Media

HKU Formally Welcomes New Students to the University Family

26 Aug 2009

 

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) today (August 26) officially welcomed its new students to the HKU family at the annual Inauguration Ceremony. The University has admitted about 3,000 new undergraduates students in various programmes this academic year.

The ceremony, officiated by HKU Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, was the first formal University event attended by the new students. Mrs Margaret Leung, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive, Hang Seng Bank, was the ceremony's Guest of Honour. 

In his inauguration address, Professor Tsui welcomed the new students to the first and foremost university in Hong Kong, which has nearly 100 years of academic excellence and services to the community.

"You are now a part of all these great traditions. And with this respect and reputation comes great responsibilities too." He told the new students that university education was more about raising the bar than making themselves competitive.

HKU students are expected to do better than just ordinary people - think independently, critically and deeply, to stand for the HKU tradition of freedom of intellectual thought and personal expression. They are expected to hold the highest moral standards and to be responsible individuals; to be able to live up to the global challenges together with other young people from all over the world; and to be leaders who can help better the lives of others, and shape the future of the community they call home.

 "It is a bar you must raise for yourselves, and in doing so, you will be facing challenges and pushing yourselves beyond what you thought you could be." Professor Tsui said.

Mrs Margaret Leung, the Guest of Honour and an HKU alumnus, said students should aim high to become "gardeners of life", so as to choose a path of discovery, life-long learning and continuing personal development.

"A gardener never stops growing. And while it requires the gardener's constant attention, it also allows life for the gardener to be a real great adventure."

Mrs Leung quoted World University Rankings compiler Quacquarelli Symonds' recent ranking of HKU as Asia's number one university, and said the university boasted excellent facilities and the expertise of leading academic and technical staff which students could take advantage of to develop their skills.

She encouraged the students to grow three types of "peas", namely passion, patience and perseverance; three types of "squash" to avoid being indifference, intolerance and inertia; three types of "lettuce" (let us) to be understanding, be eager and be true; and four types of "turnips" to turn up with determination, with a vision, when needed, and with a smile.

HKU Students' Union Internal Vice-President Miss Shing Hiu-yi urged the new members of the HKU family to make the most out of their university life, and to live up to the name of University Students as "the conscience of the society".

"We should be the ones who lead the public to voice out when we see injustices, and to strive for change. This is our social responsibility, our duty, and the way we can give back to this society." Miss Shing said.

Other procession members were Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Wong, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Joseph Lee and Professor Chow Shew-ping, Deans of all ten faculties, Acting Dean of Graduate School Professor Frederick Leung, Dean of Student Affairs Dr Albert Chau, Registrar Mr Henry Wai, Librarian Dr Anthony Ferguson, Clerk of Convocation Mr Kenneth Sit, Internal Vice-President of the Students' Union Miss Shing Hiu Yi, and president of two alumni bodies.

For photos of the inauguration, please visit http://www.hku.hk/hkumedia and check "Photo Gallery". 

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606 email: pychoy@hku.hk