Speech by HKU President Xu Lizhi at HKU Centennial Celebration
20 1 1 August 18
Mr. Li Keqiang, Deputy Prime Minister of the State Council:
Mr. Yuan Guiren, Minister of Education,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Distinguished guests:
Members of the HKU family,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning!
Good morning!
This morning, on behalf of the University of Hong Kong, I would like to welcome you to the University of Hong Kong and thank you for coming to celebrate the centenary of the University of Hong Kong with us.
On behalf of the University of Hong Kong, I would like to welcome all of you to our school and thank you for attending today's centenary ceremony.
The last century witnessed great changes in Hongkong, China and other parts of the world, whether in science and technology, economy, society or politics.
Looking back on the past century, the University of Hong Kong has witnessed earth-shaking changes in science, technology, economy, society and politics in Hong Kong, China and even the whole world.
In the past 100 years, this university has also kept pace with the times, developing from a college with only three research fields to a multidisciplinary comprehensive university. As members of the international academic community, we are facing global challenges at the forefront of the development of higher education.
Over the past century, HKU has kept pace with the times, from an educational institution with only three colleges to a comprehensive university with multiple disciplines today. As a member of the international academic community, HKU, like other countries, is facing the challenge of global higher education development.
In fact, the birth of this most important university is an important part of the history of Hongkong and China. Although the Sino-British relationship was quite delicate in the late Qing Dynasty, it was the result of the joint efforts of the governments of Hong Kong and Guangzhou (now Guangdong). Without the generosity of those who believe that Hong Kong needs a university and those who want to see the establishment of a university for China and the world, this may be an impossible dream.
As the first university in Hong Kong, the birth of the University of Hong Kong is definitely an important part of the history of Hong Kong and China. Although the relationship between Britain and the late Qing Dynasty was in a delicate period, HKU was successfully established with the joint efforts of the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments. Of course, this dream can finally come true thanks to the generous donations of a group of people of insight who firmly believe that Hong Kong needs to build a university, and a group of enthusiastic people who want to build a quality university for China and the world.
The University of Hong Kong was formally established1911; However, our alumni and the whole society have been debating whether universities should be traced back to 1887, the year when Hong Kong College of Chinese Medicine was founded. Dr. Sun Yat-sen, one of the first graduates of the college, once said a famous saying, which made this debate more intense: He said, "I feel at home, because Hong Kong and Hong Kong University are the cradles of my knowledge." This is what Dr. Sun said to the students in this hall on 1923.
The University of Hong Kong was formally established on 19 1 1. However, our former students and the public often discussed whether it should be traced back to 1887, starting with the establishment of the Hong Kong College of Western Medicine, the predecessor of the University of Hong Kong. In particular, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the first graduate of the college, said a word to the students in this auditorium at 1923. He said, "I feel like a wanderer, because Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong are the birthplaces of my knowledge."
Despite these academic debates, generations of scholars, students and alumni have shaped HKU so much that it has gained its own motivation, surpassing time and change, just as a university should do. A lot of pioneering research has further enriched the enlightenment of university teaching. Our graduates have gone beyond the career of civil servants and entered all sectors of society, and they have also left Hong Kong.
Although there are frequent academic debates, with the joint efforts of scholars, students and alumni, HKU has stood the test of time and change and become a vibrant university. In addition to providing a lively teaching and learning environment, HKU has also become a development base for many breakthrough research. Our graduates not only join government departments or different institutions in Hong Kong to give full play to their advantages in various fields, but also start their careers overseas and make contributions.
HKU is still the guardian of knowledge, the incubator of ideas and innovation, the cradle of new knowledge and talents, and the pioneer of social consciousness and responsibility.
Today's University of Hong Kong, as always, is the defender of knowledge, the incubator of creation and innovation, the cradle of new intellectuals and talents, and the forerunner of social conscience and responsibility.
In fact, universities are one of the most enduring institutions in any society; They are its soul. They bring hope.
It is true that universities are the most enduring institutions in any society, the soul of society and bring hope to everyone.
