CONFERRING OF DEGREES
AT HONGKONG UNIVERSITY
BRILLIANT ASSEMBLAGE SEEN AT
CEREMONY
CONGREGATION DAY
THE
VICE-CHANCELLOR'S FAREWELL
With all the traditional and colourful ceremony connected with the occasion, the University of Hongkong yesterday after- noon held its 28th. Congregation at which degrees were conferred the graduates in the faculties of Arts, Medicine and Engineering.
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H.E. the Governor, Sir Andrew Caldecott, Chancellor of the University, opened the Congregation and later conferred the degrees; while Sir William Hornell, Vice-Chancellor, made his farewell speech at the last Congregation at which he will be present before leaving for Home on retirement.
In his address to the Congregation, |There died a genius, but with all, a the Chancellor drew attention to the man of profound humility and great regrettable lack of considerable en- charm-a Christian scholar and gen- dowments being made to the tleman.
generous
University during the year. In con- Mr. W. H. Bell retired and left the a member of the nection with finances, he said that Colony. He was he had decided to appoint a small University Court for many years, and
the University's Committee to investigate the financial always position of the University, to enquire friend. whether any changes are advisable in staffing, personnel, or salary scales, and to tender any other advice or suggestion for the future of the University.
Staff Personalities
21, 1936, the enrolment was 412-139 in the Faculty of Medicine; 133 in the Faculty of Engineering, and 140 in the Faculty of Arts. Three hun- dred and forty eight of these students were Chinese. In 1921 there was one woman undergraduate; to-day there are 76. I have once again to pay to the students my grateful their dis- tribute for their loyalty, cipline, and for the goodfellowship which prevails not only among them- selves but between them and their teachers. The cynical might learn much from a visit to the night school which is conducted by the students.
of
In the Boxer Indemnity Scholar- ship Examination held early last. year two of our graduates appeared, and each won a scholarship. Miss Lai Po Kan came first in a competitive examination in Chinese and English Philology, and she is now reading in Oxford for the honours school English language and literature. Forty-five candidates sat for the scholarship examination. The other winner was Dr. Woo Kai-fun; his subject being pathology. He is now working in London. The Boxer Scholarship Examination was first held in 1934. Our record is four competitors and four winners.
Students Abroad
and the Tropical
Dr. H. C. Ku who won a Boxer Scholarship in 1934, has been elected a Fellow of the Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons. Dr. Lee Hah- liong and Dr. Lim Gim-kheang (medical graduates of ours) have the London gained respectively Diploma in Child Health London Diploma of Medicine and Health. Miss Irene Ho has secured the London Tung University Doctorate in Philosophy. Mr. Donald Anderson now holds the London University degree of Bache- lor of Laws. Mr. E. B. Ahmed and both Mr. Eric Wong Tape have qualified to be Associate members of the Institute of Civil Engineers, the former being the top of the list of those who were successful at the examination qualifying for member- ship. Mr. Gan Kee-poon has been awarded the Diploma of the Im- perial College, London. Mr. W. J. C. To the Chair of Anatomy, which Fletcher has won the Parsons was rendered vacant by the retire- Memorial Prize a prize awarded ment of Professor J. L. Shellshear. to the best apprentice by Messrs. C.
Rudall Shore, M.C., has Dr. Louis
A. Parsons & Co. Ltd., Newcastle -on- been elected. To the junior lecture- Tyne, in whose works Mr. Fletcher ship in English-held until last Sep-is working as an apprentice. Six of tember by Mr. A. B. Reynolds, the
appointed Council has
Mr. Keith William Salter. Professor Shore comes from the Anatomy School of
Mr. Salter during Cambridge;
from the Dr. and Mrs. University of Bristol.
On New Year's day, Sir Grafton Elliot Smith died in London. As Head of the Department of Anatomy of University College, London, Sir Graf- Paying a tribute to Sir William ton helped this University in many Hornell, Sir Andrew Caldecott said ways. I take this opportunity of re- he declined to conclude his speech cording the University's grateful
the memory of with the word "Goodbye," as had the tribute to
a great Vice-Chancellor, but would merely scientist to whose kindly interest and say. "Thank you."
encouragement many an anatomist owes his career.
Sir William Hornell in his address drew attention to the successes which and had been achieved by sons daughters of the Alma Mater during the past year, and the brilliant work done by Professor Ride, whose work on human physiology and pathology had won for him the right to sup- plicate for the University of Oxford's degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Sir William also mourned the losses suffered by the University the year, by the death of a number of its supporters and brilliant gra- duates and drew attention to the distressing lack of playing fields for the undergraduates and the lack of a real connecting link between this university and English universities.
Tea was served in the University grounds from 3.45 p.m., and at 5 p.m. the Proves. ion, including members of the Court, Council, Senate and Facul- ties of the University, entered the Great Hall, and the members took their places on the dais.
Shore, and Mr. Salter, are going to be happy here-they are the sort of people who know how to be happy. Each one of them is, moreover, going to be a
success not only in the University but also in the Colony. I do not often prophesy; here I dare assert.
