Newsletter No. 382

10 No. 382, 4.9.2011 …… 如是說 Thus Spake… 教育學院院長梁湘明教授 Prof. Leung Seung-ming, Dean of Education 下期預告 Coming 中大校董都是獨當一面的能人，校董會主席如何協調各方 意見？ 校董會雖是大學最高的管治機構，但大學的靈魂應是校長。校長 可啟發教職員和學生在其領域追求卓越。校董會的職責是：一、 聯同大學管理階層、校內同事制訂校務發展的政策和方針；二、 從不同角度、不同社會層面考慮大學政策；三、作為橋樑，引導大 學面向社會；四、協助大學爭取外界支持，例如發動捐贈。校董 會的意見一直都很一致，我們很尊重校長和管理層，他們所提的 意見都很合理，也規劃得很周全。 中大當前的發展急務是甚麼？ 中大在2006年制訂了十年策略發展計劃，我們曾做中期檢討，各 計劃均依循所定的方向邁進。當前重點的發展：一是私營教學醫 院，二是深圳分校，三是建立新書院，還有便是準備五十周年金 禧。學術研究有突破，學生在社會上有貢獻，是我們要追求的。 你年輕時對中國事務很關心，可有受甚麼思想的影響? 十多歲的我已看很多書，讀到讚美中國建設的文章，會深感自 豪。進入中大，受到新亞書院憂國憂民的精神所感染，對中國、 對共產主義都很有興趣了解。我覺得這些人很偉大，推翻封建 制度，抵抗日本侵略，在惡劣的生活條件底下鬥爭，甚至獻出性 命，只為了追求一個沒有貪污腐敗、沒有欺壓的社會。當時也曾 嘗試看馬克思主義，但只得皮毛，缺乏深究。只懂得抓着一點打 動自己的片言隻字，便以為已經找到要追隨的真理，很滿足了，再 沒探究下去。真是淺薄啊！我覺得年輕人對社會公義也不嚮往、 無所執着的話，教育是失敗的。當然，執着的時候是否追隨社會 行為的基礎標準，抑或任意胡來，那是另一回事。 在唸大學的火紅年代，你曾參與不少社會運動，這份經歷 會否令你對現在參與社運的年輕人多了體諒？ 會。年輕人只道這個世界有不公義，便要鬥爭。這類衝擊是人生 寶貴的一課。找到自己的信念，或曾經追尋過你的信念，是最有 福的。我是無悔的，不過，作為過來人，我仍想指出無論從事任 何運動，無須用侮辱對方作為表達意見或爭取的手段，也無須 妨礙他人的權利。必須多點聆聽你的「敵人」，細心觀察或從別 人的角度去審視問題，尊重對方。侮辱性的言語或行動會適得其 反，令本來同情你的因而不接受你的意見。 現代教育崇尚培訓領導才能，強調卓越，你同意嗎？ 培養領袖確有需要，但社會不需要人人當銀行大班、財政司或局 長。我當恆生商學院校監的時候，來報名的都成績一般。我特別 想挽救一些會考成績不理想的同學，我跟辦學人說：我們不需要 製造最多的A，學生的入學成績管它是C是D，離校時有一級半等 的進步，已是有所增值。做領袖也好，作平凡人也好，生活開心， 做個堂堂正正的人，有能力生活，那便足夠。人應該忠於自己，覺 得應該怎樣去生活，只要不成為社會的害蟲，就已經很好了。 年輕人畢業後進入社會該如何自處? 總的來講要追求專業發展和人生知識的均衡。追尋知識不等同 上網。上網只給你提供「闊」，「深」則要靠自己追尋。大學生想 服務社會，必先做好根本。成績不好影響日後發展的選擇，學識 是終身受用的資產。如果不懂以禮以誠待人、包容講理，更有礙 立足社會。 開始籌劃退休了嗎？哪兒是理想的退休地？ 雖已從滙豐退下來大半，坦白說是退而不休。中大的事務便挺夠 忙的，但總算有機會學一些以前沒有時間學的東西，例如用iPad 放大字體看書，用Youtube聽五十年代的舊歌，用電郵。在這些 科技上我還是恐龍階段，學起來是樂趣也是痛苦。我希望繼續 和社會保持接觸，為自己、也為社會做點事。中大有需要的話，我 會多放一點時間下去。我現在只追求安靜的生活，開開心心，別 把自己弄得太忙，也別太閒。香港是我的當然居留地，朋友和根 都在這兒，社會發生的事情我有反應。在外國諸事與我無關，那 不是我想要的生活。 Every member of the Chinese University Council is a considerable personage with his or her unique character. How does the chairman coordinate the opinions of such a diverse group? While the Council is the highest governing body of the University, the soul of the University really resides in the Vice- Chancellor, who can inspire both staff members and students to pursue excellence in their respective fields. The functions of the Council are, first, to determine the direction and objectives for university development in collaboration with the senior management and other colleagues. Second, to consider University policies from different angles and at various social planes. Third, to serve as an interface between the University and society. Fourth, to assist the University in garnering support from outside. The Council has always been unified in its views and decisions, and we have great respect for the Vice-Chancellor and the management: their suggestions have always been reasonable and their planning comprehensive. What do you see as the most pressing tasks of the Chinese University? In 2006, the University formulated a strategic plan for the next 10 years, and there was also an interim review which showed that all the projects were proceeding as planned. As for the moment, the developmental priorities are the private teaching hospital, the development of the Shenzhen campus, the construction of the new Colleges, and to these I may add the preparation for the University’s 50th anniversary celebrations. We are after breakthroughs in academic research, and our graduates making contribution to society. In your youth, you were a keen observer of what happened in mainland China. Were you influenced by some particular thoughts or philosophies? As a teenager I was an avid reader. I felt proud when reading articles in praise of progress in the construction of New China. At CUHK, I was much affected by the deep concern for the nation and the people as exemplified in the spirit of New Asia College. An intense interest to know more about China, and Communism thus began. I found that they were really great historical figures who overthrew a feudalistic, dynastic government, fought against Japanese aggression, and carried on their struggles under extremely harsh conditions, some to the point of giving up their lives. And all these efforts and sacrifices for a society that would be free from oppression, corruption and depravity. At that time I also made an attempt to read about Marxism, but ended up with not much insight. I just held on to words and phrases that truly moved myself, and then thought that I had found the truth worthy of a lifetime’s following. How naïve when one looks back! We can assume that education is a failure when social justice no longer fascinates our young people, and when