UNIVERSITY
(Continued from Page 1)
possible by the recognition given by His Majesty the King to their own perseverance in adverse cir-1 cunstancLS.
CEREMONY
It is hoped that Mr Boxer, the Registrar, will be returning shortly and that Professors Simpson and Robertson will also be coming back in a few more months.
Co-operation With China
In each step of the re-building of the University it is the inten- Although I am a member of this tion to bear in mind always the University do not belong to its importance of co-operation with staff so that I may, without im- the Universities and educational Propriety, add the vitality of the institutions of China. I am sure Medical Faculty, a vitality mani- the importance of liaison with fested by its individual members China is going to be a great factor in various ways and places in these in the future
history of this tragic years.
University which numbers
I can only speak of instances amongst its first students Dr Sun here in Hongkong. To Professor Yat-sen. When I was in Chung- Digby and Dr Dean Smith, Stan- king, the Generalissimo displayed ley internees owed much and some great interest in the re-building of of them indeed their continued this University and spoke to me existence.
about the importance of getting
as
To the Vice-Chancellor we owe the University going again a debt of gratitude for allowing soon as possible, a view which I us to have access to his valuable naturally very much shared with collection of books on English him. During my visit to Canton, literature, or which subject also I went to Ling Nam University he lectured untiringly.
and not only did I receive a very Professor Brown accomplished kind welcome but all the officials the remarkable feat of organising spoke most appreciatively to me and maintaining a programme of of what Hongkong University had weekly lectures spread over a done for Ling Nam before the period of something like three Japanese attacked and also very sincere kindly expressed their Professor Robertson lectured wish to repay some of that debt; on Political Economy and the Pro- by assisting Hongkong University fessor of Education talked on now. A number of students from Psychology to earnest audiences. Hongkong is now at Ling Nam
By his brilliant popular lectures | University.
years.
3
on various topics, his work in While this University started as association with nutrition prob- a medical college and teaches lems and above all by his cheer- great number of most important ful example no one in the camp technical subjects, its activities did more than Dr Herklots in are not and should not be confined maintaining the morale of inter- to technical education. One of nees in those dreary days.
the most important functions of
to
An enthusiastic crowd of young any University is to broaden the men thronged the lectures of th.outlook of its graduates and late Professor Faid who spoke instill into their minds the sense on Electricity, Magnetism, Phy of spiritual values-the value of sics-matters more or less ger- honesty, justice, mercy and such mane to their own peace time or like, which form the basis of an ganisations.
want ordered society. To-day I particularly to speak to you of the the importance of discipline in community.
In this way the literary stand- ard of the internees was raised though not even University Pro- fessors could do anything with, or to, those of them who persisted in saying "O.K." instead of "Yes."
Discipline is Necessary Since the time when Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt, history has shown that no So. Ladies and Gentlemen, nation has flourished unless that the University in its corporate capacity might seem to have been in abeyance there was no break in the continuity of its activities.to the high standard of discipline
Students of 1941
Furthermore the graduates of to-day are the students of 1941 and I venture to add that the Re- gistrar of 27 years ago is reap- pearing momentarily in that capa- city to-day.
nation has maintained a high standard of discipline. Most of the success of the Nazis was due
which they enforced, but that dis- cipline was what I call the dis- cipline of fear-discipline main- tained by the secret police and the threat of the concentration camp. The highest form of discipline is, of course, self-discipline exercised by the individual and exemplified In spite of to-day's comparative by a high standard of a sense of ly austere proceedings I shall not a man's duty to his neighbour- be surprised if they are recorded called more simply in English in the University's history as preg-"playing the game." This has not nant with significance as any been achieved to a high degree by that have been held within these many countries. For instance, walls.
