Media

Contingency Accommodation for Students of the Residential Colleges on Lung Wah Street

04 Sep 2012

 

The first batch of students of the Residential Colleges of the University of Hong Kong in Lung Wah Street will be arranged to take up temporary accommodation elsewhere as the university continues to address air quality issues in the Colleges. About 800 non-local students are affected.

The latest reports received by the university this afternoon indicate that the readings of formaldehyde concentration in a few indoor air samples did not meet the ‘Good Class’ standard of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) of the HKSAR Government.

In a bulk email to students and staff, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof Roland Chin said: “Although expert advice suggests that good ventilation will significantly lower the risk, as a precautionary measure the university has decided that students will not be housed in the Residential Colleges for the time being.”

Students will move into the Colleges once further and consistent monitoring results confirm that the indoor air quality in the Colleges meets EPD’s ‘Good Class’ standard.

Since the Occupation Permit was obtained less than two weeks ago, the University has been monitoring the indoor air quality in different parts of the new buildings, among other health and safety checks. In the meantime, apart from monitoring, professional staff of the university will continue to implement various measures to improve the air quality in the Colleges.

Contingency support measures have been put in place to communicate with the affected students and to provide due care. A hotline has been set up for enquiries, and helpers will be providing guidance and assistance to students during the transition process.

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606 email: pychoy@hku.hk ; or Ms Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk