Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1979

Publication of A New Era Begins The Third Report of the founding Vice-Chancellor of this University, entitled A New Era Begins, 1975-1978, has recently been published. The three Reports, The First Six Years, 1963-1969, The Emerging University, 1970-1974, and A New Era Begins constitute a continuous and complete record of the University's establishment and development under the administration of the first Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Choh-Ming Li. The pattern of the University's growth has not been simple and linear. Out of the historic circumstances and official assumptions involved in its establishment, the University has developed dynamically, responding to the special needs of the Hong Kong community, to economic pressures, and, most importantly, to the motivating power of its own objectives and aspirations. The University has undergone three phases of development. The formative phase is from 1963 to 1969. Subsequent to the founding of the 'federal- type' Chinese University of Hong Kong from three existing private liberal arts colleges—Chung Chi College, New Asia College, and United College, organizational units at university level—graduate and professional schools, research institutes and centres, extramural studies—were established, exemplifying major institutional objectives which would increasingly shape the future development of the University. A magnificent 273 acres of land adjacent to Chung Chi College was acquired from the Government as the permanent campus site of the University. The second phase, covering 1970-1974, is a critical period of institutional development. The University progressed from an association of three independent undergraduate colleges to a complex organization providing undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, fostering research through a system of institutes and centres, and conducting extensive programmes of public service. In brief, a m o d em university. The third phase, from 1975 to 1978, is the period when the University is ushered into a totally new era. Implicit in the development of The Chinese University is a persistent question of the adequacy or the appropriateness of the original structure, policies, and administrative machinery to serve the present and future purposes of the University. To solve the problem, the University finally decided on a fundamen change in University policy and structure. This momentous change is a historic turn and has virtually laid a new foundation for future development. A New Era Begins This Report is largely concerned with the change undergone by the University during 1975-1978. Every aspect of the University's development is fully covered in the twelve Sections: I Continuity: The Enduring Goals of The Chinese University Addendum: On the Name of The Chinese University of Hong Kong II Change: The Reports of the Working Party and the Fulton Commission III Foundation for the Future: New Ordinance IV Student Life: Campus Organization and Services