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**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。

This international composition, which has grown well beyond the original legacy, has made us the unusual test case of being the most international institution within a Chinese community on Chinese soil. In an increasingly globalised world, HKU also has a clear responsibility to further bridge China and the world, and to facilitate the process of internationalization of higher education in China.
在丰富的历史背景下，这个国际化的社群，令我们成为中国领土上华人社群中最国际化的学府。在这个全球化发展一日千里的世代，港大毫无疑问地担当着桥梁的角色，推进中国与世界沟通，亦将推动中国高等教育走向国际化。

Third, we cannot pretend that we are living in a stable and peaceful world. We face natural disasters almost everyday, energy shortages, global warming, emerging infectious diseases, recurring epidemics, man-made accidents, precarious economic crises, abrupt social turmoil and unwanted wars. We know that some of these are unavoidable, so we have to do our best to mitigate or learn to overcome their effects with our scientific knowledge and technological advancements. For the entirely avoidable ones, however, we have a responsibility to safeguard sustainable development, and to champion the restoration of human values.
第三，我们必须明白，我们身处的世界并非稳定和平。我们每天面对不断发生的天灾事故、能源短缺、全球暖化、突如其来的传染疾病、一再发生的大型疫症，再加上种种的人为意外、难以预料的经济危机、突发的社会动乱，还有令人扼腕的战乱纷争。我们知道上述种种问题，有时无可避免，正因如此，我们更应当凭科学知识和崭新科技，尽力减轻和克服这些问题。可是，对于能够加以避免的难题，我们确有责任争取可持续发展，捍卫人文价值的重建。

In this respect, we have to thank HKU's founders for their wisdom in choosing the brilliant university motto "mingde gewu".
为此，我们为港大创校先贤留给我们“明德格物”这句校训心存感恩。

Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to switch to Chinese for a moment.
“明德”、“格物”是香港大学的校训。二语都出自“四书”中的《大学》，是儒家“修身齐家治国平天下”的学说。简单来说，港大学生需要“明德”，使与生俱来的光明皎洁的德性，彰显出来，并将它发扬光大，推己及人；同时，又必需要有“格物”这个基本工夫，来穷究事物的原理，追求渊博的知识。从“格物”、“致知”，到“明明德于天下”，不只是求学的道理，也是做人的道理。所以我们很感谢先贤给我们的校训–“明德”、“格物”；这个道理不只是适用于过去港大的一百年、或者是中华文化的五千年，在今天和将来的地球村更是意义重大。而我们校训的拉丁文版本（Sapientia et Virtus）也是从中文翻译过去的。

Ladies and gentlemen, I just explained the origin of our HKU motto, which came from the Chinese Classic Great Learning. Although it was beautifully translated into Latin: Sapientia et Virtus, meaning wisdom and virtue, in English, the translation could only capture part of the original essence.
各位来宾，刚才我用中文粗略解析港大校训内容，是源自“四书”中的《大学》，虽然译成优美的拉丁文Sapientia et Virtus，即英文的wisdom和virtue，但这个翻译也许仍未能完全捕捉原文的神髓。

In any case, it is in the context of wisdom and virtue that we celebrate our Centenary. The dimensions of "knowledge, heritage and service" represent the missions of our multiple roles to be a knowledge hub for learning and research, a cultural crossroads where East meets West and the past illuminates the future, and a service platform where the University nurtures global citizens and is itself nurtured by the community.
今日我们庆祝创校一百周年，就是要发扬“明德”、“格物”的真义。我们以“知识、传承、服务”来展示大学的使命和任务：努力成为学习与研究的学术枢纽；荟萃东西文化以承先启后；建立一个培育国际公民，并为社会所珍惜的服务平台。

Amidst our festive celebrations, we could not help asking ourselves: What do we treasure? HKU is a community that cherishes openness, diversity and freedom, which have evolved into our core values. These values have made us a pluralistic and harmonious community of people from various backgrounds and diverse cultures. These same values have also liberated the intellectual potential among academics and students, and have hence unleashed the energies essential for sustaining and advancing a vibrant community of academic excellence.
值此百年校庆，让我们反思一下，港大的核心价值在于什么？港大代表着一个重视开放思想、多元文化和崇尚自由的社群，这些价值均与港大的核心价值紧扣。这些价值让来自不同文化背景的人，能够建立一个多元而和谐的社群。正因为建基于这些价值观，释放了学者与学生之间的知识潜能，为孜孜不倦追求学术成就的社群注入了巨大的力量。

Ladies and Gentlemen, the University of Hong Kong had modest beginnings. It has been the hard work of all members of the HKU Family, which includes our staff, students and alumni, and the unfailing support of both the Government and the community at large, especially our donors and partners who believe in our cause, that have brought us to where we are today in the international arena.
各位来宾，香港大学创始于谦微。它的成功来自港大这个大家庭的每一位成员，包括我们老师和学生的努力，校友、政府和广大市民的不断鼓励支持，尤其要感谢我们每一位捐助者，他们不但认同我们的目标，亦让我们能够昂然立足于今日的国际舞台上。

As the world continues to change, HKU will continue to evolve, and we are committed to keeping ourselves at the forefront of developments of humankind. We aim high, and tolerate no compromise in quality, ethics, social responsibility, and human values. We think globally, and position ourselves in the national context and the international arena. It will be our vision for excellence, our aspiration for freedom, our devotion to student learning. and, our commitment to society that will guide us through the next 100 years.
世界瞬息万变，香港大学将会与时并进，致力作为人文发展进程的先驱。我们谨此订立崇高的目标，对求真、道德、社会责任、人文关怀，不容一丝妥协。我们会以国际思维，建立全国性与国际性的定位。放眼未来，我们将致力追求卓越，并以坚执自由、尽心教学、培育人才、传承智慧、贡献社会为信念，昂首阔步，迈向另一个100年。

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to end my remarks with the following Chinese verse:
最后，我希望用以下诗句作结：
筚路蓝缕，以启山林；由来淬砺，种圃艰辛；明德格物，百载传承；门墙桃李，奋翮前程。
请让我在这里，再次谢谢各位今天来临参加香港大学的百年校庆典礼!

Thank you very much.
谢谢！