It is in this spirit that we celebrate our centenary birthday and look forward to the future. Let me further elaborate this point from three aspects.
With this spirit and value, we celebrate the centenary of our school and look forward to the future. Here, I want to explain it from three aspects.
First of all, although the relationship between Hong Kong and the motherland has changed, the University of Hong Kong has never stopped its unique role in contributing to the modernization of China. In addition to Dr. Sun Yat-sen, many alumni have directly contributed to the development of the mainland in the past century. In addition, HKU graduates have played an important role in the construction of Hong Kong as a modern metropolis, and Hong Kong is also the wealth of the motherland.
First of all, even though the relationship between Hong Kong and the motherland is subtle and changeable, the mission of HKU to promote China's modernization has always been the same. Besides Dr. Sun Yat-sen, many outstanding alumni have also contributed a lot to the construction of China. In addition, HKU graduates spare no effort to build Hong Kong into a modern metropolis and indirectly become a great wealth for the development of the motherland.
However, with the development of China, HKU must take responsibility and play a greater role at a higher level to support and meet the country's economic and social needs. HKU must see and establish its important position in China.
However, as China continues to develop, HKU will shoulder a more important mission to meet the needs of China's economic and social development. In order to achieve this goal, HKU should regard itself as an important university in China and establish its position in this respect.
Secondly, a hundred years ago, HKU was already an international center for intellectuals, because most (if not all) teachers were foreigners and two-thirds of the students were not from China. Despite some fluctuations in the past century, HKU has maintained its international vision. We are honored to have a great gathering. The best scholars from different backgrounds and cultures, the smartest students and the citizens of the world are all under one roof.
Second, even a hundred years ago, HKU was already a gathering place for international intellectuals. Most of our teachers are overseas professors, and two thirds of the students are from China. Although changes have taken place in the past century, HKU's international status has not changed. Today, we have gathered countless outstanding scholars, elite students and world citizens with multicultural backgrounds, which have made our advantages.
This international composition has gone far beyond the original heritage, making us an unusual test case of the most international organization in the Chinese community on the land of China. In an increasingly globalized world, HKU also has a clear responsibility to further communicate with China and the world and promote the internationalization of higher education in China.
Under the rich historical background, this international community has made us the most international university in the Chinese community in China. In this era of rapid globalization, HKU undoubtedly plays the role of a bridge, which promotes the communication between China and the world and will also promote the internationalization of higher education in China.
Thirdly, we cannot pretend that we live in a stable and peaceful world. We face natural disasters, energy shortage, global warming, emerging infectious diseases, recurrent epidemics, man-made accidents, unstable economic crisis, sudden social unrest and unwanted wars almost every day. We know that some of them are inevitable, so we must try our best to use our scientific knowledge and technological progress to reduce or learn to overcome their influence. However, for completely avoidable problems, we have the responsibility to maintain sustainable development and support the restoration of human values.
Thirdly, we must understand that the world we live in is not stable and peaceful. Every day, we are faced with natural disasters, energy shortage, global warming, sudden infectious diseases, recurrent large-scale epidemics, man-made accidents, unpredictable economic crisis, sudden social unrest and heartbreaking war disputes. We know that the above problems are inevitable sometimes, which is why we should try our best to alleviate and overcome them with scientific knowledge and brand-new technology. However, for avoidable problems, we do have the responsibility to strive for sustainable development and defend the reconstruction of human values.
In this regard, we would like to thank the founders of HKU for their wise choice of this outstanding university-Wu Ge University.
To this end, we thank the founding fathers of HKU for their motto "Mingde Wu Ge".
Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to switch to Chinese for a while.
"Mingde" and "Wu Ge" are the motto of HKU. Both languages come from the "University" in the Four Books, which is the Confucian theory of "cultivating self-cultivation, governing the country and leveling the world". Simply put, Hong Kong college students need "Mingde" to show their innate aboveboard virtues and carry them forward to others. At the same time, we must have the basic work of "studying things" in order to study the principles of things and pursue profound knowledge. From "respecting things" and "knowledge" to "being wise in the world" is not only the truth of reading, but also the truth of being a man.
