163
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, THURSDAY, MARCH
'VARSITY CONGREGATION NEW BUILDING
DEGREES CONFERRED
Impressive Ceremony In War-Scarred, Roofless Great Hall
FIRST SINCE LIBERATION
In the war-scarred, roofless Great Hall of Hong- kong University yesterday, the first official Congre- gation since the liberation was held in the presence of a large and distinguished gathering. His Excellency the Governor and Chancellor, Sir Alexan- der Grantham, conferred forty degrees many of which were wartime. Three awards were posthumous.
1
UNIVERSITY
MACE
Dr L. T. Kide, Vice-Chan- cellor, in his speech at the University Congregatiom yesterday, referred to the Hace which
Was stolen from the University library In February, 1945. The makers had been traced, he said, and a photograph had been taken of a newspaper culting which depicted the Mace. An exact replica, be added, would cost $10,000.
During tea, after the off- clal opening of the new School, Mr Leung Yew promised Dr Ride a dona- tion of $10,000 towards the cost of the Mace, it la learned. Mr Leung took part in the official Proces- sion at the Congregation.
no
fine arts, and music has place within our academic walls
For years we have been all too conscious of this formidable list of defciencies, and before the war my predecessor Dr Sloss started the huge task of dealing with it. With reneweri and amazing vigour he tackled it again after the war, and largely as the result of this. !plus the keenness and enthu
siasm of our present staff, I am optimistic enough to predict that
ad- before the next Congregation
Architecture School Opened
BY GOVERNOR
Following the Congregation at the University yesterday, His Excellency the Governor, with the turn of a gold key, opened the new Duncan Sloss School of Engineering and Architecture in Pokfulam Road.
The building, which is very simple and neat, is of three floors with the basement used for hydraulics. The ground and Arst floors are for engineering and the top for architecture.
Mosses Harry Way and G.A.V. Hall, the architects, were in- troduced to His Excellency.
On view in the various rooms were exhibits which included a model of the proposed new Ho Tung Hall for a women's hostel,
the Henry Yeung collection, a some objects of Chinese art from
base rellet bust of Dr Dun- can Sloss and a model plan of the University grounds.
Visitors Inspected the building and tee was served.
The Band of 3 Commando Brigade, R. M., rendered a pro- gramme of appropriate selections both at the Congregation and st the opening ceremony.
In the course of his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Dr L. T. Ride, said that whatever our creed, what- ever our standard of learning, "surely in this year of grace 1950 if is to the advantage of humanity as a whole that there should remain in the Far East yet one institution of higher learning where freedom of thought still exists, where freedom of expression is not at the mercy of any one political party and where freedom to choose one's beliefs remains un- threatened by an iron fist or untrammelled by a curtain, be it of iron or bamboo. That is the justi- fication of a British University in Hongkong."
Seated on the dais on His triculated in, or otherwise Excellency's right were Dr L. T. mitted to. an institution Ride (Vice-Chancellor), Mr higher education. Malcolm Macdonald (Visiting The loose usage locally of the Chancellor from Malaya), Prof. term "student" has recently been S. M. Banfill (Dean of Medicine), the subject of just comment by Prof. R. K. M. Simpson (Dean of the Director of Education and Arts), Lt-Gen Sir E. C. Robert needs no Mansergh, the Hon. R. R. Todd, from me. Bishop Valtorta, the Hon B. C. K. Hawkins, the Hon D. F. Landale,
This blue-print for a Univer- the Hon T. N. Chau and the Han sity gives the architect a very E. A. Boyce. On the Governor's wide scope, but in addition it Students' Union opposite. The other words, the instruction left were the Hon Sir Arthur broadens the field for the critic. gift of a quarter million pounds the students is not the end, it Morse, Prof. F. A. Redmond It means that to justify our- by the home Treasury, promised one of the means to the end. (Dean of Engineering), Prof. selves we are called upon to nearly two years ago but not Vor generation after generation, D. F. Davies (Dean of Science), justify not only our standards yet received, will not enable us Mr B. Mellor (Registrar), Bishop but our curricula; our reputa- jeven to regain our prewar have pondered over this
let alone pay for
of
further condemnation
|
we shall see many of these one important characteristic un- short-comings remedied. The changed since the days when problem is mainly one of early Christian and Graeco-
on dollars finance; the grant of four mil- Roman traditions laid it down. Government enabled us
by the Hongkong and that is that one of the mort to re-important duties of a university start our courses in a limited is to produce good citizens. A manner, but it was not sufficient university exists for the benefit to complete even the repair of of the community and not all our war-damaged buildings, merely for the instruction of a as wliness this Hall and the tow selected individuals. In
Hall, the Hon C.G.S. Follows, tion depends not merely on our status,
Dr the Hon S. N. Chau, the Hon achievements but also on what essential developments.
