Bulletin Spring 1977

Prof. Hsing Mo-Huan Q. The Chinese University of Hong Kong is only 14 years old and the history of its Graduate School is even shorter. As the new Dean of the Graduate School, you must have formulated plans for its continuous development. A. Our Graduate School was established in 1966 ， and student enrolment has increased from 31 to this year's 189. Although we cannot say the School's development has been rapid within these 11 years, we can rightly claim a steady growth. To ensure its continued development and raising of standard, we shall recruit more experienced teachers and visiting professors, improve research facilities and build up the book collections. Two other points I wish to make are:- (1) We shall adhere to the principle of "quality rather than quantity" when con sidering the addition of new divisions. In other words, if we do not have adequate staffing and facilities for a certain subject, we should never venture to set up a new division merely for prestige. By the same token, any division whose teaching strength is affected by the departure of staff should suspend enrolment of new students until the overall strength is im­ proved. On the other hand, if we do have adequate personnel and facilities, we may not only initiate Master's programmes but also Ph.D. programmes. (2) We shall gradually raise the entrance re­ quirements of all divisions and demand of the students a higher standard of per­ formance. Our students must not be just up to par: they must excel. Only then can we gain the respect of the international academic community. To help upgrade the quality of the graduate students, all divisions should involve them in the on­ going research projects of the research centres or units concerned to the fullest extent possible. Q. Is the location of Hong Kong at the crossroads of East and West an advantage for the develop ment of the Graduate School? A. Because of Hong Kong's locational advantage, the Graduate School attracts more readily visit ing scholars to teach in the various divisions in the humanities and social sciences ； and in recent years, the number of foreign students applying for admission to these divisions has increased continuously. This trend is no doubt favourable for the development of these divisions and further contributes to the interflow of eastern and western cultures. Even with the divisions in the natural sciences, where the 'area' element is by and large less pronounced, the variegated life styles in Hong Kong as a result of cultural inter flow may also offer attractions to many visiting scholars from foreign countries In general, how ever, only when the divisions themselves are sound and well-established can we take full ad vantage of the favourable geographical situation for further development. Q. Are the teaching strength and research facilities adequate for the Graduate School's develop ment? A. Although it is the University and Polytechnic