University of Hong Kong
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The University of Hong Kong (HKU) (Traditional Chinese: 香港大學; Simplified Chinese: 香港大学; pinyin: Xiānggǎng Dàxué) is an English-language medium university and the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong SAR. Its motto is the Latin phrase Sapientia et Virtus (明德格物 ), meaning "wisdom and virtue" or sometimes cited as "Foresight & Social Conscience." The University is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in Asia. During World War II the university was temporarily closed.
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Campus
The university's main campus covers about 160,000 square metres of land in the Bonham Road/Pok Fu Lam area of Hong Kong Island. It has a medical campus in the Southern District, Hong Kong, separate from the main campus, which includes Queen Mary's Hospital and research facilities.
The university also operates the Kadorrie Agricultural Research Center, which occupies 95,000 square metres of land in the New Territories, and the Swire Institute of Marine Science on the southern coast of Hong Kong Island.
History
The University of Hong Kong can trace its origin back to the former Hong Kong College of Medicine, which was founded in 1877. The University itself was founded when Sir Frederick Lugard, the then-governor of Hong Kong, laid the foundation stone on March 16, 1910.
The University faced one of its biggest crises in 2000 when Dr. Robert Chung Ting-yiu, director of the Public Opinion Programme of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at HKU, alleged that he had received political pressure from Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa through the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof Cheng Yiu-chung, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wong Siu-lun, to discontinue his public opinion polls on the popularity ratings of Tung and his government. Although the allegations were denied by Tung and HKU, a controversy erupted over the question of political interference in academic freedom. HKU set up a three-member panel led by Justice Noel Power to investigate Chung's claims. After 11 days of open hearings in August, the panel concluded that there were what it called covert attempts to pressure Chung into discontinuing his polls. The panel concluded that Dr. Chung is 'an honest witness who was telling the truth in relation to the matters he is complaining about.', but 'neither Lo [The Chief Executive's Senior Special Assistant] nor the vice chancellor 'disclosed the full and truthful extent of what was said in [the] meetings. Both Prof. Cheng and Prof. Wong resigned just before the University Council met on September 9 to vote on whether or not to accept the panel's report.
Prof Ian Davies stepped in as Vice-Chancellor for two years before a world-wide search selected Prof Lap-Chee Tsui as the new head of the University in 2002.
The year 2001 marked the 90th Anniversary of the HKU. Growing with Hong Kong: HKU and its Graduates - The First 90 Years was published by the University Press in 2002 as an impact study about HKU's gradates in different field of Hong Kong.
Organization
The University's Chancellor is Dr Donald Tsang, GBM, JP, KBE, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The Pro Chancellor is Dr David Kwok-po Li, GBS. The Vice-Chancellor is Professor Dr Lap-Chee Tsui, the Deputy Vice Chancellor is Professor R. Y. C. Wong, and the Pro-Vice-Chancellors are Professor C. F. Lee, Professor J. G. Malpas, Professor J. H. W. Lee and Professor P. K. H. Tam. The academic staff population is over 800.
Students
The student population of the University (including postgraduate students) was around 14,400 in 2001-2002, including over 5,300 postgraduate students.
Most of the undergraduate students admitted through the Joint Univerisity Programmes Admission Scheme (JUPAS) (http://www.jupas.edu.hk) for the local Form 7 students while others will be admitted by Non-JUPAS scheme and Early Admission Scheme (EAS)
Ranking
The University of Hong Kong is the top university in Hong Kong academically.
According to the magazine Asiaweek, the University of Hong Kong was ranked third in 2000 in multi-disciplines among other Asia's best universities. The business school is ranked the second for the MBA course, after the Chinese University of Hong Kong, in Asiaweek Magazine Asia's Best University Survey 2000.
The University of Hong Kong was recently ranked 39th among the world's top universities by the Times on www.thes.co.uk .
