XN000022-1976-09-24 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1976

BACKGROUND

THE COMMISSION UPON WHOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THE BILL IS BASED WAS APPOINTED BY THE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IN NOVEMBER 1975. ITS CHAIRMAN WAS LORD FULTON OF FALMER, FORMERLY VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX AND CHAIRMAN OF THE 1963 COMMISSION, WHOSE REPORT HAD LED TO THE FORMATION OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY. THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WERE SIR MICHAEL HERRIES, A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, AND PROFESSOR C.K. YANG OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, WHO HAD SERVED FOR TWO YEARS AS A VISITING PROFESSOR AT THE

CHINESE UNIVERSITY. THE COMMISSION ASSEMBLED IN HONG KONG FROM 5 TO 12 DECEMBER 1975 TO HEAR EVIDENCE FROM PERSONS ASSOCIATED CLOSELY WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND THE COLLEGES. AN OPEN INVITATION WAS ISSUED TO SUBMIT MEMORANDA FOR THE COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATION. THE COMMISSION'S REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE CHANCELLOR ON MARCH 10 AND PUBLISHED ON MAY 28.

IN A STATEMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL ON MAY 28 SIR MURRAY ANNOUNCED THAT, BECAUSE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD REQUIRE LEGISLATION, HE HAD TAKEN THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. IN THE LIGHT OF THE COUNCIL'S ADVICE THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT FOR A REVISED CONSTITUTION. A WORKING GROUP COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT AND THE UNIVERSITY WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SET UP TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE REPORT. THIS WORKING PARTY HAS PREPARED THE DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS ON WHICH THE BILL IS BASED.

FURTHER ACTION

THE BILL IS PUBLISHED AT THIS STAGE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION AND TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERESTED PARTIES TO MAKE THE IR VIEWS KNOWN TO GOVERNMENT OR TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IT IS THE INTENTION TO INTRODUCE THE BILL INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLY NEXT SESSION.

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