Campus Digest

HKBU celebrates its 57th anniversary

27 Mar 2013

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(From left) Professor Albert Chan; Mrs. Doreen Chan; Dr. Hari N Harilela; Mr. Cheng Yan-kee and Mrs. Pamela Chan officiate at the ceremony to celebrate HKBU's 57th anniversary
Students from the Department of Music perform “Samba Reggae” to celebrate the University’s birthday

HKBU held a Founders’ Day Reception yesterday (26 March) to celebrate its 57th anniversary. Around 260 guests attended the Reception including its Court and Council members, Consuls General, donors, staff, students, alumni and friends of the University.  

The officiating guests included Dr. Hari N Harilela, Honorary Chairman of the Harilela Group; Mr. Cheng Yan-kee, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Mrs. Pamela Chan, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Mrs. Doreen Chan, Treasurer of the Council and the Court of HKBU; and Professor Albert Chan, President and Vice-Chancellor.  

At the ceremony, Dr. Harilela expressed his appreciation of HKBU’s efforts in promoting excellence in education and becoming one of the most important universities in the region. He said he has had a long cherished relationship with HKBU and would continue to support the University.  

Mr. Cheng Yan-kee thanked the various departments of the University and HKBU’s supporters for their dedicated efforts in ensuring the smooth implementation of plans to welcome the double cohort under the 3-3-4 academic reform. He also expressed his gratitude to the staff, students, alumni and supporters of HKBU for supporting the opposition to the rezoning of the former Lee Wai Lee campus site to build luxury apartments. He said their action has demonstrated their profound care for the future of Hong Kong’s higher education sector and has given the University the energy and determination to move forward.  

Delivering his vote of thanks, Professor Albert Chan highlighted the University’s success in enhancing its research strengths in specialised fields. This included the inauguration of the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, which has been set up for the purpose of understanding and preserving Chinese cultural heritage, and the HKBU Changshu Research Institute in the Changshu Economic Development Zone of Jiangsu province which will open next month to further boost the research and knowledge transfer programmes of the University. Professor Chan also thanked the friends of the University for supporting HKBU’s opposition to the rezoning of the former Lee Wai Lee campus site as this site is very important to the University’s future development.  

At the Reception, Mr. Cheng and Professor Chan presented certificates of appreciation to several donors who made significant donation pledges to the University. Their support to HKBU has facilitated the University’s continuous drive for advancement.