College to remove ideology

THE teachings of Dr Sun Yat-sen could be dropped or not be made compulsory at the Taiwan-affiliated Chu Hai College to reduce the political nature of the institution, its new president said yesterday.

Professor Chan Shu-park said: 'The national flag will not be flown and the national anthem will not be sung.' He said his first main job was to remove the ideological flavour of the college in the run-up to 1997 and work out a three-year plan to strengthen its academic status.

Professor Chan, 65, who fought with the Nationalists against the Chinese communists, is succeeding Professor Leung Wing-sun, who died in October.

Professor Chan is a son of the late college's founder, Chan Chai-tong, who was a Kuomintang party senior military officer and fought against the Communist Party for more than 30 years.

The college, founded in 1947 in Guangzhou, has been receiving sponsorship from the Taiwan Government, which issued degree certificates to graduates. The qualifications are not recognised by the Hong Kong Government.

All college students have to study the Thoughts of Sun Yat-sen, such as his theories and the Three Principles of the People, which prescribe guidelines for ruling China.

The Taiwan national anthem is sung during ceremonies at the college such as graduation or celebration of the Double 10th. Two Taiwan national flags remain in the campus hall.