Bulletin Vol. 7 No. 3 Nov 1970

to them will come the far greater reward in the satisfaction of contributing towards the broadening of human knowledge and above all, of securing the general advancement of social welfare. 1 should believe i t has not been lost on them that education at the high level, such as they have obtained at the University, cannot fail to cultivate those qualities in intellect which are essential for the assumption of leadership, whether it be in arts or sciences, in business or politics. It is therefore fortunate that Government gave timely recognition t o the importance of enlarging the scope and range of higher education. The concrete expression of this policy was the creation and development of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, thanks t o the ceaseless guidance and encouragement of His Excellency. It is gratifying that the seed sown not long ago has already begun to bear fruit. One may say that the extension of top-level education was initiated with singular foresight at a time of rapid industrial expansion in the sixties, when nearly everyone was preoccupied with attaining ambitious targets i n the pursuit of business. But as economic expansion accelerated, a gap has appeared between the growing needs of the community for the technically trained on the one hand, and the slow increase in the supply of such personnel on the other. It is apparent that this gap has steadily widened. This is clearly a problem of the highest priority in the seventies, because international trade is being handled with increasing sophistication, and manufacturing plants are being equipped to an increasing extent with more up-to- date machinery and instruments of great complexity. If we are to stay competitive in world markets, it is essential that every rung on the ladder of technical education be adequately strengthened, from the lowest to the highest. The problem would appear to call for a shift of emphasis in educational policy so as to match the rapid growth of all important sectors of the community, notably industry and commerce. But this would in no sense mean a policy reversal. It is simply that the developing economic situation points to the need of complementing the present system with a measure that is geared to general heightened temp o of activities as evidenced by rapid industrial and trade expansion. The new policy objective reflects the sense in what is sometimes aptly described as a proper balance between liberal and practical education. It is therefore reassuring to recall that the adoption of this line was in fact indicated by His Excellency in the Legislative Council over a year ago, when he announced the need of expanding facilities for technical education. This change i n emphasis was most timely, as the pace of progress, particularly in industry and commerce, had far outstripped the rate of extension of facilities for providing an ample supply of technicians at all levels. Hopefully, this timely shift in emphasis will bring about the fullest utilization of the one precious resource and practically the only resource in our possession, the human resource. If it is developed in time to satisfy our growing technical and managerial requirements through the urgent build-up of a balanced educational system, we shall have a strong economic potential, and a very important one, with which we can hope to maintain the vigour of our economic growth. 1 assume we would all agree that basically only an invigorated economy can form a solid and dependable base for the further extension of activities in public as well as private sectors of the community. Having taken advantage of this opportunity to make these observations, I shall now propose a toast to the future success of the new Graduates, and to the achievement of even greater success of our Honorary Graduates. V i s i t o f Ov e r s e a s C o u n c i l M e m b e r s The Rt. Hon. Lord Fulton of Falmer, Dr. Clark Kerr and Prof. C.H. Philips visited Hong Kong in October 1970 to attend a Council Meeting on 15th October and the Eleventh Congregation for the conferment of honorary degrees and other degrees on 16th October. During their stay, Lord and Lady Fulton, Dr. and Mrs. Kerr, Prof, and Mrs. Philips were invited to a reception given by His Excellency the Governor Sir David Trench at Government House on 14th October. They were also guests of honour of Dr. the Hon, Sir Cho-Yiu Kwan, Chairman, and Dr. R.C. Lee, Vice-Chairman of the University Council, and some prominent members of the local community. Besides touring the University's campus site in Shatin, they met with members of the University's Administrative and Academic-Planning Committee and Deans of Faculties at the Benjamin Franklin Centre. — 4 —