Faculty
The university comprises 10 faculties, with the following teaching departments and programmes:
- Faculty of Architecture (http://fac.arch.hku.hk/)
- Department of Architecture (http://arch.hku.hk/)
- Department of Real Estate & Construction (http://hkusury2.hku.hk/)
- Faculty of Arts (http://arts.hku.hk)
- Department of Chinese (http://www.hku.hk/chinese/)
- Department of Comparative Literature (http://www.hku.hk/complit)
- Department of English (http://www.hku.hk/english/)
- Department of Fine Arts (http://www.fa.hku.hk/)
- Department of Geography (http://geog.hku.hk/)
- Department of History (http://hkuhist2.hku.hk/history)
- Department of Japanese Studies (http://www.hku.hk/japanese)
- Department of Linguistics (http://www.hku.hk/linguist)
- Department of Music (http://www.hku.hk/music/)
- Department of Philosophy (http://www.hku.hk/philodep/)
- The Language Center (http://www.hku.hk/language/)
- American Studies Center (http://hkuhist2.hku.hk/amstudies/default.html)
- Programme in European Studies (http://www.hku.hk/europe/)
- Faculty of Business and Economics (http://www.fbe.hku.hk/)
- School of Business (http://www.business.hku.hk/)
- School of Economics and Finance (http://www.econ.hku.hk/)
- Faculty of Dentistry (http://www.hku.hk/dental/english/index.html)
- Faculty of Education (http://www.hku.hk/education/)
- Faculty of Engineering (http://engg.hku.hk/)
- Department of Civil Engineering (http://www.hku.hk/civil/)
- Department of Computer Science (http://www.cs.hku.hk)
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (http://www.eee.hku.hk/)
- Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering (http://www.hku.hk/imse/imsehome.html)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering (http://hkumea.hku.hk/)
- Faculty of Law (http://www.hku.hk:8400/law/)
- Department of Law (http://www.hku.hk:8400/law/)
- Department of Professional Legal Eduation (http://www.hku.hk:8400/law/)
- Faculty of Medicine (http://www.hku.hk/facmed/index.html)
- Department of Anaesthesiology (http://www.hku.hk/anaesthe/)
- of education (http://www.hku.hk/faculty)
- Department of Biochemistry (http://www.hku.hk/biochem/)
- Department of Clinical Oncology (http://www.hku.hk/oncology)
- Department of Community Medicine (http://www.hku.hk/cmd/index.htm)
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology (http://www.hku.hk/diaradio)
- Department of Medicine (http://www.hku.hk/medicine)
- Department of Microbiology (http://www.hku.hk/mibpage/)
- Department of Nursing Studies (http://www.hku.hk/nursing/)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (http://www.hku.hk/obsgyn/)
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (http://www.hku.hk/ortho/ortho/)
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (http://www.hku.hk/paed/)
- Department of Pathology (http://www.hku.hk/patho)
- Department of Pharmacology (http://www.hku.hk/pharma)
- Department of Physiology (http://www.hku.hk/physio/)
- Department of Psychiatry (http://www.hku.hk/psychi/)
- Department of Surgery (http://www.hku.hk/surgery/)
- Faculty of Science (http://www.hku.hk/science/)
- Department of Botany (http://www.hku.hk/botany/)
- Department of Chemistry (http://chem.hku.hk/)
- Department of Earth Sciences (http://www.hku.hk/earthsci/rock.html)
- Department of Ecology and Biodiversity (http://www.hku.hk/ecology/)
- Department of Mathematics (http://www.hku.hk/math/)
- Department of Physics (http://www.physics.hku.hk/)
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science (http://www.hku.hk/statistics/)
- Department of Zoology (http://www.hku.hk/zoology/index.htm)
- Faculty of Social Sciences (http://www.hku.hk/socsc/)
- Department of Politics and Public Administration (http://www.hku.hk/ppaweb/)
- Department of Psychology (http://www.hku.hk/psychodp/)
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration (http://www.hku.hk/socwork/)
- Department of Sociology (http://www.hku.hk/sociodep/)
- Programme of Cognitive Science (http://www.cogsc.net/)
- Social Sciences Research Centre (http://www.ssrc.hku.hk/)
- Centre for Criminology (http://www.crime.hku.hk/)
The School of Professional and Continuing Eduation (SPACE) is under the University of Hong Kong, which provides different levels of programmes on a wide range of subjects, and runs programmes without subsidy from the government. SPACE has recently envolved into a community college-type institution, somewhat similar to Community College in the US.
