Press Release

HKBU holds 70th Anniversary Launch Ceremony to commence exciting year-round celebration activities

Monday, 23 March 2026

 

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) held its 70th Anniversary Launch Ceremony today (23 March), with over 300 guests, faculty, students, alumni, and friends of HKBU gathering on campus to commence a series of diverse and exciting celebration activities throughout the year.

Founded in 1956 as a post-secondary college, HKBU has strived relentlessly to strengthen and innovate its teaching and research, developed and expanded its campus continuously, been retitled as a university in 1994, and established the Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University in Zhuhai in 2005. Committed to upholding the heritage of Christian higher education and students’ whole person development, HKBU has transformed into an esteemed institution recognised for its excellence in teaching and learning, research, and service to the community.

The Anniversary Launch Ceremony was graced by the presence of Mr Sun Shangwu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Dr the Hon Starry Lee Wai-king, President of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the Government of the HKSAR; and Mr Tim Lui, Chairman of the University Grants Committee, as guests of honour. They joined Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court; Dr Sunny N C Chai, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court; and Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, in celebrating the important milestone of the university's 70th anniversary with the HKBU community.

Dr Kennedy Y H Wong welcomed all the guests to the launch ceremony. He pointed out that as HKBU celebrates its 70th anniversary, its progress must also be viewed within the broader national landscape. He said: “The country’s aspiration to becoming a leading nation in education by 2035, together with the emphasis in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan on ‘investing in people’ as a driver of sustainable development, highlights the pivotal role of universities in nurturing talent and strengthening national capacity. HKBU can contribute meaningfully to building an international hub for high-end talent and a world-class centre for education and innovation. HKBU is committed to playing its part in this shared endeavour.”

In her address, Dr Choi Yuk-lin said that: “HKBU has grown into one of Asia’s leading universities, renowned for its whole-person education and growing global impact. Seven decades of unwavering faith and perseverance have laid an outstanding foundation.  And innovation, talent and strategic direction are now taking the University to new heights.  I have every confidence that HKBU will give full play to its strengths for contribution to power China’s rise as a leading country in education by 2035.”

Professor Alex Wai stated that the past 70 years have been filled with milestone achievements and transformations, with all credit going to the entire HKBU community. He said: “Along the way, we built and expanded our campus from scratch to a compact but sophisticated landmark in Kowloon Tong and other sites of the city; we broadened our mission in talent cultivation with the establishment of the School of Continuing Education and HKBU Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School; we extended our education impact beyond the territory with the pioneering move of establishing the Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University in Zhuhai; and we materialised our pledge to people’s wellbeing by operating The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong. Our quest for impact will continue to drive us ahead.”

The HKBU 70th anniversary thematic video was premiered at the launch ceremony. It featured over 30 HKBU faculty, students, alumni, Council members, senior management members, and representatives from the university community. In the video, the seven colourful stripes in the HKBU 70th anniversary logo representing the university’s seven Faculty and Schools as well as its diverse and rich campus culture were turned to a virtual colourful ribbon. The ribbon travelled through landmarks on campus, witnessing HKBU’s development journey from the founding of Hong Kong Baptist College in 1956 when it was housed temporarily at Pui Ching Middle School, the change of its Chinese name to “香港浸會學院” in 1972, and its retitling as a university in 1994. The fluttering ribbon also symbolised HKBU's unwavering commitment to its motto "Faith and Perseverance"; dedication to education, research and service to the community; and the preservation of its invaluable heritage to create a shared future.

The event also featured videos with blessings from former and current Chairmen of the Council and the Court, including Dr Lau Wah-sum, Dr Moses M C Cheng, Dr Wilfred Y W Wong, Dr Cheng Yan-kee, Dr Clement C J Chen, and Dr Kennedy Y H Wong; as well as emeritus and current President and Vice-Chancellors, including Dr Daniel C W Tse, Professor Ng Ching-fai, Professor Albert Chan, Professor Roland Chin, and Professor Alex Wai. They shared their profound memories and reminiscence at HKBU, and encouraged the HKBU community to continue to strive for excellence.