Sir Man-kam Lo and Dr the Hon
I. Newton. Also on the dais
were members of the Court and Senate and senior Staff mem- bers.
In the front row of the au- dience sat Lady Grantham, Lady Morse, Prof. Edwards, Miss Dorothy Ride, Mrs Scott, Mrs Banfill, Mrs Redmord, Mr Cas sells, Mr C. J. R. Dawson, ADC, and Capt J. Baker, ADC.
the
His Excellency the Governor with Dr L. T. Ride, Vice- Chancellor (left) and Mr G. A. V. Hall, architect (right) after opening the new Duncan Bloss School of Engineering and Architecture. — (Staff Photographer).
of
many of our greatest brains
pro-
any blera of the University and the community, and it would be presumptuous of me to attempt to deal with it in one sentence but, in the light of the above argument, I would put to you that the definition by which we should judge a university should at least be extended somewhat Es follows: It is a place where students, through close associa- tion with their teachers, learn to apply the knowledge of the past to the problems of the present and future, and thus become by the attainment of a recognised standard of general and technical education, useful citizens of their community.
may
A university presents to its ruembers a way of life, and we in the British Empire believe Dent our way of life, founded on Christhin principles, has some- thing to offer to perplexed humanity. If over the world needed it, it needs it now, world as Osbert Bitwell has said: "Of wolf-and-buffalo poli- tics, where to howl over your prey is to be realistic, where to bellow is to prove strength, and to whine is to show grace: the world in which we sull-but only just--survive: the world in which the sabre-toothed tiger and the ant are each paragons and the butterly is doomed for its wings, which are unecono- mical
British Way of Life The University is here, not to force any particular political, religious, social, economical,
or
Dr Ride, addressing gathering, said: This is the 38th Congregation of our University, and the first official Congrega- tion held in this building since May, 1941. It is customary on these occasions for the Vice- Chancellor to review the sallent activities of the University since its Congregation last met; balt nine years is a large proportion of the life of a University barely 40 years old so I do not propose tu-day to attempt to cover in detail the vicissitudes of the University during all that period. I shall confine my re- marks in the main to what I consider the most outstanding and supremely important out- come of the trial of war. I be- lieve that from this veritable test of fire this University has emerged, firmly established In its own right, as an integral, permanent and valuable, though small, part of the community of: Hongkong; and I believe it has attained this status not merely through the wise deliberations. we are attempting lo achieve The University has therefore scientific beliefs on its students, of the influential citizens who When we start talking about made application to the Colonial but to make available to those serve on its governm bod standards of University degrees Office for an allocation from the who so choose, the advantages not through the ever-ready we arc on very debatable sum set aside under the Colo-they may find in the British way guidance of its academic and ground. In general no standards nial Development and Welfare of life and learning. But some administrative staff, but through are laid down; a university fixes Act 1945. Our request was of you may doubt whether a the solid achievements of those is own, but in some of the placed before the Inter-Univer- | small institution such as this trained within its walls. When professions there are definite sity Council for Higher Educa- can have any influence on the I took up the Vice-Chancellor standards; for example, in medi-tion in the Colonies for their life of the teeming millions of stup almost 12 months ago, that tine a very rigid standard is set recommendations. They have East Asia. In answer to that 1 was my credo, and my credo it for the protection of the publie decided that before they can shall refer you to the statement
by a statutory body known as agree to the allocation of amado In this Great Hall the General Medical Council, grant from the Colonial Deve February 20, 1923, by Dr Sun In the modern game of "Haves appointed under the Medical lopment and Welfare Funds or Yat-sen. It is a statement with
Our courses V Have-nots" (I hope my Act of 1858.
and to our proposals for the spend-which all who are in any way to their ing of the Treasury grant al-interested in the Far East should plurais, if not correct, may bexaminations conform forgiven) this
University is requirements and our medical ready promised, they should like be acquainted. Dr Sun Yat-sen qualified to play for either side, Kraduntes are registrable with two of their representatives to was one of the first two mem- for despite our many deficiencies the General Medical Council in visit Hongkong to discuss the bers to qualify for the diploma and adverse balances, there is the United Kingdom.
problem with us. To this we of the old Hongkong College of In engineering there is une thing we have never locked
no readily and eagerly gave
for our Medicine
Chinese. Until and that is an abundance of such legal yardstick, but each assent with the proviso that the capture of the Colony by the critics. I admit here and now year standards are checked by the delay necessitated did not Japanese a copy of his diplom
of ob-used to hang on the wall of the. without shame that in those sending the examination papers Jeopardise our chances
war of our final year students to the tuining a grant. It is expected Department
of Physiology, years just prior to the
2 was of their number: I often London University for assess that these visitors will arrive in treasured possession
of this the very near future. asked myself: "What useful pur- ment by their professors.
