CUHK’s new V-C

Prof. Lau responds to students' challenges

Mass media turned up to report on Prof. Lau’s
first meeting with students and staff members
at the Chinese University. (Bernice Ha)

By Bernice Ha & Fung Ying

Prof. Lawrence J. Lau will be the new vice-chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong starting 1 July 2004.

However, because the search committee did not require Prof. Lau to hand in or publicize any document or policies, the public does not know what plans he has for the Chinese University.

Realizing this, Prof. Lau met students in four open forums one week before his appointment in order to express his views on issues currently confronting the university.

The students raised many questions at these meetings, but their queries were frequently answered with either neutral comments or “I don’t know”.

When challenged by students on his understanding of the history and structure of the university, Prof. Lau admitted he was still learning.

“I left Hong Kong 40 years ago. I don’t know what is happening in Hong Kong and the university. I need some time to catch up,” said the Kwoh-Ting Li Professor of Economic Development at Stanford University.

He added, “However, I don’t think the vice-chancellor has to manage every small detail of the school and know all the missions in detail.”

Although Prof. Lau was not able to provide answers to all the questions posed, he did express his opinions on some controversial issues.

“The Chinese University has great potential to become one of the best universities in the world,” said Prof. Lau.

“This is one of the reasons I’m interested in being the vice-chancellor.”

However, he admitted that achieving a world-class status would be difficult.

According to Prof. Lau, there are two criteria the Chinese University has to meet before it can achieve world-class status.

First, local students should strive to be fluent in both Mandarin and English within 10 years.

To achieve that, Prof. Lau said that biliterate and trilingual education should be introduced in the university.

“There should also be improvement in the language proficiency of the teaching staff,” he added.

Second, the university should re-assess the ratio of foreign students to local students at the Chinese University.

He gave an example of the student population ratio at the university he is currently teaching at. “Sixty percent of the students at Stanford University are not from California,” Prof. Lau said.

The figure for foreign students is significantly lower at the Chinese University. According to the Chinese University’s pro-vice-chancellor, the university has the largest number of exchange students in Hong Kong.

Said Prof. Cheng Chun Yiu, “About 700 undergraduate and 300 postgraduate exchange students are studying at our university.”

Despite that, they make up only 4 percent of the student population at the Chinese University. Prof. Lau wants to see that figure doubled.

“I hope the ratio of foreign students can increase from the existing 4 percent to 8 percent a year later,” Prof. Lau added.
Local students are worried that this plan might lessen the chances for them to get into the university.

They also complained that his plan would be unfair to them as well as taxpayers if foreign students pay the same amount in tuition fees as local ones.

Prof. Lau assured them by saying, “The university will charge foreign students a higher tuition fee than it does local students, because it is not the duty of Hong Kong to subsidize the former.”

Students suggested that his plan was too idealistic, given the keen competition from regional institutions. For example, the National University of Singapore also aims at being international.

Singaporeans have an advantage over Hong Kong students because they speak fluent English.

Undiscouraged, Prof. Lau said Hong Kong has its own advantages over the Lion City.

“First, people enjoy more freedom of speech and academic freedom in Hong Kong.

“Second, Hong Kong is more energetic.

“Finally, Hong Kong is a good place for foreigners to study Chinese society and culture.” Prof. Lau stressed that these factors should be attractive enough to persuade foreigners to enroll in programs in Hong Kong instead of Singapore.

However, the president of the Student Union at the Chinese University, Wayne Tsang, is skeptical of Prof. Lau’s goal to make the university world-class. He believes that the university does not have enough resources.

“Capital is important for language education,” Mr. Tsang explained.

“Unfortunately, the university is undergoing a budget cut. Thus the goal is impractical.

“The possibility may increase if the University merged with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology successfully, although I don’t agree to the merger,” Mr. Tsang said.

Prof. Lau did not provide his views on the merger issue.

“I will consult all parties, such as students, professors and the University Council, and study the matter carefully before making a final decision on the merger matter,” he said.

Prof. Lau added that the merger should be carried out only if it can benefit the Chinese University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Hong Kong.

Mr. Tsang said that Prof. Lau’s answer was unspecific.

Pan Kin Ho, president of the United College Student Union at the Chinese University, is also worried that the merger might destroy the uniqueness of the university, especially the college system.

Prof. Lau guaranteed that he would uphold the uniqueness of the university if the merger succeeded.

He said the college system is traditional and valuable and should be retained.

“The college system provides a good platform for small seminars and tutorials, enabling students to learn more intensively and effectively,” he added.

The budget cuts now facing universities in Hong Kong are another issue that concerns students.

Prof. Lau explained that it is difficult for the Hong Kong government to maintain the existing budgets of universities when it faces a financial deficit, but he would try his best to strive for more resources for the university.

A staff member in the Department of Government and Public Affairs at Chung Chi College expressed his opinions in one of the forums.

He criticized the university for providing insufficient resources for departments to develop small seminars and tutorials.

To finance the expenses of tutorials and seminars, Prof. Lau suggested that colleges raise their own funds or use their existing resources.

Mr. Tsang criticized him for not providing more concrete solutions.

“He does not understand the financial situation of the universities in Hong Kong,” he said.

With regard to the distribution of resources to the different faculties and departments, Prof. Lau said that the budgets allocated should not be the same.

“Every institution has its strong fields. More resources should be given to those departments,” he said.

He added that the departments can generate revenue for themselves and those resources could be used for subsidizing other departments.

Not only will the budget cuts and the distribution of resources affect the quality of education, but also the duration of the undergraduate program.

Prof. Lau is in favor of changing the program from 3 years to 4 years.

“A 4-year university curriculum is a better option.

Students have limited time for studying general education if they need to complete their major courses in 3 years,” he said.

“Besides, students can elect different subjects other than their majors.

“To get in line with counterparts in the world, this change is a must.”

He said that it should be done as soon as possible.

Prof. Lawrence J. Lau (left) answers questions from students at the Chinese University. Seated beside him is the current vice-chancellor of the Chinese University, Prof. Ambrose King. (Fung Ying)

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