Newsletter No. 30

-CUHK Newsletter Presentation of Long Service Awards 1991-92 What actually did Prof. Charles K. Kao, the vice-chancellor, present to the awardees at the long service award presentation ceremony held on Saturday, 11th April in the University Guest House? In answer to this, a smiling Terms-A awardee proudly displayed a gold pin in the shape of the University emblem, the feng, and hastened to add, 'It's 18 karat gold, with my name inscribed at the back.' In his other hand, he held a certificate of long service, the other part of the ‘award' he'd just received from the vice-chancellor. All Terms-A awardees plus six Terms-B staff this year received awards of the same type - a gold pin and a certificate. Fifteen other Terms-B awardees, however, chose to receive a cash award of HK$2,000 each. Yes, Terms-B awardees are given a choice between the gold pin and $2,000. The choice was introduced last year at the suggestion of the Chinese University Staff Association (CUSA), who found that a considerable number of Terms-B awardees would much rather have received the gold pin, which is a more lasting souvenir. Prior to that, all Terms-B honourees had been given cash awards. And from 1988 to 1991, a total of 79 staff members were honoured with long service awards. Sixty-eight of them were male and 11 female. This year 29 male and 4 female staff members were similarly honoured by the vice-chancellor. As in previous years, the university bursar and the chairman of CUSA served as masters of ceremonies at the award presentation, and the function was attended by many University officers and unit heads despite the heavy downpour on that particular morning. Group photos we r e taken after the ceremony and many stayed for drinks and amiable chats. The party didn't break up until after 11.00 a.m. 5