Speech at the HKU Centenary Ceremony by Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor of HKU

港大校長徐立之在香港大學百年校慶典禮上的致辭

Vice Premier Mr Li Keqiang, Minister of Education Mr Yuan Guiren, Mr Chancellor, Distinguished Guests, Members of the HKU Family, Ladies and Gentlemen,

尊敬的李克強副總理，袁貴仁部長，校監先生，各位來賓，各位香港大學大家庭的成員：

Good morning!

早安！

And, on behalf of The University of Hong Kong, I would like to welcome you to the University this morning and, at the same time, thank you for coming to celebrate with us the University's Centenary.

我謹代表香港大學歡迎各位蒞臨本校，并多謝大家出席今天的百周年校慶典禮。

The last century has witnessed tremendous changes in Hong Kong, China and around the world, be it technological, economical, social or political.

回顧過去一個世紀，香港大學見證了香港、中國、以至全球，在科技、經濟、社會和政治方面翻天覆地的轉變。

The University has also moved with the times over the past 100 years and evolved from an institute with only three areas of studies to a comprehensive university of many disciplines. As members of the international academe, we share the global challenges at the forefront of higher education developments.

在過去這一百年，香港大學與時并進，由一所只有三個學院的教育機構，發展成為今日設有多元學科的綜合型大學。港大作為國際學術界一員，與同儕共同面對全球高等教育發展的種種挑戰。

Indeed, the birth of this first and foremost University was an important part of the history of Hong Kong and China. It was the result of the combined efforts of the two governments, in Hong Kong and in Canton (now Guangdong), despite the rather delicate Sino-British relations in the last years of the Qing Dynasty. It could have been an impossible dream, had it not been for those who believed in the need for a university in Hong Kong and the generosity of those who wished to see one built for China and the world.

作為香港的第一所大學，香港大學的誕生絕對是香港和中國歷史的重要一部份。雖然當時正值英國與晚清關系微妙時期，但在香港與廣東政府共同努力下，港大順利成立。當然，這個夢想最終能夠如愿以償，全賴一群深信香港需要建立一所大學的有識之士，以及一眾希望能夠為中國及世界建立一所優質大學的熱心人士的慷慨捐助。

The University of Hong Kong was formally established in 1911; however, it has been a constant debate among our alumni and the community at large as to whether the University should be dated back to 1887, the year when the College of Medicine for Chinese was established in Hong Kong. Adding to this debate was the famous quote from Dr Sun Yat-sen, one of the first graduates of the College: He said, "I feel as though I have returned home because Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong are the birthplace of my knowledge." That was what Dr Sun told the students in this great hall, back in 1923.

香港大學于1911年正式成立，然而，我們的校友與社會大眾經常討論應否追溯至1887年，以港大前身——香港西醫書院成立之時為始；尤其是該書院首屆畢業生孫中山先生，在1923年，就在這個大禮堂內，與學生所說的一番話，他說：“我有如游子歸家，因為香港與香港大學是我知識的誕生地”。

Despite these academic arguments, generations of scholars, students and alumni have so shaped HKU that it has gained a momentum of its own, transcending time and changes, as a university should. The enlightenment of teaching and learning at the University is now further enriched by the wealth of groundbreaking research. Our graduates have moved beyond careers in the civil service, to all sectors of society, and they have moved beyond Hong Kong.

盡管經常有這種學術爭論，但在歷代的學者、學生及校友的共同努力下，港大跨越了時間與轉變的考驗，成為一所充滿動力的學府。港大除了提供活潑的教學與學習環境外，亦已成為許多突破性研究的發展基地。我們的畢業生除加入政府服務或投身香港不同機構，在各個領域發揮所長外，還在海外開創事業，作出貢獻。

HKU remains a guardian of knowledge, an incubator of ideas and innovations, a cradle for new intellect and talent, and a pioneer in social consciousness and responsibility.

今天的香港大學一如既往，是知識的捍衛者、創意和創新的孕育者，是新進知識份子和人才的搖籃，以及社會良知和責任的先驅者。

Indeed, universities are among the most enduring institutions of any society; they are its soul and they bring hope.

誠然，大學是任何社會中最歷久不衰的機構，也是社會的靈魂，為人們帶來希望。

It is in this spirit that we celebrate our Centenary and look into the future. Let me elaborate this further, in three aspects.

我們秉持著這種精神和價值，來慶祝創校一百周年，展望港大的未來。在此，本人想從三方面加以闡釋。

First, despite variations of the relationship between Hong Kong and its motherland, the University of Hong Kong has never ceased to play its unique role in contributing to China's modernization. Apart from Sun Yat-sen, many alumni have contributed directly to the development of the Mainland in the past Century. In addition, HKU graduates have played essential parts in building the great modern metropolis of Hong Kong, which in turn has proved to be an asset to its motherland.

首先，縱使香港與祖國的關系微妙多變，但香港大學始終致力于推動中國走向現代化。除了孫中山先生之外，許多位卓越的校友亦曾為建設祖國貢獻良多。再者，港大畢業生對于建設香港這個現代化大都會一直不遺余力，亦間接成為了祖國發展的一大資產。

However, as China moves forward, HKU must assume the responsibility to play an even bigger role at a higher level, to support and fulfill the nation's economic and social needs HKU must see and establish itself as a key institution in China.

然而，隨著中國繼續向前邁進，香港大學亦將肩負更重要的使命，以迎合中國經濟和社會的發展需要。為達成此目標，港大應當視自己為中國的一所重要的學府，并在這方面奠定自己的地位。

Second, a hundred years ago, HKU was already an international hub for intellectuals, as most, if not all, of the teachers were expatriates and two-thirds of the students were non-Chinese. Notwithstanding fluctuations in the past century, HKU has retained its international outlook. We are privileged to have a great assembly of the finest scholars, brightest students and world citizens from diverse background and cultures, all under one roof.

第二，即使在一百年以前，港大已經是國際知識份子的匯集之地。我們的教師大部份為海外教授，而三分之二的學生為非華裔。盡管經歷百年的風云變幻，港大的國際定位始終不變。今天，我們匯聚了無數的優秀學者、精英學生以及擁有多元文化背景的世界公民，這些都成就了我們的優勢。