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Professor Rocky S. Tuan assumed office as the eighth Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) today (1 January 2018).  He addressed all students, staff and alumni by an open letter as follows: 

Dear Students, Colleagues and Alumni,

On this very first day of the new year, let me wish all of you a very happy and healthy 2018!

As this is also the first day of my term as the Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, I would also like to make a few personal wishes.

I am deeply honoured to serve as the eighth Vice-Chancellor and President of this great University.  While my first acquaintance with CUHK dates back to my youth, the beauty of the campus has always remained vivid in my memory. 

In my recent involvement with CUHK in the last two years, specifically related to my area of scientific research, I have developed further appreciation of the strength and character of the University.  I am particularly impressed by the scholarly accomplishments, cutting-edge research advances, and dedication of teachers, staff, and students.  I have come to deeply respect the founding principles, mission, and core values of the University.  As the Vice-Chancellor and President, it is my solemn and first-order duty to both uphold this glorious legacy, and lead the University in a progressive and disciplined manner to achieve its strategic objectives.

I wish that I will soon have the pleasure to meet and know you, individually or collectively, and learn about your activities at CUHK and your views on the future development of CUHK.

I wish success for our students and staff from all the Colleges, Faculties and other academic, research and administrative units to continue to excel in their scholarship and service.

I wish to engage more CUHK alumni of all ages and from diverse sectors and locales, to become more involved in enabling the realization of the mission of the University.  CUHK has a distinguished alumni body, whose number and achievements are comparable to those of the world’s best universities, and I believe their engagement will be a powerful force to enhance the global stature and impact of the University.

A friend, who is also a university president, once told me that a university president’s chief responsibility is to serve, not to be served.  His words have stayed with me, and this is indeed my promise at the commencement of my office – “I will serve”.  I will serve the CUHK community, and will lead by example and with an open mind, respecting everyone’s opinion and right to agree to disagree.

I look forward to working with all of you to advance the mission of CUHK.  With your support, together we will develop and transform CUHK into a world-class education institution of the highest order.

Very sincerely,

Rocky S. Tuan

Vice-Chancellor and President