Newsletter No. 44

No.44 July 1993 CUHK Newsletter China Experts Exchange Views on the Development of Contemporary China Studies A host of China experts gathered at the Furama Kempinski Hotel on 25th June to discuss the development of contemporary China studies in different parts of the world. The conference was organized by the Universities Service Centre in commemoration of the University's 30th anniversary. Dr. Brian Hook from the University of Leeds reviewed the study of contemporary China in Britain since World War II. Dr. Jonathan Unger from Australian National University discussed the general trends of China studies in Australia. Prof. Lucien Bianco from the Centre De Recherches Et De Documentation Sur La Chine Contemporaine in Paris gave an account of the difficulties faced by China specialists in Germany and France. Prof. Gilbert Rozman from Princeton University examined China studies in Russia and the relevance of the Chinese reform model to Russia. Prof. Tanaka Kyoko from the University of Shizuoka described how China's reform and modernization programme brought about fundamental changes in Japan's contemporary China studies. Prof. Y. Y. Kueh from Lingnan College reviewed the changes in approach, methodology, and interpretative perspective in studies of the Chinese economy conducted in the West. And Prof. Ezra Vogel from Harvard University analysed the role of China specialists from North America in breaking through the Cold War, and the splitting of the China scholarly community as a result of the Vietnam War, academic interest in reform, growth, and pressures for democratization. Curriculum Reform in Chinese Societies Over 200 overseas and local educationists including representatives from 60 secondary and primary schools in Hong Kong took part in a three-day symposium entitled 'Curriculum Changes for Chinese Communities in Southeast Asia: Challenges of the 21st Century' held on the campus from 21st to 23rd June. Prof. Jeng-jye Huang from National Taiwan Normal University delivered a keynote speech on curriculum reform in compulsory education in Taiwan. Dr. Robert Cowen from London University gave another keynote speech on the social construction of educational identities in selected Asian countries. There were 70 other presentations from university academics, school principals, teachers, and education administrators. They dealt with challenges faced by education systems in different parts of Southeast Asia and new developments in their school curricula to cope with rapid economic, social and educational changes. The symposium was organized by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction as part of the University's 30th anniversary celebrations, and was sponsored by the Wei Lun Foundation Ltd., the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society (Kowloon), the Oxford University Press and the British Council. Prospects of Three Chinese Economies in the 1990s The University's Department of Operations and Systems Management invited more than 80 academics, professionals, and business executives from Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America to a conference to discuss the prospect of economic growth in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Entitled 'Challenges and Opportunities for Three Chinese Economies in the 1990s', the function was held on 19th June at the Regal Riverside Hotel. It was cosponsored by the Chinese Economic Association in North America, with the association's president, Prof. Henry Wan from Cornell University, and Prof. Anthony Tang from Vanderbilt University, as keynote speakers. 5