Much of course has changed in that time. Hong Kong is no longer the little colony it was back in 1910; our country is no longer ruled by an Emperor.

What hasn't changed, though, is the University's vision to contribute to the advancement of society and the development of leaders.

Throughout the years, the University of Hong Kong has remained an institution that embodies freedom, diversity and integrity; has embraced interaction with the world; and has instilled in different generations of students a sense of mission and a willingness to accommodate new ideas, face new challenges and undertake new ventures.

130k+ graduates nurtured

Since its foundation, HKU has grown side by side with our city. It has nurtured more than 130,000 graduates, many of whom have become leaders in their various fields; it has contributed to the social, cultural and economic development of our society; and, it has engaged in pioneering research that has put Hong Kong on the world map.

These achievements would not have been possible without the concerted efforts of academics, students, Council members, and all those who have given support to the university. The recent ranking of HKU as "No. 1 in Asia" could not have come at a more appropriate time and is indeed the best reward for all who have helped build the university's commitment to excellence over the past 100 years.

Knowledge recognises no borders. Since the College of Medicine era, this university has become home to scholars and students from every corner of the globe. Whether they settle here, or move on, their presence has enriched the academic life at HKU, and the networks of alumni and faculty is a lasting source of inspiration.

Networking strengths

These networks have made HKU all the stronger, to the benefit of our students and Hong Kong as a whole.

I admire the vision of our predecessors, and I urge you to keep pushing the boundaries of excellence that has become a hallmark of HKU. In the same vein, the Government has stepped up efforts to develop Hong Kong as a regional education hub.

We will achieve this through the internationalisation and diversification of our higher education sector; through better promotion; by maintaining a robust quality assurance regime, developing a healthy self-financing sector, and with the unwavering support of our excellent publicly-funded institutions. The University of Hong Kong has a vital role to play in this important process.

High hopes for future

At the foundation stone-laying ceremony 100 years ago, Governor Frederick Lugard said that the beginnings of this University are, and I quote, "the nucleus of what will some day be a great and beneficent institution whose proportion will transcend and exceed our scheme of today, as much as the completed building will transcend and exceed this small and comparatively insignificant block of granite".

Today, as we lay the foundation stone for a new campus, we are also cementing in place our high hopes for the future of this university. I am sure this state-of-the-art campus will provide another solid foundation for HKU to pursue its vision as a university of Hong Kong, for Hong Kong and by Hong Kong.

I am sure that it will continue to contribute to the development of our nation, and of global academic endeavour. I am also sure it will achieve many great things that will exceed and transcend what any of us here could conceive today.

Let us all be torch bearers of this great mission to advance society and mankind with Wisdom and Virtue, Sapientia et Virtus, as the Latin motto of this great university suggests.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang gave this speech at the Centennial Campus Foundation stone-laying ceremony at the University of Hong Kong.