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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (Thursday) visited the Baptist University and held a dialogue with its students in the first of a series of visits to tertiary institutions in the territory.

Mr Tung was received on arrival by the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr Daniel Tse, and the Dean of Faculty of Science, Professor Ng Ching-fai. He then met with some 60 faculty members at a tea reception.

The Chief Executive took the opportunity of the visit to officiate at the foundation stone laying and time capsule ceremonies of the Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine Building and at the inauguration of the Jockey Club Academic Community Centre and the Jockey Club Centre for the Advancement of English for Professionals.

At the time capsule ceremony, Mr Tung inserted a CD-ROM containing useful air quality information of Hong Kong produced by the Environmental Protection Department.

"We do hope that when this Time Capsule is unearthed, Hong Kong people will be enjoying much cleaner air as a result of our efforts over the next few years," Mr Tung said.

The Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine Building, to be completed by the end of 2000, will bring under one roof all the facets involved in the development of Chinese medicine, including teaching, research and clinical practices.

Noting that this new facility will help enhance academic exchanges between Chinese and overseas experts and scholars, the Chief Executive said that the University's initiatives to establish collaboration with Mainland and overseas institutions and the Chinese Medicine industry were steps in the right direction.

Mr Tung expressed great interest as he took a close look at a variety of Chinese herbs on display at the Academic Community Centre. He was briefed on the features of the Chinese Medicine Programme run by the University.

Before concluding his visit, Mr Tung exchanged views with about 60 students on a wide range of topics. The students represented a number of academic programmes, including Chinese Medicine, environmental studies, education, communication, social sciences, translation, as well as exchange students and Student Union representatives.

Mr Tung encouraged the students to cultivate their abilities and contribute to our long-term goal to develop Hong Kong into a world-class city.

Photo: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, officiated at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Hong Kong Baptist University's Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine Building and inauguration ceremony of the University's Jockey Club Academic Community Centre and the Jockey Club Centre for the Advancement of English for Professionals. Picture shows Mr Tung performing the stone laying ceremony.

End/Thursday, November 11, 1999

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