Mr. Reynolds (who also came from the University of Bristol) did ex- cellent work here. He deserves to do well and I am sure that he will.
Our Chinese Staff was further While the Procession entered the strengthened last year by the ap- Great Hall. the Band of the 2nd. pointment to it as Lecturer of Mr. Battalion, The East Lancashire Re-Ma Kiam, M.A., of Columbia Univer- giment, played the Processional sity. Mr. Ma Kiam has taught in March.
The Procession
the Peiping Union Medical College and he came to us from the Yen- ching University where he was Pro- fessor of Chinese. Mr. Ma Kiam's reputation as a scholar and teacher
our engineering graduates have been recently engaged by the Government of China for survey work on the Canton Mui Tsian Railway. They are now working on the survey.
In January 1936 the University heard from the Executive Yuan of the Government of China, that gra- duates of the University of Hongkong were eligible to appear at the Higher Civil Service Examination. Mr. Sung Hang-chee (one of our graduates) has since passed the Examination with 2nd Class Honours and is thus qualified for an appointment.
Sense of Frustration Unless something unforeseen happens, this will be my last Con- gregation. Looking back over my Vice-Chancellorship I am conscious of a sense of frustration. I suspect that every head of a University, Col- lege or School becomes, when his time is up, painfully aware of the contrast between the little done and the undone vast. But here there are
so many dominating factors, so many influences vital to the very life of the University, over which one seems to have no control. Behind the
The Procession was led by H. E. Sir Andrew Caldecott, the Chan- cellor; followed by the Mace Bearer, stood high in Peiping. The Chinese Mr. I. Day, the Vice-Chancellor, Sir of Hongkong and Malaya have con- William Hornell, and the following: tributed generously to the Depart-Universities of Europe lie centuries
Treasurer and Dean, Faculty of
Mr.
Hon
Chinese
Medicine; Dean, Faculty of Engineer- ment of Chinese and the University ing, Dean, Faculty of Arts; H. E. having now in its service three first Major-General A. W. Bartholomew, class scholars and teachers, is offer- the Registrar; H. H. Sir Atholl Mac-ing carefully considered courses in
and language
literature, Gregor, Hon. Mr. N. L. Smith; The Rt. Rev. Bishop R. O. Hall, The Rt. history, and philosophy, English be- Rev. Bishop Valtorta; Hon. Mr. C.ing an essential part in each course. Classes in Mandarin are also held. G. Alabaster, Hon. Mr. R. A. C.
development is an im- North; Hon. Mr. Edwin Taylor, Hon. This last
R. M. Henderson;
Sir portant step, for it is becoming more Herry Follock, Hon. Sir Shouson and more evident that graduates who Chow: Hon. Dr. A. R. Wellington, have no Mandarin are left behind the race for appointments- Hon. Mr. S. H. Dodwell; Hon. Mr. in
appointments in J. P. Braga, Hon. Mr. Ts'o Seen-wan; especially official Ilon. Com. G. F. Hole, R.N., (Retd.), China. The facilities are there. The University cannot be blamed if Hon. Mr. Chau Tsun-nin; Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall, Hon. Mr. T. H. students do not come to profit by King; Hon. Mr. Lo Man-kam, Hon.
Gifts to University Mr. A. W. Hughes; Mr. Eu Tong-sen,
Mr. Archbutt went on leave last Mr. Mok Kon-sang; Mr. Ho Kom Tong, Professor C. A.
for nearly M. Smith: April. As Treasurer Professor K. H. Digby, Professor G. three years, Mr. Archbutt rendered T. Byrne: Professor F. A. Redmond, the University service which it can Professor L. Forster;
gratitude. R. repay with nothing but Robertson, Professor W. L. Gerrard; On Mr. Archbutt's departure, Mr. Professor W. C. W. Nixon, Professor Morse agreed to take up the Trea- He too has done, and L. R. Shore; Professor Hsu Ti Shan, surer's work. Lt. Col. H. B. L. Dowbiggin; Mr. K. is doing, the University service of E. Greig, Mr. J. R. Masson; Mr. F. inestimable value. Before such un- J. de Rome. Mr. G. R. Sayer; Mr. M. selfish public spirit I bow my head P. Talati, Mr. P. S. Cassidy: Mr. T. in gratitude. Perhaps Mr. Archbutt
Professor
them.
E. Pearce, Mr. J. H. Seth; Ir. G. P. and Mr. Morse have come to the conclusion as Job that in de Martin, Mr. E. Cock; Mr. Sum same Pak-ming, Mr. Kan Tong-po; Mr. B. all labour there is profit'. Wong Tape, Mr. Tang Shiu-kin: Dr. On July 15 Lady Caldecott opened G. D. R. Black, Mr. A. Brearly; Mr. the Eu Tong-sen Gymnasium. This Li Jow-son, Mr. Li Tse-fong; Dr. G. was Lady Caldecott's first visit to A. C. Herklots, Dr. Li Shu-fan; Mr. the University. The Gymnasium has a great boon and its D. W. Morley, Mr. B. G. Birch; Mr.already been
ter.