Non-faculty academic units
Apart from 10 faculties, there are also several study centres which are not under the faculties. These sometimes provide study programmes and courses to students and are listed as follows (soucre: www.hku.hk):
- APEC Study Centre
- Biomedical Engineering Research Centre
- Centre for the Advancement of University Teaching
- Centre for the Cellular Biology
- Center for E-Commerce Infrastructure Development
- Centre for the Educational Leadership
- Centre of the Endocrinology and Diabetes
- Centre for Materials Science
- Centre of Amercian Studies
- Centre of Asian Studies
- Centre of Buddhist Studies
- Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management
- Centre on Ageing
- CMI Support Centre (http://www.cmi.hku.hk/)
- Cognitive Science Centre
- English Centre
- E-Business Technology Institute (ETI)
- General Education Unit
- Genome Research Centre
- Geographic/Land Information System Research Centre
- HKU Pasteur Research Centre Ltd
- Hong Kong Centre for Problem-Based Learning
- International Research Centre for Electric Vehicles
- Institute of Human Performance
- Institute of Molecular Biology
- Journalism and Media Studies Centre (http://jmsc.hku.hk)
- Kadoorie Agricultural Research Centre
- Neuroscience Research Centre
- Swire Institute of Marine Science
- The Institute of Cardiovascular Science & Medicine
- Women's Studies Research Centre
Student activities
There are two officially recognized student bodies, giving opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular activities.
The Hong Kong University Students' Union (HKUSU) principally serves the undergraduate students, while the Postgraduate Students Association (PGSA) (http://www.hku.hk/pgsa) represents the postgraduate students.
Student accommodation
The University has the following accommodations for students:
- Graduate House (postgraduate students only)
- Lady Ho Tung Hall (http://www.hku.hk/hotung/) (women only)
- Lee Hysan Hall (http://lhh.hku.hk)
- Madam S.H. Ho Residence for Medical Students
- R. C. Lee Hall (http://rclee.hku.hk)
- Ricci Hall (http://www.hku.hk/ricci/) (men only)
- Robert Black College (http://www.hku.hk/rblack/) (postgraduate students only)
- Simon K. Y. Lee Hall (http://www.hku.hk/skylee/)
- St. John's College (http://www.hku.hk/stjohns/) (Oldest)
- Starr Hall (http://www.hku.hk/starr/) (Newest: Opened in 2001)
- Swire Hall (http://www.hku.hk/swire/) (1980), (also see article Swire Hall)
- University Hall (http://www.hku.hk/uhall/) (men only)
- Wei Lun Hall (http://www.hku.hk/weilun/)
- Duchess of Kent Hall (http://www.hku.hk/dkhall/)* (women only)
- Hornell Hall (http://www.hku.hk/hornell/)* (men only)
- Lee Chi Hung Hall (http://www.hku.hk/lchhsa/)*
Halls marked by * are non-residential.
Lady Ho Tung Hall was demolished and rebuilt in 1998 in order to meet the increasing demand of residential places for girls. The old Lady Ho Tung Hall campus now consists of the new Lady Ho Tung Hall, the most recently-built Starr Hall (opened in Aug 2001), and a cafeteria known as "Ho Tim Hall".
Established in 1914 in memory of the first missionary to come to China, Robert Morrison (1782-1834), Morrison Hall, located at Hatton Road, was pulled down in 1968. A rebuilding plan of the Hall, which will provide about 300 places for male students, was released in 2001 and the construction is expected to finish in 2005.
According to a news report on 30 Sept 2003, 900 hostel places will be available in the future. Pressure on the places will be relieved from 1.5 (1 student gets the place per 1.5 students) to 1.2.
