The origin of our Department can be traced back to the late 1940s when New Asia College was founded. Although History had yet to become a separate teaching discipline, it constituted one of the most important areas of education and research conducted at that college because one of its founders, Professor Ch'ien Mu, was a renowned Chinese historian. During the next decade, both Chung Chi College and United College were established, adding further strength to the discipline of History in Hong Kong's higher education. Finally in the early 1960s, the three colleges merged to form the Chinese University. Their respective History teaching units embarked on a new path which followed the development of the new university. In 1986, Shaw College was also established in the University. Now more colleges have been set up on campus. Being largely a product of that process, the History Department has since evolved to its present state.