D. F. Davies, Mr. A. H. Fenwick; value will increase. There are, in Mrs. M. Ring, Mr. R. A. Hill; Mr. the University, both young men and women who do not play K. W. Salter, Dr. D. J. Valentine: young
who are Mr. Chan Kwan-po, Mr. A. H. Pater- games, and
dangerously
develop son; Mr. S. V. Boxer, Mr. Ma Kiam; neglecting their physical Dr. J. S. Guzdar, Miss Baxter; Father ment. The gymnasium will be open day afternoon after B. C. Kelly, S.J., Rev. G. K. Carpen- every week
lecture hours, and an instructor will Vice-Chancellor's Address be there. The University has one When all the members had taken recreation field and one only, and their places on the dais, the Chan-on this field athletic sports are held, cellor
and der'ared the Congregation and cricket, football, hockey open, and the Vice-Chancellor tennis are played. The provision delivered his address. Sir William is scandalously inadequate and this said.
makes the University all the more Nineteen hundred and thirty six beholden to Mr. Eu Tong-sen for his has been a year of tragedy and Gymnasium, and to Mr. Sum Pak- mourning, and the University has ming who recently gave us a basket had its share of unhappiness. We ball court. This is the first basket
the students lost Mr. Wong Kwong-tin' and Mr. ball court that
have Kwok Siu-lau. Both were staunch ever had. In the Eu Tong-sen supporters of the University, and to Gymnasium there is also the finest the latter we owe the Biological covered basket ball court and bad- Department.
minton court in the Colony.
as a
On April 1, Maurice Alfred Cooper
Dr. Ride's Success
made died.
Mention has already been As Lecturer in Commerce and indeed generally
member of of the visit which the University's the University Staff and for a time Professor of Physiology, Dr. Ride, the Warden of a University Hostel, made in 1931 and 1932 to Borneo in Cooper did devoted work. His un- connection with his genetic resear- timely death was a severe shock to ches. In 1933 the University grant- us all. Those who came into con-ed Professor Ride study leave, and Foundation asked tact with Cooper will not forget him. the Rockefeller
of tradition and of political and s0- cial experience. The Universities of America have their foundations in certain ideals which are generally the United accepted throughout States-ideals which have prompted American Universities and American University men not only to start Universities in China but also to maintain them and to keep alive the mother the contact between
and their institutions in America
China, I children in
have many personal friends in Universities in Britain and it has been my privilege to entertain not a few of them. But there the contact has ended. It is not their fault. The connecting link between the Universities of Britain and the University of Hongkong has not yet been forged. The very de- sirability of such a link has not been realized. Geographically in China yet outside it, this University stands isolated. I have often been sorely puzzled and very lonely; but for all that, I have had a happy life in Hongkong.
1 have tried to serve the Univer- sity whole-heartedly and in this ser- vice I have found satisfaction. Amid the storm and strain of financial and other difficulties, I have tried not to forget that ultimately all victories are moral and that spirit is the only
foundation to Build sure Goodbye!
upon.
Chancellor's Address
Following the Vice-Chancellor's speech, the degrees were conferred by the Chancellor, each graduate being presented by the Dean of his faculty. The Chancellor then delivered his address. Sir Andrew said:
So far as
It is a year since I last spoke to you in these Chancellor's robes. It seems to me and, I dare say, to many of you more than a year; for the past twelve months have been tightly packed with events some of which it has been extremely difficult for the mind to sort out under the labels of desirable or undesirable. is con- this University cerned there is no doubt whatever about the classification of the Eu Tong-sen gymnasium or the Sum Pak-ming basket-ball court; they both unmixed blessings which the gratitude of many goes out, and will continue to go out, to the generous donors. I regret how- ever that there has occurred other considerable addition to the list of the University's benefactions and endowments; nobody has yet aspired to figure as the Lord Nuffield of indeed have Hongkong. It would been unreasonable
to expect great accretion to our endowmenta at a time of severe economic de- pression, but it is because
are
On November 2, there passed the him to tour America and to report Rev. Fatner Daniel John Finn of the on the present study of genetics and Society of Jesus. Father Finn was heredity with special reference to optimistic enough to see signs the University's Lecturer in Geo-their application to problems graphy. But to the University and human physiology
of
for
no
any
I am
al- de-
ready of the lifting of that and pathology. pression that I have been meditating
Ride
on the University's chances of fur- ther future endowment.
to the Colony he was far more than The thesis which Professor this. His investigations into the wrote has been accepted by the prehistorical and proto-historical re- University of Oxford and, in the mains of Ilongkong and its Islands, language of that ancient institution, for the supplicate as set forth in his published articles, he may
now
and expounded by him to the recent University's degree of Doctor of World Conference at Oslo, have put .Medicine.
this Colony prominently on to the In 1927 there were 292 students on map of the World's earliest records. the University's
roll.
On October
If I myself had some millions of dollars to bequeath (this, I regret to say, is pure hypothesis and not a prospect) I should certainly want to know two things; whether the institution which I selected for en- (Continued on Page 9.)
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