Consultation concerning the Hall Education and its future development was opened and organized by the working group under the Committee on Student Affairs in 2002. The consultation came to the second stage in the fall of 2003.
Students services
The university provides other services to meet students' personal needs. There are many services deparments in the university - some of the most popular are as follows:
- Career Education and Placement Centre
- Computer Centre
- Office of Students Affairs
- Personal Development and Counselling Centre
- Sports and Recreation Programmes/Facilities
- Univerisity Dental Service
- University Health Service
- University Museum and Arts Gallery (formerly Fung Ping Shan Museum)
Libraries
The university has seven libraries, including the Main Libraries, which provide a pool of up-to-date resources (printed and online). It also organizes activities such as "Book on Talk", as well as regular displays on certain theme such as "snacks in Hong Kong 70'".
- Main Library (http://lib.hku.hk)
- Audio-Visual Departments
- Special Collections
- Fung Ping Shan Library (East Asian Books Collection) is located at 5/F and 6/F on the Old Wing of the Main Library.
- Dental Library
- Education Library
- Lui Chi Woo Law Library
- Music Library
- Yu Chun Keung Medical Library
Future development
In 2003 the HKU management panel set a development strategic plan aiming at leading HKU to be one of the most competitive and well-known universities in the world by 2008.
Besides putting effort on academic research and development, it also aims at promoting the continuity of education in the public, through better linkage between the University and the SPACE.
HKU tries to establish better alumni and external network for the financial sustainablility of the development. [1] (http://www.hku.hk/strategic-booklet/text/chi-html.htm)
Due to huge budget deficit faced by the government, Now it proposes the cut in expenditure on the Education Sectors, about 10%, in these five consecutive years.
Famous alumni
- From the Faculty of Arts
- Anson Chan Fang On-sang, the former Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong
- John Chan Cho-chak, managing director of Kowloon Motor Bus Holdings Limited
- Simon Chau Sui-Cheong, 周兆祥, social and environmental activist
- Margaret Ng, Member of the Legislative Council (Legal)
- Martin Lee Chu-ming, Member of the Legislative Council (Hong Kong Island)
- Miriam Lau Kin-yee, Member of the Legislative Council (Transport)
- Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, former Secretary for Security of Hong Kong SAR Government (HKSAR)
- Salina Chow leung Suk-yee, Non ex-officio Member of the Executive Council
- From the Faculty of Engineering
- Lee Cheuk-yan, Member of the Legislative Council (New Territories West)
- Raymond Ho Chung-tai, Member of the Legislative Council (Engineering)
- From the Faculty of Law
- Alan Leong Kah-kit, former chairman of Hong Kong Bar Association
- Albert Ng Chun-yan, Member of the Legislative Council (New Territories West)
- James To Kun-sun, Member of the Legislative Council (Kowloon West)
- From the Faculty of Medicine
- William Ho Siu-wai, CEO of the Hospital Authority
- Lo Wing-lok, Member of the Legislative Council (Medical)
- Leong Chi-Hung, Chairman of the Hospital Authority
- Sun Yat-Sen, the first Provisional President of the Republic of China
- Yeoh Eng-kiong, the Secretary for the Health, Welfare and Food of HKSAR (replaced by York Chow Yat-ngok)
- From the Faculty of Science
- Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, the Chairman of the Legislative Council
- Choy So-yuk, Member of the Legislative Council (Hong Kong Island)
- Michael Suen Ming-yeung, the Secretary for the Housing, Planning and Lands
- Sarah Liao Sau-tung, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works of HKSAR
- Sin Chung-kai, Member of the Legislative Council (Information Technology)
- From the Faculty of Social Sciences
- Antony Leung Kam-chung, former Financial Secretary of Hong Kong
- Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, CEO of Hong Kong Monetary Authority
- Lam Sui-Lun, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs
- Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, Chairman of Education Commission
- Yeung Sum, Member of the Legislative Council (Hong Kong Island)
See also
- The Hong Kong University Students' Union
- Education in Hong Kong
- List of universities in Hong Kong
- List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
External links
- The University of Hong Kong Homepage (http://www.hku.hk)