HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1932.
His Excellency, the Chancellor
OPENING OF FUNG PING of the University, then said:
SHAN LIBRARY
CEREMONY PERFORMED BY HE. THE
GOVERNOR AT UNIVERSITY
'A STOREHOUSE OF CHINESE TRADITION AN IDEAS "SIR WILLIAM HORNELL
BETWEEN TWO AND THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE HAD ASSEMBLED ON THE STEPS IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE WHEN, AT 4.30 P.M. YESTERDAY, H.E. SIR WILLIAM PEEL, CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY ARRIVED FORMALLY "TO OPEN THE NEW FUNG PING SHAN LIBRARY OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY. SIR WILLIAM, WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY LADY PEEL AND CAPTAIN WALTER, A.D.C., WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, (SIR HORNELL), WHO CONDUCTED THE PARTY TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE NEW LIBRARY.
WILLIAM -
DONOR'S FAITH IN THE UNIVERSITY
Among those prostat were the Hon. Mr. W: T. Southorn and Mrs. Southony Sir Robert and Lady Ho Tumg, Sir Shou-son Chow, Mr. Justice J. R. Wood, the Hon. Mr. E. R. Hallifax and Mrs. Hallifax, Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton and Mrs. Shenton, Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall and Mrs. Kotowall, Mr. A. G. Alabaster, Hon. Mr. T. N. Chan, Freach Coiul Mr. Teissier. Dr. Tao, Mrs. Fung Ping Shan, Mr. Kwok Siu Lau, and Mr. Fung Ping Wah.
The guests were conducted into the Library where H.E. the Gover nor unveiled a portrait of Mr. Fung Ping Shan, the donor of the
Library.
MR. FUNG PING WAH'S
* SPEECH
Hi
Story of the Library's Inception.
Mr. Fung Ping Wah, son of the benefactor then Addressed
the assemblage as follows:
Your Excellency, Lady Peel, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I consider it a great privilege to speak on behalf of my family at this formal opening of the Fung Fing Shan Library. This is Host auspicious occasion, and my only regret is that my beloved fa
|
THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
First Borious Publis Library. In ` Hong trong.
and
4
In conclusion I thank His Excel- | which : should be made for the lenoy, Lady Peel and all, whom I teaching of Chinese: Is baknythingat see here before me for coming here opportunity of: dhgratulating to-day. I also record my gratitude Southern and the Committee for for the skill and devotion of Mr. their report, which is a very useful} G. G. Wood and Mr. Tgglesden of contribution towards the solution. the firm of Messrs.Leigh & of the problem at isuar. Orange.
THE NEW BUILDING The now building which presents a. dignified appearance from the roadway-in-treated--in-a semi- classic manner with external-fac ings of red brick and granite.
Sir William Horns? xid Your Excellency, Ladies Gentlemen-There is little to add to what has been already said. ***Mr. Fung Ping. Wah has told us what this Library meant to his father; how he dreamt of a store house of Chinese tradition "and Internally, compact arrangement ideas-ideas modern as well as ani- of the library adjuncts, together cient, dynamic as well as station with the top lighted octagonal store-house of which this Univer-book room furnished with conveni- sity. should keep the key but nently situated tiers of steel book store-house which should be open shelves, make for improved read- for all time to all those who maying and library reference condi- wish to consult its accumulated | tions. wisdom. This is the first-serious Special attention has also been public library in this Colony. paid to the electrio lighting system, Many travellers pass through Hong and ceiling and wall fixtures. Kong and among them there comes from time to time A Chinese scholar. It is a source of grati- Acation to all who serve this University, as it is, I hope a source of gratification, to all those who are here to-day, to know that to those wandering Chinese scholars as well as to all those seekers after Chinese Jore who dwell amongst us, the Fung Ping Shan Library will always be open.
Mr. Fung Ping Wah has told us that the 31.000 volumes which now constitute the University's Chinese Library will be placed in this building and be thus made avail- able not only to the members of the University but to the public.
$40,000 From Malaya.
SIR WILLIAM PEEL
As a result of the report, the position has been reviewed, and though the finances of the Univer sity leave very little scope for development, it has been decided to have a department of Chinese as part of the Faculty of Arts, and the University is now engaged in trying to find A roader in Chinese who will reorganise the Chinese teaching of the University, and put ton à sound and practical baeis,
Statutory Obligation.
