Chen Fong-ching of the Institute of Chinese Studies tells the tale that each of the three schools was different: "At New Asia they spoke Mandarin and revered Confucius; at Chung Chi they spoke English and put their faith in Christ; and at United they spoke Cantonese and made their ties to the local people."
這三所書院各有各的特色。「新亞是講國語、崇敬孔子的；崇基是講英文、信耶穌的；而聯合則是講粵語，與香港當地人打交道的」，中國文化研究所所長陳方正提起建校初期的傳說。