Newsletter No. 212

CUHK 40th Anniversary Celebrations Soon to Begin 'The 40th anniversary logo features a soaring phoenix whose shape is made to resemble the Arabic numerals '40' . It looks both modern and cosmopolitan.' Mr. Kan Tai-keung, logo designer M e s s a g e f r o m t h e V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r The history of T he Chinese University of H o ng Kong over the last 40 years is a magnificent story of the birth, growth, and blossoming o f an institution of higher learning founded by the Chinese. Established i n 1963, i t is a mo d e rn university originating f r om the integration of three foundation colleges: N ew Asia, Chung Chi, and United. Since its inception, its goal has been to develop i n to an academic i n s t i t u t i on o f international standing w i t h roots in H o n g Kong and eye on the world, whose mission is to enrich and promulgate Chinese culture and to combine the best of Eastern and Western learning. T h e j o u r n ey i n the last 40 years was one along a p a th strewn w i t h thistles and thorns, i n the course of wh i ch a barren hillock was transformed into a stunning campus cloaked i n green, w i t h some 130 buildings, flanked o n one side by the hills and o n the other by the sea. I n s t i t u t i o n a l ly there are four colleges, seven faculties, a graduate school, and close to a h u n d r ed research institutes and centres. T h e grand f r amewo rk o f a research-based comprehensive university has taken shape at T he Chinese University, whose student b o dy o f 15,000 is a far cry f r om the i n i t i al assemblage o f 1,600 four decades ago. It has also produced close to 70,000 graduates, and helped create the force that propels H o n g K o ng f o r wa rd f r om a colonial city to an internationally-famous metropolis. As we celebrate its 4 0 t h anniversary i n 2003, let us all be r em i n d ed that T h e Chinese University has always embraced change while remaining t r ue to its c omm i t me n t s. I t has adhered steadfastly to its educational principle o f giving equal emphasis to Chinese and English, to teaching and research, and to professional and general education. It w i l l march i n to its fifth decade f u ll o f confidence, w i t h a passion for progress a nd w i t h the pursuit o f excellence as its constant g u i d i ng star. Amb r o se Y .C. K i n g Messag e from th eCounci l Chairma n 2003 is a year of special importance to T he Chinese University of H o n g Kong. It is the year we celebrate its 4 0 t h anniversary. T h r o u gh involvement i n the governance o f the University as a member o f the Co u n c il over the last ten years, and as Council Chairman since 1997, I havecome to appreciate the complexity o f a university's operation and the tremendous efforts t h at are r e q u i r ed o f all concerned t o bolster its growth and champion its cause. Wh i le we can be j u s t ly p r o u d o f the p h e n o m e n al progress achieved b y T h e Chinese Un i v e r s i ty over the last f o ur decades, we are f u l ly aware t h a t we owe i t o t he h a r d w o r k o f m a n y generations o f far-sighted leaders, dedicated faculty a nd staff, loyal a l umn i, a nd generous supporters. We partake i n a glorious t r a d i t i on and a rich heritage, f r om wh i ch we draw strength and inspiration as we forge forward. I n c e l e b r a t i ng t h e U n i v e r s i t y 's 4 0 t h b i r t h d a y, we h o pe t o give expression o f o ur gratitude to the founders o f the University, t o our friends o ld and new, to private individuals as w e l l as g o v e r n m e nt agencies w h o have contributed towards the steady development o f o u r U n i v e r s i t y. We h o p e t o increase o u r i n t e r a c t i on w i t h the local c ommu n i ty and t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l w o r l d o f l e a r n i n g, d e m o n s t r a t i ng o u r resolve to serve b o th i n o u r q u e s t f o r excellence. We also h o p e t oe x h o r t m e m b e r s o f t h e University to seek continuous improvement and self-renewal i n preparation for the challenges o f a n ew century. I t h a nk all w h o have w o r k ed so h a rd t o design for us a year-long programme to celebrate the University's achievements i n its first 40 years, and to h i g h l i g ht the ma ny possibilities that lie ahead. I invite all w h o care for the University to take p a rt i n o ur celebrations, to share i n o ur joy, a nd to give us c o n t i n u ed s u p p o rt i n the realization o f our educational goals. Lee H o n - c h iu Messag e from th eChairma n 40th Anniversary Celebration Organizing Committee T h e e s t a b l i s h m e nt o f T h e C h i n e se Un i v e r s i ty o f H o n g K o n g i n 1963 is a ma j or milestone i n the history o f tertiary education i n H o n g Kong. A t a time wh en the territory needed educated manpower for its social and economic g r o w t h, the c r e a t i on o f a second u n i v e r s i ty provided the m u c h sought-after opportunities o f higher education for aspiring local youths. T h e University has come a l o ng way since. I n 40 years, i thas g r o wn f r o m a f l e d g l i ng i n s t i t u t i on into a mature and sophisticated seat o f h i g h e r l e a r n i n g , m a k i n g s i g n i f i c a nt contributions to b o th the local and international c ommu n i ty t h r o u gh its teaching, research, and service f u n c t i o n s. W i t h its u n i q ue b i c u l t u r al b a c k g r o u n d, its Chinese heritage, its g l o b al v i s i o n, a n d its t e am o f d e d i c a t ed staff, the University is fully confident to scale new heights as the 21st century unfolds. It is indeed m y privilege to be involved i n the planning o f activities to celebrate the University's 40th anniversary in 2003. Over the last few months I had the pleasure of working w i t h alumni, faculty, a nd staff o f the University o n the design o f a c o l o u r f ul p r o g r amme t o showcase w h a t the University has accomplished during the last four decades, and to muster greater public support for its future growth. T h e p r o g r a mme i s also intended to rally all C U H K members r o u nd the University itself, sharing i n the p r i de o f its achievements, a n d p o o l i n g t h e ir s t r e n g th f o r the invigoration o f the University as i tenters into its fifth decade. Celebration activities w i l l begin i n January 2003. I w o u l d like to take this o p p o r t u n i ty to thank all concerned for rendering the committee assistance i n its p l a n n i ng w o r k , a nd I l o o k f o r wa rd to the support o f the whole University c o m m u n i t y i n t he i m p l e m e n t a t i on o f o u r celebratory plans. I also wish each and every one o f y o u a most enjoyable t i me taking part i n the celebration activities. Paul Ch e ng M i n g - F un

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