港大畢業生議會的角色、理想及承擔

港大校友會the Alumni Association比畢業生議會Convocation的歷史更早。1958年港大成立畢業生議會。當年，港大校友會是一個貴族階層的社交組織，甚至當中的一些會員不是港大畢業生。

第一章……理想

1973年港大畢業生議會主席發言-"namely: the Alumni Association to foster social intercourse amongst its members, and Convocation being a statutory body to concern itself in the more formal aspect of University polices, etc."  。

歷史

畢業生議會成立初期一直受其地位、成員人數、參與積極性等問題困擾。議會在1960年的第二次會議上討論了兩個議案，分別為會員資格和男女同工同酬。

爭取擴大會員資格

1957年的大學條例中有關畢業生議會的會員資格為：graduates of the University of such standing as shall be determined by the Council.

1962年港大副校Professor Stock 發言時感嘆， ( No speaker is impressed by a half empty hall and poor attendance does not reflect any credit on this University and its Convocation)

1966年畢業生議會通過動議。

 Motion: That it is considered desirable that all graduates of the University should become members of Convocation upon their graduation; and that the University be urged to put this recommendation into effect as soon as possible.

在1969年1月，畢業生議會成功爭取修改規則：

港大畢業生當然地成為畢業生議會的會員；69年之前的舊生只要一次過以25元注冊，便可以永久會員。

爭取議會地位

在1961年的第三次會議上， Sir Douglas Logan 致詞，他的主題是，畢業生議會如何可以在大學事務中發揮功能。

This factor refers to the very limited scope conferred on Convocation by the University Statues, resulting in the very restricted type of activates which Convocation can "legally" involve itself in.

1962年港大副校 Professor Stock以畢業生議會的角色、理想及承擔為題在畢業生議會的周年大會發言。他表示，1959年的主席的開場白是，這一命題應不必向在座者演譯，但Professor Stock相信不是。

Professor Stock：“Many of the graduates of the University of Hong Kong  now occupy positions of importance and distinction in the Colony and elsewhere…..for example of the Alumni of the great American universities who regard it as a solemn obligation to help their Alma Mater ……In this regard, it is perhaps significant that Convocation was formed for you rather than by you.”

“You have a mandate to discuss University affairs; in the words of the Staute ，any matter whatsoever relating to the University including any matter referred to it by the Senate or the Court"。

他對畢業生的勉勵是“If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well. If it is not worth doing well, it is not worth doing at all.”

1967年校大副校Mr. James B Gibson， Mr. James B Gibson同樣地鼓勵畢業生關心和參與港大發展。For Convocation to fulfil its statutory function it must be well informed ……Convocation is not only a point of crystallisation for feelings of old affection but a body through which our graduates can contribute to the vitality of the University and enhance the respect in which it is held , by their lively support.

畢業生議會在1971年通過議案，要求修改大學條例，擴大畢業生議會的功能。它要求有自己的憲章。當時的畢業生議會只有會議常規( standing order )。

在1972年，畢業生議會通過其憲章。 The House adopted unanimously the motion" That this House adopts the new Constitution & Rules of Convocation as drafted by the lawyers and approved by the Standing Committee of Convocation".

1973年畢業生議會主席發言， “In the past your Standing Committee was always frustrated by the over-simplification and vagueness of that part of the University Statues which pertained to Convocation. In fact, it was so generalized that it could even be said that the actual powers and authorities of Convocation are either ill-defined or non –existed. ”

1977年，畢業生議會只有8千成員，每年約增加1千人，按此速度，目前只有5萬4人。但議會目前有16萬2千成員。

第二章----角色

權力

根據法例，畢業生議會的部份權力為：

1. 產生15名成員出任校董(特首只能委任20位校董)；

2. 討論任何與大學有關的事宜，並向校董會、校務委員會或教務委員會提交報告；

3. 就任何影響大學的事宜，與校董會、校務會或教務委員會直接溝通。

代表性

規程XXVIIA-規程XXVIIB

畢業生議會

1. (1) 畢業生議會由以下成員組成─

(a) 校監、校長、首席副校長、副校長、司庫、各學院院長、學生事務長及教務長；

(b) 大學的講座教授、教授、副教授、助理教授、高級講師、講師、助理講師、導師及助教；

(c) 按照校務委員會所訂規例註冊的大學畢業生。

(2) 獲頒授名譽學位的人士不得僅因此而得以出任畢業生議會成員，但可由畢業生議會推選其為成員。

現實

Report on the Future of The University of Hong Kong

The Standing Committee HKU Convocation

October 2012

「The functions of the Court According to the Niland Report, “The purpose of the Court should be cast as representing the wider interests of the communities served by the University , including its alumni.

The Court meeting was usually conducted in haste within an hour, with the Vice-Chancellor making a general progress report of the University in that year, which lasted from half-an-hour to forty-five minutes. The remaining time was almost all spent on the routine approval of the audited accounts and the making, repeal or amendments of statutes.

 It appears that the Council Chairman is accountable to the Chief Executive. However, it is doubtful whether such should ever be the case, as accountability thus established can compromise the academic autonomy and freedom of the University.」

主席的角色

6. 畢業生議會亦可按主席的指示召開會議，並須應最少20名成員的書面要求而召開會議。

ALTERATIONS IN STATUTES AND REGULATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY

62. The opinion of Convocation on the draft of any new Statute or Regulation which may be communicated to it by the Court shall be submitted to the Court through the Chairman of Convocation, who shall for this purpose transmit to the Vice-Chancellor a report of the meeting of Convocation at which the opinion was expressed signed by him and counter-signed by the Clerk.

63. Whenever Convocation shall desire to petition the Chancellor to withhold his approval of the whole or any part of any new Statute or Regulation made by the Court, a resolution shall be passed authorising the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Convocation (or one of them if the other is unable to act) to sign, and the Clerk to countersign, the Petition for and on behalf of Convocation.

第三章----承擔

從因港大副校長任命風波而延伸至校友層面的2015年9月1日港大畢業生議會的特別會員大會始，至2016、17、18的校友關注組參選畢業生議會常務委員會至今，校友關注組有責任向畢業生議會解釋，其參選理念為何？為其堅守港大百年基業的實質內容為何？是否認同Sir Douglas Logan 、Professor Stock、Mr. James B Gibson的遺訓，準備秉承1960年畢業生議會第二次會議兩個議案的精神，不單止 Empowerment 港大舊生、教職員，民主參與校政，還關心社會公義。讓社會明白 ，港大舊生銘記“Many of the graduates of the University of Hong Kong  now occupy positions of importance and distinction in the Colony and elsewhere”的責任。

可是，我們從港大條例及其規則中看到，畢業生議會的憲政地位雖然十分微薄，它的啟動來自其主席，因而主席一職由誰當選是港大民主化的關鍵，如果我們相信參選畢業生議會可以推動港大民主化的話。

若然，請告訴我們，校友關注組的路線圖為何？