Newsletter No. 81

CUHK Newsletter No. 81 4th January 1996 3 THE Hong Kong AMERICA CENTER: NURTURING AN AMERICAN PRESENCE ON CAMPUS An Effort to Enhance HK's International Dimension From Left: Vice-Chancellor of HKU Prof. Wang Gungwu; US Consul General in Hong Kong Mr. Richard Williams; Chair of the Board of the Hong Kong-America Center Mr. C.C. Tung; Vice- Chancellor and President of Baptist University Dr. Daniel Tse; CUHK Vice-Chancellor Prof. Charles K. Kao Only afew years ago, students in Hong Kong weregoing to the Institute of International Education (IIE) at the Arts Centrefor information on American universities and standardized testslike the SAT. Only a few years ago, people needing material on the United States were going to the United States Information Service(USIS) Library in the Admiralty Centre.But since1993 they have beencoming to The Chinese University. The reason? Leaping rent increases, one of the more disheartening aspectsof Hong Kong living, have forced the IIE and part of the USIS Library to take to their heelsand rehouse themselves, under the same roof, at the University. New Phase of Life for IIE and USIS Library The reincarnated Hong Kong- America Center represents a concerted effort by three local universities — CUHK, HKU, and Baptist University — to promote educational and cultural exchange between the two regions. As a non-profit organization, it is backed financially by the trustees of the three universities, local businessmen, and the USIS. Although sited on the University campus, it is officially independent of it, allowing the three universities equal access to its services. Compared to its predecessors, the centre is marked by an increased involvement of the business sector in its management. Its board members consist of aUSIS cultural affairs officer, an IIE representative, and in the majority, representatives from the business sector. The centre itself is located on the sixth floor of the Tin Ka Ping Building. The IIE which occupies part of the basement of the University Library is a constituent part of the centre but operates autonomously. With Marsha Lee as director, the IIE assists local students in app l y i ng to American universities. According to Dr. John Deeney, current director of the Hong Kong-America Center, IIE's user frequency has increased after a short transition period. The American Studies Library on the other hand has on its shelves a good 10,000 volumes comprising the entire non-reference collection of the previous USIS Library as well as donations from other parties. In addition to its extensive Faulkner collection, the library has the honour of being chosen as one of the 3C sites in the world, Nankai University in Tianjin being the only other site in the Greater China region, to house a special American studies collection of about 1,000 important works. Negotiations are underway to obtain an additional 2,000 volumes from the USIS Library reference collection when it moves to the American Consulate. To make room for expansion, the library was moved in August 1995 from the basement of the University Library to the ground floor of the United College library. At present, the classification of its books is being changed from the Dewey decimal to the Library of Congress system. The library is now open for public use. The Epitome of 'New Era Centres' The centre actually represents a new generation of overseas American studies centres, termed 'new era centres' by Washington DC. While the original centres were fully funded by the United States Information Agency (USIA), these centres are supported largely by local non-government organizations and philanthropists. Another brand of American studies centres are the bi- national centres. Found mostly in South America but also in Japan, India and Singapore, these centres are jointly run by the USIA and the local government. Dr. Deeney comments on the shift away from dependence on the: 'The United States is gradually w i t hd r aw i ng government support from education and social services in these places. The trend will only accelerate in the years to come. Therefore the role of non-government organizations and the private sector in taking up the slack in education and social services is very important.' Multifarious Exchange Activities Since its inception over two years ago, the centre has had a very lively schedule. It hosts scholars and speakers from the United States and sponsors conferences and workshops. To open young minds to American culture, there was a Teen Club activity whereby 30 Hong Kong teenagers enrolled in a programme which took them to the United States and showed them, well, America. Conversely, to enable more Americans to know about Hong Kong, American students on board the S.S. Universe visit Hong Kong and China twice ayear. This year about 20 American students came to the University where they were treated to a number of sessions on Hong Kong society, as well as a round table, a musical performance, a dim sum lunch, and a campus tour by their counterpart CUHK students. To foster good relations w i th the business sector, entrepreneurs are invited to meet academics t ê te-a-t ê te, in 'mutual respect not disdain', to quote Dr. Deeney. 'Academics can contribute research to the world of commerce. Similarly, business people can help them get down from their i vo ry towers.' More specifically, corporations can offer academics practical advice and assist in fundraising while gaming recognition for themselves in the process. But whether it be getting people down from towers or climbing one to raise funds, all action centres around one aim, that is, to promote mutual understanding between America and Hong Kong. Does all this enthusiasm for cultural exchange stem from a purely humanist ideology? 'Well, cultural exchange is always good,' Dr. Deeney remarks, 'I see it as the essential infrastructure for socio-political super- American Studies Library 'There is not enough interest in America about Hong Kong. We have to stir up interest' Dr. John Deeney '…the sooner the centre contacts the PRC in developing programmes that will be useful to the PRC, the better our future will look'