CUHK Holds 3-Day Graduation Ceremony Duan Chongzhi Calls on Students to Value Friendship and Kindness "Together in the Dark"

The Chinese University of Hong Kong will hold its graduation ceremony for three consecutive days starting today (24th). Barriers will no longer be set up at the entrance. Graduates and guests are free to enter and leave CUHK for the first time in three years.

The ceremony started smoothly at 10:00 in the morning. Some graduates felt "fresh" when they returned to campus again, and some graduates said that they were happy to graduate today because of the impact of the epidemic.

In his speech, Duan Chongzhi, President of CUHK, mentioned that friendship and kindness are two important values. He shared the author's speech to the graduates: "I would rather walk with a friend in the dark than walk alone in the light. (I would rather walk with a friend in the dark than walk alone in the light. Friends walk in the dark together, and I don’t want to walk in the light alone)” and “Always practice random acts of kindness.”

CUHK held a graduation ceremony for conferring degrees today. The general assembly ceremony started at 10:00 am.

At about 9:30, graduates, relatives and friends arrived one after another, and took a special bus at the entrance of CUHK near the subway station to the ceremony venue.

There is no registration checkpoint at the entrance of CUHK, and it seems that guests and graduates are “freely” entering and leaving CUHK for the first time in three years.

Students do not need to register to enter the CUHK campus to feel fresh

Mr. Li, a master of arts graduate, said that he felt fresh about being able to go in and out "freely" today, as if he was "going back to before the epidemic". The relevant arrangements also prevented him from having to explain the procedures of entering CUHK to his relatives and friends.

He also pointed out that recently, he feels that the campus is harmonious, but he is worried that some people will cause trouble because of different political views and prejudice against CUHK.

At about 10 o'clock, the graduation ceremony of Baiwan Avenue officially began, and the national anthem was played on the spot.

Ms. Guo, a recent graduate of the medical school, said that due to the epidemic, she has not returned to school for a long time, and it has also affected many internships in hospitals. Thinking of her studies in the past few years, she said, "I am very happy to finally graduate." But Since she was already working in a hospital, she admitted that she did not pay attention to the changes in the atmosphere on campus, but felt that at the graduation ceremony, everyone was very happy to return to campus and graduate together with other students.

Another graduate who majored in cultural management, Mr. Xu, also said that he didn't notice any changes in campus security, and asked, "What changes?" While waiting to enter the venue, he said he only felt nervous and looking forward to it.

Joseph Sung was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws

At the CUHK Graduation Ceremony, five persons were awarded honorary doctorates by the Chairman of the Council of the University. One of them, Joseph Sung, the seventh President of CUHK, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws.

Graduates should equip themselves Knowledge is power

CUHK President Duan Chongzhi delivered a speech mainly in English, mixed with Cantonese and Putonghua.

In particular, he mentioned that CUHK equips graduates with critical thinking skills, and believes that they can cope with the increasingly complex world.

He also mentioned that knowledge is power and hoped that students would make positive changes.

During his speech, he read "Integrating China and the West" in Mandarin and Cantonese, reminding the graduates not to forget their origins, and also recalled the "Bo Wen Yue etiquette", saying that graduates can always call CUHK their home, and hope that they will make the world and Society becomes a better place.

He concluded by reminding the graduates to be kind and ending with Irish blessings: "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Quoting Helen Keller's words, hope students cherish friendship

In his speech in Cantonese, Duan Chongzhi pointed out that graduates will become CUHK alumni tomorrow, but they will always consider CUHK as their home. He hoped that students would cherish the friendship of CUHK. profound impact on the world.

At the end, he shared with the graduates that friendship and kindness are two important values.

He quoted Helen Keller, a famous American writer, who believed that friendship is like this and reminded graduates to cherish friendship.

I would rather walk with a friend in the dark than walk alone in the light. Helen Keller (American writer Helen Keller)

Duan Chongzhi calls on students to take kindness as the principle of life

As for kindness, Duan Chongzhi believes that it represents elements such as empathy, understanding of others, consideration, and caring for others. He believes that graduates should take kindness as the principle of life, and also refers to "Always practice random acts of kindness." Students are expected to try and practice.

Always practice random acts of kindness. Duan Chongzhi, President of Chinese University

During the graduation ceremony in 2020, more than 100 people marched on campus and many people were arrested afterwards

During the graduation ceremony of CUHK the year before last, there were more than 30 graffiti in several colleges, including United, Chung Chi, New Asia and Sin Hang. More than 100 people marched in the campus.

After the National Security Department of the police took over, they sent a large number of police officers to the campus of CUHK to investigate and collect evidence.

From December of the same year to February of last year, 9 people were arrested for illegal assembly, and 4 of them were also suspected of "inciting secession".

Flash mob of last year's graduates: 'We graduated, but they couldn't'

Until last year's graduation ceremony, straight banners such as "Return my student self-government" once appeared on the campus, and some graduates displayed the slogan "Sorrow me for CUHK", and distributed white ribbons and leaflets to the graduates. The application was blocked on grounds.

Many other graduates flashed cards on Million Avenue. The names of CUHK university students who were sentenced for participating in the anti-extradition law movement were printed on the cards. One of the cards read "We graduated, but they couldn't".

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