Bulletin No. 1, 2016

38 Chinese University Bulletin No. 1, 2016 Receiving, on behalf of the University, a mega donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the CUHK Medical Centre (21 August 2014) capital of over HK$100 million. We admitted the first cohort in 2014. Professor Sung, a few Council members and I attended the inauguration ceremony, during which I had the opportunity to talk to the students. The encounter was a touching one. They were all top students, and scored in the 99th percentile in their respective provinces. Their English standards were very high and, most important of all, they all cherished the educational opportunity being offered. I could see these young people not only make a splash in their home country one day but also overseas. Some of them may become Nobel Prize laureates or well- known entrepreneurs. The third was the CUHK Medical Centre, whose conceptualization, approval process, and initial planning had been quite smooth. The rapid population growth in Kowloon and the New Territories has generated a great demand for health care services. For this reason, the University Council approved the proposal of a new private hospital, which not only serves the community but can also provide for the further development of the Faculty of Medicine in terms of research and training. This is a new idea, and our challenges are many. The biggest challenge is the financing of its construction. Fortunately, we’ve got a pledge from the government to provide loans to us. We have also got a generous donation of HK$1.3 billion from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. It is the biggest single donation ever made by the Jockey Club to the medical sector. We will be able to provide quality medical services to our citizens, secure more space for medical training, and enjoy greater autonomy in our research activities. The fourth was the 50th Anniversary celebrations of CUHK. The celebratory events lasted for months, culminating in a fantastic gala dinner. Alumni from different years gathered together to reminisce about the good old days or reunite with long-lost friends. The event was very touching indeed. W hat words do you have for CUHK and its students? A university’s primary duty lies in research and education. CUHK has been doing very well in both regards, and its care for its students is felt by many. I hope this commitment can live on. At the 50th anniversary of CUHK, I quoted a saying by the Sung Dynasty Confucian philosopher Zhang Zai which translates roughly: ‘to inspire people to be charitable; to show people the proper way to live; to pass on to posterity the great learning of the sages; to strive for the long-lasting peace of the world.’ I think CUHK members should make this our guiding principle in life. I love what Rancho, the protagonist in the Indian film The Three Idiots , said, ‘Pursue excellence, and success will follow.’ You don’t have to hanker after success; you should instead find out what really interests you and apply yourself, then success will follow. Dr. Ch’ien Mu said that we should be after a career, not a job. A career is not understood solely in money terms; it pertains to personal success and one’s commitment to family and society. We should take pride in the tradition of civic responsibility espoused by so many generations of CUHK students. I think there is nothing wrong with the expression of one’s views, but no matter how lofty your ideals, resorting to verbal violence will only undermine your moral authority. When I was a student leader, I had a cordial relationship with professors whose point of view differed from mine. Mutual respect is crucial. W hat made you serve your alma mater so selflessly over the years? I entered New Asia College in 1969, and became a trustee of the College in 1998. In 2008, I was