Bulletin Number One 1985

Address by Dr. Ma L i n Mr. Pro-Chancellor ， Ladies and Gentlemen, The year 1984 has been a most unusual year. For those of you who are graduating today, this is the year when, having finished your undergraduate studies, you will start working life or venture into specialized advanced studies. Whatever your choice, this is an important milestone in your life, and all of us present - y o u r teachers, relatives, honoured guests o f the University and myself included — will want to congratulate you on reaping the rewards of four years of hard work and wish you a bright and propitious future. For Hong Kong, this is the year when its own future is being decided, and its fate reaches a turning-point. From this point onward, Hong Kong will have to gradually evolve from its present mode of governance into a position at which it can , step by step, take on the responsibility of managing most of its own affairs. Naturally, such a major change with effects reaching into every single family would generate a great deal of discussion and speculation. The fact of the matter is, the real significance and result of this change will probably not be known for another five, ten or even many more years to come. If we cast our sights further and look at the whole of China, it will be seen that 1984 is undoubtedly a crucial year for China as well. It has now been decided that the reforms which have proved successful in the countryside would be introduced in the cities and in the industries, and that the experience gained from the Special Economic Zones would be extended to fourteen coastal cities; it has also been announced that the entire economic structure, including price, wage, monetary and managerial systems, is now to be overhauled. Will these major and far-reaching reforms be really carried through and thus lead to stable, rapid progress and bring long sought prosperity? Or will they yet once again run aground in policy shifts? This must be a question which is constantly being asked by everyone in Hong Kong, including our colleagues and our students who are graduating today. In fact , it may be said that the future of all of us here and the future of Hong Kong as well have become closely intertwined with the destiny of China. If that is so, then at this crucial moment it is of importance that Chinese intellectual s in Hong Kong should carefully re-examine their attitude and reassess their responsibility in relation to Hong Kong and China, and that is what I propose to discuss here today. During the past two years, many Hong Kong people in all walks of life have spoken out on the future of the Territory, in particular what it s future socio-economic-political system should be like. Many views and suggestions have been put forward, most of them advanced in the interest of safeguarding the present rights of the local people and preserving existing systems and institutions. Many of these views have subsequently been incorporated into the Sino- British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong. Therefore, although legally the future of Hon g Kong has been decided at the negotiating table between the Chinese and British Governments, in actual fact the efforts of the Hong Kong people to fight for their rights through voicing their views have no t been wasted. This is an experience from which we all should take heart. Hong Kong will soon be faced with yet more major political issues, as for example, the development of representative government and the formulation of the Basic Law of Hong Kong. Given the valuable experience that has been acquired, our people will no doubt gain political maturity in due course, and learn to view these issues in long-term perspective and cope with them by more suitable and effective means. I fully believe our interests would be in good hands. Still, many far-sighted people have pointed out that whatever the prescription for Hong Kong's future political system, it will be unrealistic to expect that its actual operation and development can be isolated from major political trends in China. Therefore, to care for the long-term interest of Hong Kong, one really cannot afford t o confine one's attention 2 NEWS