The University has sot only a moral obligation, but also a statu- tory obligation, to make due provi sion for the study therein of the Chinese languïge and litörature. T heed hardly say that neither my
ll nor my advisers in the Univer nity feel other than a strong wish I have had the double privilege that that obligation should be to-day of opening the Fang Ping properly discharged. The only Shan Chinese Library for the Uni-difficulty is how best to do this, versity and unveiling & portrait of Past experience has afforded us the donor. It has given me the much assistance, and I hope that greatest of pleasure to perform the new proposals will prove to be these ceremonies.
Effective teachers and
'& access.
I have the impression that al-'an adequate Chinese Library are most as soon as I arrived in the undoubtedly susential to the had made a success in his business
Colony I was brought, into contact achievement of success, but they are enterprises. He donated a large
with the late Mr. Fung Ping Shan, not ancient. We propose to pro sum of money for building the
and realised his intense interest in vide facilities for the proper study Higher Primary School of the Sun
the University and in overyting of Chinese, but it is necessary that Yat Sen University in Canton, and
connected with it. I found, too, students should be forthcoming who built the King Tong Library and
that he was very ready to give will come to the University not established the Fung Ping Shan
practical proof of that interest by only anxious to make a serious Primary School and many other
generous financial help. His death | study of their own language und Free Schools in his native district.
was undoubtedly a great loss to literature, a real part of their Here in Hong Kong he was one of In the year 1926, Dr. Lai Chi the Colony, and especially to this University curriculum, but possess the first who made the suggestion Hsi and I went to Malayn, then a institution. In his generous up-ed of the necessary grounding at to establish a library for the Chin- ese General Chamber of Commerce. veritable land of Goshen. There port and interest, both in regard the time of their entry to the Uni- He was also to the fore in the mat. We raised $40,000 and of this money to this University and to education versity. In this new scheme this fer of education for the poor, and a sum of not less than $10,000 was guerally, as set out by Mr. Fung Library which I have opened to Before Ping Wah in his interesting speech, day will play an important part, he was one of the promoters of the spent on Chinese, books.
this the University's Chinese his sons have a fine example, which and I cannot express too highly the Industrial School now in course of Library-was-very-small-nor did it I feel sure they will be only too gratitude which the University feels materialisation, towards which he form a separate unit in charge of proud to follow.
towards the late Mr. Fung Fing promised to donate $100,000. But
Shan, hie widow and his family for Chinese librarian. It is right of all, this library that he himself that, on this occasion we should re
the munificent gift, nor can I re volunteered to give to the Univer member in gratitude the gearresity Mr. Fung Ping Wah has told us frain from an expression of great sity of Hong Kong, is what he was of Mr. Chen Wing and Mr. Lai how this building came to be pre-regret that he was not permitted most interested in. I remember he Wing Chee of Kuala Lumpur, of sented to the University, and I to live to see the consumation of r once told the Registrar that be the Executors of the late Mr. To have little to add on this point, work, very dear to his heart. (Ap, looked upon it as his own child, Yo Yoon of Penang, of Mr. Ng The offer to provide money to build plause). and that he would endeavour to Wah and Mr. Kwok-Cheng Young bring it to its fullest development of this Colony. Had it not be Although he is now gone, this for the generosity of these gentle building will, I hope, stand here men this Library building, if it as a permanent memorial to had ever come into existence at all, love of learning, of education, and would have started on ita career of culture.
with very few books on its shelves. May I take this opportunity to As it is I am able to tell you on appeal to friends in particular and the authority of no less a scholar the community in general for their than . Paul Pelliot who was my practical support and assistance to guest last week and who went make this library success? I
Donor's Liberality.
Chinese Library was made to the University in 1990 in a letter from Mr. Fung Fing Shan, in which he mid-that-a-friend-of-his-was-pre- yared to subscribe $100,000 towards the scheme. His modest disposition: had led to his holding back his own name, but later on in the year. he came forward as the donor, and raised the offer to $120,000. The conditions attached by him to the through the collection, that the gift were that the proposed Libr
ther did not live to see this day mean, a library cannot adequately nucleus with which the Fung Ping ary." should be open to the public
It is the completion of a piece of work which he regarded as an in- dispensable part of the University. He took a deep interest in it dur ing his lifetime, and I am sure you will agree that it is an excel lent achievement.
Gift Accepted.
