Bulletin Special Supplement Ever in My Heart: Professor Ambrose King and The Chinese University

中文大學校刊 · 特刊 Chinese University Bulletin · Special Supplement 20 在沙士開始肆虐香港的時候，當時的醫學院院長鍾尚志教授打電話給 我，說要對外界講市區爆發的情況，他希望有我的支持。我說你有絕 對證據的話，我當然支持。這個問題非常嚴重，若市區爆發，是不得 了的，香港經濟必會受影響。我認為宣布市區爆發對香港是個極大的 壞消息，但不把真相及時說出來，對香港的傷害會更大。事實證明鍾 院長做的是對的。在沙士肆虐的幾個月中，大學進入一個非尋常時期， 曾作出中大有史以來第一次停課（但不停業）的決定。同時，在醫學院 為中心，其他有關科系的配合下，幾乎不分晝夜，全方位地為克服沙士 而盡力。我校經歷了最黑暗的日子，但最終打了漂亮的一仗。醫學院幾 位老師也為《時代》雜誌選為亞洲英雄。 在我任內另外一件痛苦而傷腦筋的事是政府削資，大學的財政預算大受 影響。有一位外地校長到訪時和我談起，他說現在全世界許多大學校長 都面對這個問題。他問我要縮減多少？我說是每年五千萬元。他問： 「合美金多少？」我說：「是美金五千萬元。」他聽了也咋舌。 幸好中大人都很理解和團結，難關還是一個一個的過了，中大整體的 活力並未因削資受到太多影響。當然任內最開心的事就是法律學院的 成立。這是中大一個意義重大的發展里程碑，對本地的法律教育影響 深遠。中大作為一間綜合性的研究型大學也因此整全無缺了。 No, I never intended to be Vice-Chancellor. I was reluctant to give up teaching and research which were the very reasons I joined the University. When I was appointed Vice-Chancellor by the University Council in 2002, circumstances were unique. I felt I had no choice but I also felt there was no need to be excessively modest so I accepted the appointment without hesitation. In those two years, I did more than I had originally intended. I was prepared to be Vice-Chancellor for a year, but I ended up doing it for two. You ask me how I feel. I can tell you there has not been a single moment of regret. I experienced a lot during my term, including events that were entirely beyond my expectation. Let me talk about a few. An emergency occurred even before my seat was warm. The University had 二零零三年十二月的削資簡報會 At the budget cut briefing session in December 2003