the Germans have never achieved
a
I say "within these walls." Iit to a high degree, although the cannot say "under this roof," but old German bureaucracy had if our shell be broken the whole- high standard of efficiency and some kernel remains and if the integrity before they were new Bachelors of Medicine have destroyed by Nazi teaching. In proceeded to their degrees in a Britain, I feel we have achieved shattered building I would remind as high а standard of self- them that a roof is but a top discipline as most countries, in dressing and a graduate is a gra- fact higher than most. The
duate "for a' that."
evidence of this is firstly the standard
in of integrity
all
I see in this ceremony the be- branches of our public services ginning of a renaissance and al-and it has also been made mani- though in the near future fest recently by the absolutely there will inevitably be griev-negligible black market which has Ous obstacles in the way existed in Britain despite the very of Our academic rehabilita- tion, I foresee for this Uni-during six years of
severe and continued rationing war. That versity in Hongkong a future of record has shown democracy in expanding usefulness in the Far action. East which will transcend its con- siderable achievements in the past. (Applause).
Following
Self-discipline enters very much
into the development of democra- the Crown are responsible, was which is of not achieved in Britain until 1918. government, course essentially self-government. Leaders From University con- Democratic government
tic
Mr de
Martin's
were
speech, the Degrees
ferred by Mr Hazelrigg.
ceremony. He said:
Start From Barren Walls
Sir Cecil Harcourt said:
is not
Democracy Step-by-Step
of
achieved merely by giving the I draw your attention to these At the conclusion of the cere- franchise to the whole cr a large things because it is most essential mony, Sir Cecil congratulated the portion of the population. It has here to understand what self- candidates on their success and to be built up step by step and government is, so that it can be also congratulated the Committee must start with the acknowledg- built up here in Hongkong. I and all those who helped at the ment of the rights of the indivi- speak specially here inside the dual, followed by the achievement walls of this University, as it is of a high standard of integrity in to be expected that a large pro- the public service, which is done portion of the leaders of our com- by the individuals comprising the munity will graduate through this To-day is a great day in the community exercising self-govern- University and it is essential that annals of this University. It is a ment and self-discipline in their it should be understood in Hong-
kong beginning and I am afraid only a individual lives.
the importance
self- small beginning, but none the less
discipline which is the equivalent a beginning. I wish I could
of civic sense. For it is only by The form of Democratic govern- assure you that this beginning
the gaining of this civic sense will develop quickly into
ment which we have in Britain that stable self-government can be full re-establishment of the has been built up step by step achieved. Without this self- University. Every effort is being during the centuries. For in discipline, the establishment of made to get the University going, stance, in 1215 by the signing universal franchise in any but we have to start from barren Magna Charta the King became munity means that there are thou- walls and booted buildings. Efforts obedient to the law of the land sands of people each working for have been concentrated on
and not a mere tyrant and despot their own selfish aims and caring ing the University for first-year as he continued to be in so many little for the common good. The classes in October of this year. countries for centuries after this result in such cases is, as has We cannot be sure that we shall date. In 1679 the Habeas Corpus been shown in various countries achieve this, but every effort will Act established that ΠΟ man in recent years, not democratic be made to get some classes should be thrown into prison and government but what I call going.
kept there without trial. This democratic lack of government. or
a
open.
com-
The date of opening for classes acknowledgment of the rights of even democratic anarchy. I ask in science, medicine and engineer- the individual is an essential you therefore to ponder these ing depends on securing the keystone to democratic govern things, think over the implications, necessary minimum of equipment. ment and these rights must be discuss them among yourselves, be The latest information from the well established before any large honest with yourselves and main- Vice-Chancellor, Mr Sloss, who is measure of franchise can be given.tain in yourselves that attitude to working hard at home. for the It is worth remembering that your neighbours that you would University, is that the equipment although the first Parliament was like them to maintain towards may be ready for shipping by assembled in England in 1295 it you. Only in this way can September. but that with top was than only a consultative body genuine self-government be estab- priority all along the line it could and the universal franchise of lished in Hongkong and the not be available for use before men and women, which elects the people be prosperous, happy and December.
Parliament to which Ministers of free. (Applause).