Shan Library starts, represents B
·
DIARY OF LOCAL EVENTS
TO-DAY (December 15). Sport. Racing:-Entries close for Fan
solid and well selected aggregate of as well as to the staff and students Chinese books within the limita of the University, and that the ling Hunt Steeplechase, noon, work could in M. Telliot's opinionhinese Library" The Council of tions of which valuable research building was to be used permanent
ly and exclusively to house the he carried on.
be worthy of its name if we have a building without a rich tollec- tion of ancient and modern books. Ladies and gentlemen, as you are aware on account of China's long history and civilisation her learn- ing is boundless, and she has pro
But a collection of books for the duced thousands of celebrated. au housing of which one lecture room thors in all branches of knowledge, in the University new suffices, is in the not a complement of a magnificent The present collection University of Chinese books, which building like this, and a library is consists of 31,000 volumes and will not, or should not be, a repository be transferred to this new building, of printed matter, but rather a were donated by gentlemen in theiving organism. Colony, the Straits Settlements, Study of Chinese Literature, and Shanghai. While acknowledg
ing their generosity, it may be Mr. Fung Ping Shan has built pointed out that this collection is the library and provided for its still far from being adequate, and upkeep the shelving alone cost it is earnestly hoped that further over $20,000. I can not believe generous donations for. books will that the Chinese community will be forthcoming so that this library not see to it that the Library is may be made truly worthy of the regularly stocked with such Chinese which books and other publications -as Hong Kong University, rightly claims to be the lighthouse ought to be found on the shelves of the Far East.
of the Chinese Library of the University of Hong Kong.
• Dances.
Theatres, Queen's: "Call of the Soc." the University gratefully accepted King's: Thunder Below." Сел- the gift together with the condi-tral "A Night Like This" Orien tions, but in doing so ventured to tal: Sporting Chance." Majes- point out that the upkeep of the tie: Scandal for Sale." Star: Library, more especially as it was to Lord Baba." be open to the public, would involve the University in additional ex- penditure, which, in view of its
Ton Dances-Hong Kong Hotel financial position, it might be diff- and King's Restaurant. Dinner cult to provide. Mr. Tung Fing Dances: Peninsula and Hong Kong Shan thon most generously added Hotel and King's Restaurant. a sum of $50,000 to his previous Entertainments.-Children's. Pan- gifts for the endowment of the tomine at Hélena May Institute, Library...
Miscellaneons,..
As you know, this library is nam ed after my father to commemorate his humble gift, and I think all of you will be interested to learn, how this building came to be pre- sented to the University. In the year 1920 on the occasion of his 70th Birthday my father offered a mum of $100,000 to the University for the building of a Chinese Libr ary, together with an endowment 'fund of $20,000 which was sub
Valuable Addition to University. Meetings:-Theosophical Society, sequently increased to $50,000 for its maintenance. The gift was ac-
August 2, 1031, but no question of Club, Jardine Alatheson's Board Mr. Fung. Ping Shan died on 6 p.m.; Royal Hong Kong Golf cepted by the University Authori
ragard Room, 5.30 p.m. ties. Immediately afterwards, with
change in the position the help of Sir Cecil Clementi, the
to the library arose, as his window at once undertook without any Vice-chancellor Sir William Hor-
Chancellor Thanked,
besitation to honour her husband's nell, the Hon. Dr. Kotewall, Mr.
The University is required by its promise respecting. it.
Thanks. Li King Hong and the Registrar, Now Indies and gentlemen, I do ordinance to make adequate pro therefore, to the great generosity my fathor set out to look for a not wish to detain you any longer vision in its Arts Faculty for the of Mr. Fung Ping Shan, his widow suitable site within the compound bat I feel it my duty to utter a study of Chinese language and and his family, we have to-day a of the University for the Building few words of thanks to those gentle literature. This obligation has very valuable addition to the Uni- and eventually the present site was chosen, but the scheme didnot men who have given us so much not been found in practice to be varsity buildings. I take this assistance in this work: First and Cusy "of satisfaction. The students opportunity of congratulating both materialise until last year when the foremost. I have to oxpress my pro-have not shown much enthusiasm the architects and the contractor on work was started My father's aim found gratitude to His Excellency for University courses in Chicoss the success which they have achiev in presenting this library building the Chancellor, who, in the midst We have made mistakes, but next ad. Internally the library is ad-
Principal Mails Inward-Europe via Buez by
Itanchi,
FRIDAY (December 16), . Auctions,
Lammert's Sale of Toys, Sales
of his many administrative duties, yen we are going to start affellymirably equipped and provided Room, 2.30 p.m. is kind enough to spare his valuable with a reorganised Chinese Depart with steel bookshelves and electric time in performing this ceremony. ment as an integral part of the light.
Sport.
