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

港大校长徐立之在香港大学百年校庆典礼上的致辞

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

尊敬的李克强副总理，袁贵仁部长，校监先生，各位来宾，各位香港大学大家庭的成员：

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.

我谨代表香港大学欢迎各位莅临本校，并多谢大家出席今天的百周年校庆典礼。

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

回顾过去一个世纪，香港大学见证了香港、中国、以至全球，在科技、经济、社会和政治方面翻天覆地的转变。

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.

在过去这一百年，香港大学与时并进，由一所只有三个学院的教育机构，发展成为今日设有多元学科的综合型大学。港大作为国际学术界一员，与同侪共同面对全球高等教育发展的种种挑战。

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.

作为香港的第一所大学，香港大学的诞生绝对是香港和中国历史的重要一部份。虽然当时正值英国与晚清关系微妙时期，但在香港与广东政府共同努力下，港大顺利成立。当然，这个梦想最终能够如愿以偿，全赖一群深信香港需要建立一所大学的有识之士，以及一众希望能够为中国及世界建立一所优质大学的热心人士的慷慨捐助。

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.

香港大学于1911年正式成立，然而，我们的校友与社会大众经常讨论应否追溯至1887年，以港大前身——香港西医书院成立之时为始；尤其是该书院首届毕业生孙中山先生，在1923年，就在这个大礼堂内，与学生所说的一番话，他说：“我有如游子归家，因为香港与香港大学是我知识的诞生地”。

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.

尽管经常有这种学术争论，但在历代的学者、学生及校友的共同努力下，港大跨越了时间与转变的考验，成为一所充满动力的学府。港大除了提供活泼的教学与学习环境外，亦已成为许多突破性研究的发展基地。我们的毕业生除加入政府服务或投身香港不同机构，在各个领域发挥所长外，还在海外开创事业，作出贡献。

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.

今天的香港大学一如既往，是知识的捍卫者、创意和创新的孕育者，是新进知识份子和人才的摇篮，以及社会良知和责任的先驱者。

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

诚然，大学是任何社会中最历久不衰的机构，也是社会的灵魂，为人们带来希望。

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

我们秉持着这种精神和价值，来庆祝创校一百周年，展望港大的未来。在此，本人想从三方面加以阐释。

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，纵使香港与祖国的关系微妙多变，但香港大学始终致力于推动中国走向现代化。除了孙中山先生之外，许多位卓越的校友亦曾为建设祖国贡献良多。再者，港大毕业生对于建设香港这个现代化大都会一直不遗余力，亦间接成为了祖国发展的一大资产。

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，随着中国继续向前迈进，香港大学亦将肩负更重要的使命，以迎合中国经济和社会的发展需要。为达成此目标，港大应当视自己为中国的一所重要的学府，并在这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，港大已经是国际知识份子的汇集之地。我们的教师大部份为海外教授，而三分之二的学生为非华裔。尽管经历百年的风云变幻，港大的国际定位始终不变。今天，我们汇聚了无数的优秀学者、精英学生以及拥有多元文化背景的世界公民，这些都成就了我们的优势。