Bulletin No. 2, 2016

Education is Always on My Mind 33 more university places available in the eight funded universities, and efforts should also be made to leverage on the degree and associate degree programmes offered by the non-funded colleges. This way the opportunity for tertiary education can be offered to a greater number of aspiring young adults who can realize their potentials to become useful members of society. This in turn will improve the quality of the citizenry and the human capital of Hong Kong. W hen and how did you begin your public services? Soon after I began practising as a solicitor I had begun to do some pro bono work. My legal training had instilled in me an objective and analytical mindset and a logical approach to problem-solving and I made good use of my legal experience in litigation and commercial law by helping people of small means to solve their legal problems. Long before the days of the legal aid scheme, I as a young solicitor was already providing free legal advice at the Hong Kong Council of Social Service in Wanchai to needy people. I had also worked with the late Brook Bernacchi QC in fighting legal battles for the causes of the poor and underprivileged people on complimentary basis. H ow are your first 100 days as CUHK Chairman? My assumption of chairmanship couldn’t have coincided with a more eventful time of the University. I was immediately thrust into the torrent of events which demanded my immediate attention, including the search for a new Vice-Chancellor and taking appropriate actions in response to the recommendations of the UGC (University Grants Committee) report on university governance. I made plans to reactivate and reconstitute the Executive Committee of the Council, draft a code of practice for Council members, and will lead the Council members in overseeing the execution of the University’s strategic plan for the next five years. There is also the milestone project of the CUHK Medical Centre. Thanks to all the Council members, the Council committees and the university administration, all of the above are being well handled and making remarkably good progress. During this period I had also met Officiating at the kick-off and toasting ceremony of Faculty of Medicine’s 35th Anniversary Gala Dinner (25 September 2016)