—
This is the first residence for students from all the University
where graduates and undergraduates irrespective of their college of faculty
affiliations may mix together freely. This marks a new era in the history
of the University, and is a natural development from the coming together of
all three Foundation Colleges on one campus. Together with the College
hostels, it will play an important role in the development of corporate and
intellectual life among students and serve as a communications centre
between local and visiting scholars.
I feel sure this new concept accords with both the needs of the
University and the intentions of the benefactors. And I would like to add
my thanks to those of the Vice-Chancellor to those who have contributed to
this building. The Ho Tung family which has done so much for Hong Kong,
and those who subscribed to commemorate Sir Cho-yu Kwan, who played such a
decisive part in the formation and direction of this University during its
first 8 years, and who died as he had lived in the service of Hong Kong.
A good university is not just a knowledge machine but a grouping of
people. And the right atmosphere in which teachers and students can both give
of their best can only be achieved if all feel they belong to a community
in which they take pride, a community of scholars dedicated to learning.
This sense of community can best be created through common purpose and common
corporate life. And this in turn presupposes an organization in which
teaching and learning and living and working and playing together are
facilitated through the proper full and complementary functioning of all
its many parts.
It has not been easy for this University to achieve this corporate
sense because its history is relatively short and because of its tripartite
origins. But it has achieved it, and this says much for the enthusiasm and
vision of all concerned.
There have