After the ceremony, the HKBU campus was transformed into a vibrant celebration reception. Talented students and alumni presented a variety of captivating dance, music, singing, and magic performances at the Yim Tsui Yuk Shan Plaza. The Time Tunnel on the Li Promenade allowed visitors to review the University’s development journey and remarkable achievements over the past 70 years.

Short videos showcasing the touching stories of three HKBU alumni’s enduring bonds with their alma mater were premiered today. They included "Building a Dream Campus" featuring Ir Siu Man-po, former Director of Estates of HKBU, who shared his journey from being a student, an assistant lecturer, before becoming a campus builder who participated in the proud construction of the Shaw Campus; “A Witness of History” featuring Ms Jeannette Ma, Assistant Librarian of HKBU, who recounted her return to her alma mater after graduating from the Department of History, and leading the Special Collections and Archives in organising and preserving university archives to safeguard HKBU's precious history; and "Intergenerational Succession" featuring Professor William Leung Wing-cheung, former Treasurer of the Council and the Court of HKBU, who shared his story of meeting his wife as a classmate in the Department of English, and his daughter’s enrolment to HKBU’s Department of English Language and Literature many years later.

Taking this opportunity, HKBU faculty, students, alumni, and friends from various sectors gathered to reminisce about their cherished memories while studying or pursuing knowledge on the HKBU campus, and recounted the university's milestone achievements in education, research and contributions to society in the past seven decades. The occasion also served as a demonstration of solidarity in support of HKBU's future development.

To celebrate its 70th anniversary, a variety of exciting academic, ceremonial and community engagement events will be organised by HKBU and its faculties and departments throughout the year. The latest information on these celebration events will be continuously updated on the "Hong Kong Baptist University 70th Anniversary" thematic website (https://70.hkbu.edu.hk/en.html).

Videos shown at the Launch Ceremony can be viewed on the “HKBU 70th Anniversary” website: https://70.hkbu.edu.hk/en/gallery.html

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Mr Sun Shangwu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (middle); Dr the Hon Starry Lee Wai-king, President of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR (3rd right); Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the Government of the HKSAR (3rd left); Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU (2nd right); Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU (2nd left); Dr Sunny N C Chai, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU (1st right); and Mr Tim Lui, Chairman of the University Grants Committee (1st left), officiate at the HKBU 70th Anniversary Launch Ceremony.
(1st row) Mr Sun Shangwu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (middle); Dr the Hon Starry Lee Wai-king, President of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR (3rd right); Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the Government of the HKSAR (3rd left); Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU (2nd right); Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU (2nd left); Dr Sunny N C Chai, Deputy-Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU (1st right); Mr Tim Lui, Chairman of the University Grants Committee (1st left); (2nd row) Dr Wang Weiming, Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (4th right); Mr Kevin Liem, Treasurer of the Council and the Court of HKBU (1st left) pose a photo with former Chairmen of the Council and the Court of HKBU including Dr Wilfred Y W Wong (4th left), Dr Cheng Yan-kee (3rd left), Dr Clement C J Chen (2nd left), as well as Presidents Emeritus Professor Ng Ching-fai (3rd right), Professor Albert Chan (back 2nd right) and Professor Roland Chin (1st right).
In his welcome remarks, Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, says HKBU can contribute meaningfully to building an international hub for high-end talent and a world-class centre for education and innovation.
In her speech at the ceremony, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the Government of the HKSAR, said HKBU has grown into one of Asia’s leading universities, renowned for its whole-person education and growing global impact.
Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, states that the past 70 years have been filled with milestone achievements and transformations, with all credit going to the entire HKBU community.
The Time Tunnel on the Li Promenade allows visitors to review the University’s development journey and remarkable achievements over the past 70 years.