12 September 2007

Dear Senate Members,

In February 2005, I appointed the Committee on Bilingualism to review CUHK's language policies and make recommendations on how CUHK should uphold its long-cherished policy of bilingualism and formulate long-term plans to enhance bilingual education to meet the challenges facing the University.

The Committee issued a draft report on 7 September 2006, and conducted extensive consultations over a ten-week period. Views were sought from the boards of faculties/schools, boards of departments, teachers, staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders. Five briefing sessions and six consultation sessions were held. Committee members also had in-depth discussions with front-line teachers and alumni who had expressed special concern about particular aspects of the draft report.

Subsequently, the Committee held five more meetings over a period of months, and the Committee members worked long and hard, debating and taking into account all points of views put forward. I thank the Committee, most of whose members having been nominated by the Faculties, student bodies, the University Council and the Convocation, and particularly Professor Ambrose King, the Chairman of the Committee, for all their efforts. The hard work resulted in sufficient consensus within the Committee that the revised Report was adopted without dissent and without any minority opinion expressed.

I have carefully studied the Report submitted to me, and am pleased to note the shared commitment to bilingual education at CUHK. The Report has placed emphasis on the challenges facing the University in the twenty-first century, in particular the diversity and internationalization of higher education. It sets forth with clarity and cogency CUHK's policy on the language of instruction and its implementation. Bilingual education is a unique advantage that CUHK enjoys, and is important to our further excellence in teaching, research and community service. In fostering a bilingual university of international excellence, we shall at the same time be contributing to the care and nurture of Chinese language and culture.

The report of the Committee on Bilingualism has my full endorsement. It reaffirms the importance of bilingual education, which we have cherished since the founding of the University more than four decades ago. With a broad and long-term perspective it offers a set of forward-looking and strategic principles that align with the unique linguistic environment of Hong Kong. I wish to thank once again all members of the University, and the Committee on Bilingualism in particular, for their invaluable views and ideas which have contributed immensely to this report.

The report will be presented to the Senate at its October meeting. In view of the length of the report and its significance, a copy is attached for your early perusal.