Newsletter No. 38

No.38 January 1993 In the last issue of the Newsletter, our feature writer introduced readers to four special congregations that involved the installation of vice-chancellors and the inauguration of the University. Some may ask, 'What about the other 41 not-so-special congregations that were held over the last 30 years?' Ever since 1963, University members have congregated at least once a year to witness the conferment of degrees. The continuity in tradition and similarity in procedure can easily damp our curiosity about university congregations. But a keen observer can always see through the trivia and repetition in 30 years and discern interesting patterns and irregularities. If he's been around a lot and is imaginative enough, he may start to c o n j e c t u r e ,not without some degree ofac cu r ac y, the rationale underlying such patterns and irregularity. The following article about past congregations is based on information dug out from University archives, and may be of interest to those with an eye for details and an inquisitive mind. Always on Thursday? Any staff member wh o ha s dutifully attended every congregation he has been invited t o i n the last 10 years will adamantly claim that 100 per cent of such gatherings take place on Thursdays. He is not entirely wrong, but his claim certainly needs qualification. Old-timers will immediately point out that it can only apply t o th e last 20-odd congregations. Indeed, congregations organized before 197 8 fell o n different weekdays, there being n o obvious reason fo r the seemingly random choice of days. But then i s there any obvious reason fo r the persistent choice o f Thursday as the congregation day after 1978? Here is th e version provided b y th e Information Office, th e unit responsible for organizing congregations: ‘Final preparation work for functions of such a scale takes a fe w days a t a stretch, and that i s wh y Mondays an d Tuesdays are not ideal. Neither are Fridays and Saturdays suitable asmany guests will have other engagements near the weekend, and publicity about the function in the media will easily be overlooked by the public on Saturdays and Sundays. What is left is thereforeWednesday or Thursday, and the latter i s preferred because i t will not clash with LegCo meetings and horse-racing - activities that will engage ou r Chancellor, many University Council members and important guests.' One interesting thing to note, though, is that there is one exception after 1978: the 25th congregation in 1983 was held on a Monday instead of a Thursday. Why? The Newsletter has been told that as 1983 was the University's 20th anniversary year, the authorities decided to hold that year's congregation on the University foundation day, i.e. 17th October, which Universit y Congregation s A 30-Year Overview CUHK Newsletter