So we are very grateful to the school motto of the sages-"Mingde" and "Wu Ge"; This principle is not only applicable to the past 100 years of HKU, or 5000 years of China culture, but also of great significance to the present and future of the global village. The Latin motto of our school (Homo sapiens and Virtus) is also translated from Chinese.
Ladies and gentlemen, I just explained the source of our motto of HKU, which comes from a classic university in China. Although it is beautifully translated into Latin: Sapientia et Virtus, which means wisdom and virtue, in English, this translation can only capture part of the essence of the original text.
Ladies and gentlemen, just now I roughly analyzed the motto of the University of Hong Kong in Chinese, which comes from the universities in the Four Books. Although it has been translated into the beautiful Latin Homo sapiens and Virtus, that is, the English Wisdom and Virtue, this translation may still not fully grasp the essence of the original text.
In any case, we celebrate our centenary birthday against the background of wisdom and virtue. The dimension of "knowledge, heritage and service" represents our multi-role mission, that is, to become a knowledge center for learning and research, a cultural crossroads where East and West meet and the past illuminates the future, and a service platform for universities to cultivate global citizens and their own communities.
Today, we celebrate the centenary of our school, which is to carry forward the true meaning of "Mingde" and "Wu Ge". We show the mission and task of the university with "knowledge, inheritance and service": strive to become an academic hub for learning and research; Converging eastern and western cultures and connecting the past and the future; Establish a service platform that cultivates international citizens and is cherished by the society.
When we celebrate, we can't help asking ourselves: What do we cherish? HKU is a society that cherishes openness, pluralism and freedom, which have become our core values. These values make us a pluralistic and harmonious community, composed of people from different backgrounds and cultures. The same values also liberate the intellectual potential of scholars and students, thus releasing the energy necessary to maintain and promote a vibrant academic excellence community.
On this centennial anniversary, let's reflect, what are HKU's core values? HKU represents a society that values openness, multiculturalism and freedom. These values are closely related to HKU's core values. These values enable people from different cultural backgrounds to build a diverse and harmonious community. It is precisely because of these values that the intellectual potential between scholars and students has been released, which has injected great strength into the community of tireless pursuit of academic achievements.
Ladies and gentlemen, the University of Hong Kong has made a modest start. It is the hard work of all members of HKU family, including our staff, students and alumni, as well as the unremitting support of the government and the whole society, especially the donors and partners who believe in our cause, that has made us achieve today's achievements on the international stage.
Ladies and gentlemen, the University of Hong Kong was founded in Qianwei. Its success comes from the efforts of every member of HKU family, including the constant encouragement and support of our teachers and students, alumni, the government and the public, and especially thanks to each of our donors, who not only agree with our goals, but also enable us to stand proudly on the international stage today.
As the world continues to change, HKU will continue to develop, and we are committed to being at the forefront of human development. We aim high and will never compromise on quality, morality, social responsibility and human values. We look at the world and position ourselves on the national and international stage. This will be our vision of pursuing Excellence, our desire for freedom, our dedication to students' learning and our commitment to society, which will guide us through the next 100 year.
The world is changing rapidly, and HKU will keep pace with the times and strive to become a pioneer in the process of humanistic development. We have set lofty goals here, and we cannot compromise on truth-seeking, morality, social responsibility and humanistic care. We will establish national and international positioning with international thinking. Looking forward to the future, we will strive for perfection and stride towards another 100 year with the belief of adhering to freedom, teaching wholeheartedly, cultivating talents, inheriting wisdom and contributing to society.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to end my speech with the following Chinese poem:
Finally, I want to end with the following poem:
The road is blue, leading to the open forest;
Born bitter, nursery bitter;
Mingde Wu Ge, a century-old inheritance;
The door wall is full of peaches and plums, and the future is bright.
Please let me thank you again for coming to the centenary of Hong Kong University today!
Thank you very much.
thank you