E.
to the University was two-fold firstly, to enable the University of Hong Kong to become the chief cen- tre in South China for the collec- To the Vice chancellor Sir William Faculty of Arts-a Department to Mrs. Fung Ping Shan and, ber tion, storage, and preservation of Hornell is due my utmost thank- be controlled and presided over by
Billiarda:-Steel, Coulson Longue, ancient Chinese literature and clas- fulness, for his invaluable guidance a render in Chinese who will be a sons are here today, and I can as C. & P.O.'s Club . Police; St sics, and secondly to encourage and untiring co-operation in every member of the University's Senate. sure them that the University, of Patrick's Palace Hotel Royal among the Chinese community a thing connected with the Library. Our aim is to offer to Chinese boys which I have the honour to be Engineers. Garrison Sergeants: love of the study of the language must tender my grateful acknow- and girls who have got to live in Chancellor, is most grateful for Royal Artillery v. 8. W. Border and tradition of their motherland. ledgement to Sir Cecil Clementi, the modern world, facilities for the gift. The gift however is not ers
My father had a great faith in late Governor of Hong Kong and securing as a part of the ordinary confined to the University, but is Chess: -Kowloon Chess Club the University as the centre of great friend of my father, who University course which leads to open to the public, and it is the Championships, Senior C. learning in South Chian, and he sponsored the original proposal and the B.A. degree, an effective and duty of those for whose benefit the Wong B Soltau; A. D. Sequeira believed that the Chinese Library Bave the scheme his wholehearted critical knowledge of their own gift was made to see that it is not J. S. Smith; A. C. Ridlington- would fill an important gap in the tude is also due to Mr. WB. philosophy and ethics and of their also developed and extended, and Biriukoff J. Easton: A Kurrik sympathy and support. My grati-language and literature, of their only adequately maintained but B. W. Paul. Junior A. J. educational system of the Colony, In that it would provide an institu: Finnigan and Mr. Li King Hong history. We believe that this is the strongly support Mr. Fung Ping A. L. Roiha; T. E. Parry v. M. for their advice and active as background required by at least a Wah's appeal for donations for Canetti, A. Prata v. Dr. H. D. tion where eastern and western syssistance in bringing the scheme to reasonable number of those who more books for this library, sa as Matthews; H. E. Buch.-P. tems of culture could be studied fruition. My thanks are also due pass yearly from here to help, to ensure that it will become one Yrenovilh side by side. My father's faith in
Hockey-Friendly match: Bong this ideal never wavered, and he Architects, W. C. Jack and Co, ing the destinica of the Chinese its kind in, the Far East.
to Messrs. Leigh and Orange, the whether consciously or not, in shap of the leading institutions of
Kong Club "A" v. H.M.8. Corn- devoted himself with unsparing
wall (Kings Park), 8.15 p.n. energy to its attainment. And even and Mr. Lam Woo who had done people
Theatres, King's "Thunder
Jurae Moon,"
Call of Centrali Born to Sporting
Importance of Education."--
sion of Maintenance.
as Inte as only a week or two ho- splendid work in carrying out the University's Coming of Age,
The maintenance of a suitable fore his death he was still busy. at construction of this library. Mr. work on this project.
Next March the University comes Chiness Library for the University Lam's reputation as a contractor of age and I like to think of this must naturally be associated with Majestio in Hong Kong is familiar to all Library' ha a milestone, standing the study of Chinese language and Lord Babs, Queen's
plain for all those who pass by to literature, subject which has the Sea"
Oriental I hope it may not be out of place of us, and his generosity and pub-se, on the... for me to say a few words about lie spirit are to be much appreciat which the University it struggling thought since I came here. The Chance"
arduous path along given ms..considerable cause for Love my deceased father's realisation of the great importance of education.ed when we remember that be towards the fulfilment of its func. question of how to at an adequate tion. We live in an age in which and effective system of teaching
Below."
Star
Tea DanceKing's Restaurant On account of poverty in his child agreed to make a substantial re-issues of vital importance are being Chinese into the curriculum of a and Hong Kong Hotel Dinger hood he was deprived of the, duction from his original, Inder hammered out by the perplexed University which caters for modern
Hotel, tunity of completing his school for the building Last-bao-rot peoples of in distracted world. A requiremente is one of considerable Restaurant, and Penints, Hotel.
Fung Ping Bhan had faith in the dimculty As most of you know. course. Realising what a lack of least I must thank you all, ladies ultimate triumph of culture and the Court of the University. last
Principal Mafis education meant to him, he deter and gentlemen, for your kind pre- reasonableness. This faith he em- year appointed a special committee Inward America by President bodied in this Library which is under the chairmanship, of the Jefferson. Outward: America and mined to do something for the pro-spec in witnessing to-day's momor proud to have his Namo emblazoned Honourable Mr. Southorn to Europe via Siberis by Empress of motion of public education after he able function (Applause
vise --as-to-the-future-provision:- Japan, -10-6.0.-
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