they find no value or belief that they are willing to adamantly defend. Of course, while vehemently defending one’s belief, one has to make a distinction between whether the action involved is compatible with the basic standards of social behaviour, or simply a wilful and reckless act. As a university student, you took part in some of the social movements and campaigns at the time. Would your own experience make you more tolerant of young people involved in social activism nowadays? Yes, it would. Young people righteously put up a fight when they see injustice. The impact of such experience, however, makes for a very precious lesson in one’s life. One who can find his or her true conviction, or has been engaged in the pursuit of such a conviction, is genuinely blessed. I do not regret what I did in my youth but, as one who has gone through it, I would like to suggest that, whatever activity one may be engaged in, one should not resort to insulting the 全文見 www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/chinese/newsletter/article.aspx/382/Thus_Spake/ The full version of this article is avilable at www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/english/newsletter/article.aspx/382/Thus_Spake/ 校董會主席鄭海泉博士 Dr. Vincent H.C. Cheng, Council Chairman 郭慶輝攝 Photograph by Nick Kwok opponents. It is also most unnecessary for one to impede one’s opponents from exercising their rights. Listen more to your adversaries, observe them carefully, or examine the issues at hand from the other side. Respect must be paid to those we are against. Abusive language and actions would only turn your sympathizers away. Modern education extols leadership skills and emphasizes excellence. Do you agree? It is essential that we nurture leaders, but our community has no need for everyone to be a banking mogul, a Financial Secretary or a Bureau Secretary. When I was the supervisor of the Hang Seng School of Commerce, applicants for places there all had rather ordinary grades. I wanted to help those who did not fare so well in the school certificate examination. Thus I said to the school management: ‘We don’t really need to produce the biggest number of A grades at Advanced Level, and for those seeking admission here, it is already value added if they leave with slightly better grades.’ Whether one lives as a leader or an ordinary person, it would suffice if he can live happily, have sufficient means to maintain himself, and lead his life in an upright manner. An individual must be true to himself or herself, and is entitled to lead a life in his or her chosen way. All would be well as long as such a life does no harm to society. What is your advice to young graduates who are entering the working world for the first time? On the whole, they should seek a balance between professional development and knowledge of life. There is a difference between going online and pursuing knowledge: the internet enables you to broaden your scope, but it takes nothing less than your own efforts to attain depth. University graduates who want to be useful to society should first build up a sound foundation: unfavourable academic results will affect your choice in future career development; learning is a lifelong asset. One’s opportunities are very limited indeed if one does not learn to be well-mannered, tolerant of others’ opinions, and rational in discourse. Have you started planning your retirement? Where would be your ideal place for retirement? While I have relinquished most of my responsibilities at HSBC, there are sufficient responsibilities to keep me busy at CUHK alone. But I have also found time to learn new things and pick up activities that I did not have time for before, such as reading with an iPad in enlarged font, listening to the music of the 50’s on Youtube, and using e-mail more extensively. I am in the Jurassic Age when it comes to office technology, and experiencing the agony and the ecstasy of trying to learn it bit by bit. I wish to stay in touch with society, and do something for both the community and myself. If necessary, I will also spare more time for work at CUHK. At this point I am after a peaceful and quiet life, a life lived happily, without being over- engaged or excessively idle. Hong Kong is my place of residence as a matter of course. My roots are here, and so are my friends, and I feel for society here. If I live in a foreign country nothing that happens will be my concern, and that is not the sort of life I cherish.