senior government official it would not have been possible for Dr. Lien to be conversant with each and every aspect of administrative work for which he was responsible. In going about his business he was guided by a principle: first grasp the key elements of the operation of a ministry or a department, and through this achieve a comprehensive understanding of the entire setup. In management he expected delegation of authority through the layers of the hierarchy and a division of labour across different units; but delegation must be accompanied by accountability, and the division of labour must lead to cooperation. The 62nd Congregation 3 5