It is only University. In 1912 the College pose do we serve here in Hong-
The Fine Arts
fair to the citizens of the Colony became our Faculty of Medicine, kong." My head wagged in But in the other sciences and that claims for assistance in the and hence our pride in the as- young sociation of this institution with unison with those who doubted the arts we have no such out-higher education of its whether we were fulfilling any side help, and the departments people should receive equal con- the founding of the Chinese Re really useful purpose in this concerned Are more at the aideration by the Colonial Office public. It is no wonder there- community, whether the result mercy of local university condi- with the claims from other fore, that when Dr Sun Yat-sen It would be a lamen- was visiting the Colony in 1923, tions mainly financial when colonies.
netback to local enthu-he was invited by the Students is so easy to find fault, so com- here that the crities And their alarm and enterprise if the fact Union to address them. forting to travel with the crowd, happy hunting ground and in that
been have hitherto
It la interesting to note that in Our friends and present on that occasion was that so tempting to assume an em- the forefront of their ranks you
and benefactor pirical stand without weighing will find many members of our benefactors, and in having a great supporter all the facts.
we remain local Government that for 40 of our University-Sir Robert academic staff. Can
it Ho Tung, Before we arrive at a decision | content with our achievements years has been honouring as to whether the University is when in none of our depart-obligations towards higher edu-|Chairman of the Union at that justifying its existence or not, ments are we yet able to offer cation, it would, I repeat, betime was his son,
still remains.
Abundance of Critics
was worth the outlay.
In this, as in other things, it setting their standards. It ilable
we
fortunate
on
and further, the
Mr Edward
to lessen our claim for The Union Magazine in
I suggen we should first consi-honours courses for our students, lamentable if these were consi-Ho Tung. der what a University is for, many of whom are definitely of dered why have
we a university In honours calibre? Is it any continued help. Hongkong, and what should we wonder we are critical of the expect of our university?
#re
curriculum of a university JIN
-0.2
porting Dr Sun Yat-sen's speech, said that he "felt a great delight But that is by way of digresin meeting the students of the
answer
In this connection it is in-langkong which makes no Attion; thus far I have produced University. He felt that he was Seresting to note that at an In-mpt to open the door to the very little in the way of argu- returning home, for this Colony ternational Conference held at vast treasures of Portuguese cul- ment to substantiate my claim and the very University were Utrecht
To- in August, 1948, the ture and literature, which must that this University has proved us intellectual birthplace
Rather have I ad-day he felt at home to talk. As Role of a Universi y" was one unit to only a mere nodding its worth.
there is a strong he was in a of the major subjects for diş- jou quaintance with
hurry he had no the teachingmitled that cusion. In the report on this lof French, and that not to
cuse against us, Why, in the fact time to prepare a speech. How- the Conference
of these admissions, do I still fever, he would like to id he found do gred stage? Are we
making
this University is certain questions which wert three important definitions. It the most of our
opportunities; maintain
worthy of continued support always put to him. He had defines " Unversity” as an in- when, situated as we are along-
The answer to this question Jies been asked these questions more catution of higher education de
le nation which has pri-
in the definition I gave you of a than thousand times, but voted to teaching and Le Caïch juured Nome of the World'
and legally entitled to confermente 1 philosophers, philosophy
University.
hitherto, had no opportunity to degrees; it deline.
He thought that many "higher | remains one of the minor sub-
The conception we in the "duration"
including 111
present would like to ask the tele of our Art.. Faculty? British Empire have of a universame question and to-day he teaching and related reseatele' this commercial capital of the ty, like many other things Bri- was in a position to provides for students who have Orend And in the second half of
tish, has undergone numerous The question was where And satifactorily completed an ap- the 20th century, Geography changes, some gradual, some how he
got his revolutionary proved course of secondary edu - merely a part-time subject, and cation, and it further defines Cleoloxy-taught not at all. We radical, through
He got the revolutionary (Contd. on Page 10, Col. 2) |
TAX
#Iswer,
the centuries, ideas?
"a student" as one who is mat-j take no official cognizance of the but our conception still retains
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