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The award ceremony for the fifth “Literary CUHK” essay competition was held online on 27 February by the Chinese Language Teaching Development Centre (CLTDC) of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature (the Department) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Prof. Alan K.L. CHAN, Provost of CUHK, Prof. Max Xiaobing TANG, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Prof. Sze Wing TANG, Chair of the Department, officiated at the ceremony. More than 400 submissions were made at the review stage. After nearly half a year of collecting and reviewing entries, awards were presented to 24 outstanding articles.

Contestants are encouraged to illustrate the appealing campus sceneries and unveil stories of CUHKers. The winning entries cover a wide spectrum of theme including the use of campus banyan tree in an association of ideas to retrieve the childhood memory of getting along with family members; the author’s affection for and memory of CUHK reviewed through the changes in the New Asia College Ch’ien Mu Library; discussing the importance and necessity of accepting sexual minorities in the area of philosophy and religion, by recalling author’s conversation with her mother. The award-winning works demonstrate the humanistic spirit of CUHK with good expression of personal thoughts on life and society, and criticism with reason and compassion.

Prof. Alan Chan noted in his welcome speech, “In difficult times, we live in new feelings. As we depart from the familiar, comfortable way of life, we view things with new feelings, new understanding, and new inspirations. With language, we refine and register our thoughts and emotions. Reading is listening; Creativity is voicing out.” It echoes the goals in organising “Literary CUHK”, which are to promote literary creation in campus and encourage students to coalesce views they might have on the scenery or community of CUHK. Literature can be a medium to express how they see CUHK, and this form of reflection can be projected further into society.

Prof. Max Tang commented in his speech, “For me, the greatest joy and reward is to read multiple submissions altogether. I heard different voices made from different perspectives.” The winning submissions are rich in content, each with a unique standpoint and perception. Awardees are from various faculties and departments. Literature belongs to everyone who feels connected with the University, not only limited to a particular group of people.

During the ceremony, adjudicators Prof. Po Chung CHOW from the Department of Government and Public Administration, Prof. Sin Piu FAN from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, CUHK, and Dr. Yui TONG from the Department of Humanities and Creative Writing, Hong Kong Baptist University exchanged their experience of creative writing with students.

“University Chinese” is a compulsory course for all undergraduate students at CUHK, offered and managed by the Department. To motivate students’ interest in learning Chinese Language, the Department has edited and published teaching materials for students by combining the unique historical background and environmental features of CUHK. This includes a collection of selected literary works about CUHK, known as “中大．山水．人文” (CUHK, Landscape, Humanities). Campus literary walks are also organised to encourage students to feel the power of literature. The CLTDC has organised “Literary CUHK” for all students and alumni every year since 2015 to arouse their interest in creative writing in Chinese and to enhance their observation and expressive skills through the writing competition. It is believed that the power of literature will pass through the ages and shine uniquely in the young generation.

More Information on “Literary CUHK” activities is available at the Learning Chinese Outside Classroom webpage at https://www.chltcac.cuhk.edu.hk/culitrecentnews.