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

頒授榮譽學位 Conferment of Honorary Degree 33 為職志。創校人的願望就是把中大打 造為一間同具中國性與世界性的偉大 學府。而其中最能反映體現此一願望 的政策之一就是推行中、英並重的雙 語教學。四十二年來，事實顯示，雙 語政策有力地促進了中大的國際化， 使中大在全球大學的競爭中保持上升 的優勢，而中大畢業生擁有的中、英 雙語能力更成為他們事業開創與發展 的語言資本，使他們的事業有更大的 空間，更大的舞台。 面向二十一世紀，一方面是科技及經 濟力量形成的全球一體化趨勢；另一 方面是歷史及文化認同要求造成的全 球多元化趨勢，中大是一間對中國文 is no longer limited to the confines of Hong Kong. The entire region under Chinese economic and cultural influence is now your stage, and perhaps the entire world as well. Since its inception in 1963, it has been the policy of The Chinese University to position itself as an international seat of learning where Chinese and Western traditions integrate. It also maintains as its mission the perpetuation and development of Chinese culture. It was very much the hope and wish of its founders that the University should be an institution of excellence both Chinese and international in character. The University’s policy in fulfilling this vision has always been a bilingual mode of teaching, with equal emphasis onChinese and English. Over the past 42 years, bilingualism has proven its importance as the principal catalyst of The Chinese University’s internationalization, which ensures the University’s ascendance in the global competition among tertiary institutions. On the other hand, the bilingual skills so amply possessed by the graduates of this university have given them immense advantage in their career advancement so that, as the saying goes, theworld is their oyster, the sky their limit. As we look forward to the 21st century, we see trendstowardsglobalizationpropelledbyeconomic forces and scientific and technological advance- ments and, at the same time, aworldwide tendency towards heterogeneity and pluralism driven by a desire for historical-cultural recognition. The Chinese University, with its strong commitment to both its Chinese cultural heritage and an international outlook, is well positioned to under- stand the growing importance of bilingualism, which it has encouraged and promoted for so many years, and the strong need for efforts in that direction to be further strengthened. English is an international language. It is the most commonly used medium for international communication. It is the language of choice in business and, more importantly, in the academic