Source: SYSU News Center
Written by: SYSU News Center
Translated by: Zhang Chentao, Bai Yang
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On November 12, 2013, the 89th anniversary of SYSU, the presentation of Outstanding Achievement Award for Distinguished Alumni to Professor Luk Ching-Wu and cultural relics donation ceremony was held in Swasey Hall on South Campus. Executive Deputy Secretary and Vice President Chen Chunsheng, Deputy Secretary Li Ping, Chief Librarian Cheng Huanwen, Director of the President’s Office Chen Wangnan, Executive Dean of the School of Business Li Zhongfei, leaders from Maoming and Xinyi, Professor Luk Ching-Wu’s hometown, his relatives and friends, teacher and student representatives from related departments and schools of SYSU attended the ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Deputy Secretary Li Ping.

Before the ceremony, President Xu Ningsheng had a cordial meeting with Professor Luk Ching-Wu in the special storage room of cultural relics donated by Mr. Luk Ching-Wu in Sun Yat-sen University Library, and expressed sincere thanks for his donation to SYSU. President Xu Ningsheng also invited Professor Luk Ching-Wu to come back to the alma mater and continue to support the development of the alma mater.

Executive Deputy Secretary and Vice President Chen Chunsheng introduced Professor Luk Ching-Wu’s life, education and academic achievements as well as the relations between the Luk family and SYSU. He pointed out that the donated calligraphies and paintings not only have high artistic value, but also possess high value in academic research due to the historical identities of the authors. He said that the historical and cultural significance of the award ceremony has surpassed the ceremony itself, displaying SYSU alumni’s spirit of pursuing excellence and SYSUers’ dedication to teaching, students and learning. He hoped that all faculty, students and alumni will be motivated and united and strive to build SYSU into a world-class university with extensive international influence, where the humanities, sciences, medicine and engineering can integrate and develop while retaining their distinctive characteristics.

Deputy Secretary Li Ping announced the congratulatory letters from SYSU Alumni Association, Guangzhou Alumni Association of Lingnan University, Xinyi Municipal Government, Taiwan Affairs Office of Maoming Municipal Government, Guangzhou Pui Ching Middle School, Professor Luk Ching-Wu’s relatives and friends in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, the USA and Canada, the Luk Clan Association and other units and individuals, extending warm congratulations on Professor Luk Ching-Wu’s outstanding achievements and highest respect for Professor Luk Ching-Wu’s generous donations.

After receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award for Distinguished Alumni from Executive Deputy Secretary and Vice President Chen Chunsheng, Professor Luk Ching-Wu was deeply touched. He recalled the unforgettable time of pursuing knowledge at SYSU over half a century ago, saying that he was enlightened and influenced profoundly by the university motto “study extensively, enquire accurately, reflect carefully, discriminate clearly and practice earnestly” written by Dr. Sun Yat-sen and his encouragement for students to “be determined to do big things and not to become high-ranking officials”. Professor Luk Ching-Wu said: “The young and middle-aged ‘sacrifice’ their enjoyment, and when they get old, they can enjoy the fruits of their ‘sacrifice’. There is no regret when the worthy disciple excels his masters. I am all happy inside.” He emphasized that the twenty-first century is the century of Asians and a new era of strong Chinese influence. The young generation shoulders the arduous and glorious mission of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Therefore, the young, middle-aged and old generation should join hands and strive to achieve the shared Chinese dream.

Professor Liang Zhongying, representative of Professor Luk Ching-Wu’s relatives and friends, Professor Zhan Junchuan, representative of the faculty of School of Business, Associate Professor Zhao Xinyuan, representative of Professor Luk Ching-Wu’s students, also delivered speeches to express their gratitude.

Professor Luk officially donated twenty-two pieces of thirteen kinds of precious calligraphies and paintings out of his personal collections. Executive Deputy Secretary and Vice President Chen Chunsheng accepted the donations on behalf of SYSU. Chief Librarian Cheng Huanwen introduced these cultural relics. The calligraphies and paintings were all the original handwritings or paintings of renowned statesmen, forerunners and scholars in the Republic of China period. The donations included calligraphies, landscape paintings and photos whose contents were related to Professor Luk Ching-Wu’s father, a revolutionary forerunner. These were the historical witness of his deep friendship with the forerunners and members of the Chinese Revolutionary League.