50
Speech of H. H. Sir Henry Gollan, Kt., K.C., C.B.E., M.A. (Edin.)
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong.
Your Excellencies, Members of the Court, Ladies, and Gentlemen. In commencing his speech at the congregation of 1928, the Vice-Chancellor welcomed H. E. the Chancellor back to the University. I must commence mine by expressing our deep and Jasting regret at his impending departure. The University has passed through difficult times during his tenure of cffice, but it has ever had from him a ready and sympathetic hearing. It could have had no truer friend and no stouter champion than its resent Chancellor; and I desire, on behalf of the University, to thank His Excellency for all that he as done for it, and to wish him success and happi- ness in his new sphere of activities. I am confident that I need not ask of him continued interest in the University of Hong Kong.
Successes and Achievements,
So far as the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Hornell, is concerned, his absence is merely temporary, and he will shortly return to his accustomed place with renewed humorous zest. Meantime, it falls to me .to understudy him and to take stock of the successes, achievements, resources and requirements of the University; and I will first deal with the successes and achievements because they are the justification for its existence and for all claims to continued and increasing support made on its behalf.
Thirty-four members of the University will be presented at this congregation to receive due academic recognition; eighteen of them are from the Medical Faculty, five from the Engineering Faculty, and eleven from the Arts Faculty.
I must particularly refer to the success of the Engineering graduates who proceeded to the degree of B.Sc. at the Congregation of 1929. All five were awarded honours by the London University Assessors, one in the First class and the remaining four in the Second class, a result most gratifying and creditable to teachers and to taught.
Two gentlemen, who are already graduates of the University, will also be presented to receive higher degrees. Dr. M. B. Osman, who graduated as M.B., B.S., in 1924, has passed the M.D. examination in Pathology. And S. B. Ahmed, who graduated as B.Sc. in Engineering in 1925, has qualified for the degree of M.Sc. in respect of a thesis entitled "The Theory of Earth Pressure as applied to Retaining Walls." The scientific value of the thesis is made clear by the academic recognition it will receive; its practical value is also clear to the unscientific who gaze at the retaining walls of Hong Kong and are filled with grateful wonder that more of them don't give way.
Increased Rolls.
On 31st December, 1929, there were 315 students on the rolls of the University:
Faculty
Medicine Arts Engineering
Men Women Total
139 13
152
76 19
95
68
68
283
32
315
There is an increase of six as compared with the total number of students as at 31st December, 1928. The increase is not great; but, still, it is an increase.
On behalf of the University I congratulate those of its members who will receive their due rewards at the hands of the Chancellor to-day. In most instances they will have run their Academic Course, but they will be but commencing their career in the Great World outside these walls. They have received the best the University can give; and gratitude, no less than enlightened self-interest, requires of them they should uphold its reputation and honour in their new life.
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