CityU broke into the top 50 for the first time according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings. CityU rose six places and is now ranked 49th in the world. In addition, CityU ranks first in Hong Kong among the indicators of citations per faculty and international faculty. 

CityU conferred the title of Honorary Fellow on five distinguished persons in September in recognition of their significant contributions to the development of, and service to, the University and the community. The recipients were (from left) Dr Law Hing-chung, Mr Ben Wong Chung-mat, Mr David Chow Tak-fung, Mr James Liu Ying-yin and Mr Benjamin Kwok Chan-yiu.

A HK$100-million donation from BOCHK Charitable Foundation will be used to support the development of CityU’s veterinary medicine projects, and thereby promote public health, the study of zoonotic diseases and food safety in Hong Kong for achieving “One Health” for people, animals and the environment. In addition, it will support an endowed Chair Professorship and fund students’ overseas exchanges and internships, enriching the learning experience and developing international perspectives.

A team of dedicated faculty and staff received the 2017 Team Award for Teaching Excellence from the University Grants Committee (UGC) for the groundbreaking Discovery-enriched Curriculum (DEC). The presentation ceremony in September marked the fourth time that CityU faculty members had received the UGC teaching award since its inception in 2011. The award reflects CityU’s commitment to excellence in professional education and another indication of the importance and success of the integration of teaching and research. 

The multi-purpose theatre 3505 at the Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic Building was named “Joseph Lee Hall” in appreciation of the support of Dr Joseph Lee Chung-tak, President of Wofoo Social Enterprises and Chairman of Wofoo Plastics and Chemicals Group, and Vice-Chairperson of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund Task Force under the Commission of Poverty. He has acted as a Deputy to the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China for three consecutive terms and chaired various government bodies. He is a former CityU Council member and Chairman of CityU’s Community Relations Committee. 

The City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute set a new record when it received a total amount of grants worth nearly RMB66.2 million in 2016, it was announced in May 2017, a jump of 66%. In particular, funding worth RMB32 million was received from the Shenzhen Municipal Government for 24 projects in materials, marine, biomedical, communication and advanced manufacturing studies. The funding amount received was the highest among all research institutes set up in Shenzhen by Hong Kong universities. 

CityU received over HK$15 million in funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (the Trust) for programmes that can develop students into more empathic social innovators. Students on the programmes will be encouraged to create novel solutions that meet social needs and create social values that help to build a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous society. The donation from the Trust will fund a three-year CityU project titled “Jockey Club Enhancing Youth Empathy Project through Immersive Visualisation”. 

Discoveries and innovations addressing real-life problems featured at the Discovery and Innovation Gala 2017 in June. More than 100 research projects designed by students and academic staff from the College of Science and Engineering were showcased. The event, which was part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, gives local communities a fuller picture of CityU’s strengths and expertise. Dr David Chung Wai-keung, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, HKSAR Government, officiated at the opening ceremony. 

The private thoughts of some of China’s greatest scholars of the twentieth century were revealed at a new exhibition titled “Sincerely Yours: Personal Letters of Tsinghua Scholars”. On show were 134 unpublished letters, manuscripts, and teaching materials hand-written by Tsinghua scholars. Enriching the exhibition were several new media installations developed by the School of Creative Media that offered fresh perspectives on the displays, while providing interactive experiences for the visitors. 

A pioneering system for predicting with greater accuracy the landfall of seasonal typhoons to be developed by Professor Johnny Chan Chung-leung, Chair Professor of Atmospheric Science at the School of Energy and Environment, has received a grant under the European Commission and the Research Grants Council Collaboration Scheme. It is the first system of its kind to predict with more precision than before the number and intensity of tropical cyclones that will make landfall in a season.

Professor Way Kuo, President of CityU, was conferred the Asian Social Caring Leadership Award at the Nobel Laureate Series: Social Caring Pledge Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony in June. The award recognises Professor Kuo’s contributions to achieving advancement in education, fostering sustainable development for the community, and promoting a culture of social innovation in his professional field.

More exciting cultural exchange activities and exhibitions are forthcoming following the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding between CityU and the National Palace Museum (NPM) in Taipei. Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, and Dr Lin Jeng-yi, Director of NPM, signed the memorandum in September during a ceremony at the Southern Branch of NPM in Chiayi, Taiwan.

Over 900 new students began their higher education journey during an orientation ceremony in August with talks by alumni and senior students and sports and musical performances at the University Welcoming Ceremony. The first cohort of undergraduates from the newly launched Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme plus members of the CityU senior management team were in attendance. In addition, more than 300 new students were welcomed by Professor Way Kuo, University President, at the opening ceremony of an orientation camp organised by the Students’ Union at James Liu Multi-Purpose Room in August. Professor Kuo, also received this year’s new non-local students into the big CityU family at an event arranged by the Global Services Office in September. A total of 2,099 non-local students from 59 countries and regions came to study at CityU this year.

Around 60 children aged from 3 to 16 joined the event “Bring Kids to Work Day” for a day of discovery and fun in August, a new initiative whose goal is to give the children an opportunity to see what their parents do at work. The aim was to give the children a better understanding of the exciting work their parents do at CityU and the valuable contribution they make to the University.

The Court was briefed in June on the latest developments and key initiatives of the University at its 12th meeting. Dr Chung Shui-ming, the Pro-Chancellor, began his talk by welcoming the external members of the Court who were newly appointed or re-appointed in 2017, and said he was pleased to see very positive results in all of CityU’s operations.

About 300 parents of primary school students gained more insights on enabling children to become technology consumers or creators at a seminar titled “Programme or let your children’s future be programmed?” in June. The seminar was part of the CoolThink@JC programme, a HK$216 million project funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in collaboration with CityU, Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, and The Education University of Hong Kong. The project aims to equip senior primary school students with basic coding capabilities that will strengthen their computational thinking and help teachers master the necessary professional skills.

“CityU Alumni Gathering @ Chengdu” organised by the Alumni Relations Office in May kicked off the alumni network in Chengdu. Over 70 CityU representatives, guests and alumni joined the reunion dinner for which CityU Convocation was the event partner.

Data Protection Principles within the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance seek to create broad common principles based on fairness that apply to the public and private sectors. The passage of twenty years since the enactment of the Ordinance has given rise to a substantial body of case law and administrative decisions on these principles and the other provisions of the Ordinance. The new amendments have already been the subject of judicial scrutiny. This publication, which replaces its predecessor, has the dual aim of becoming a practitioner’s guide on the important subject of personal data privacy, containing, as it does, a detailed exposition of the principles and provisions in the Ordinance and a comprehensive source of reference materials, enabling the Privacy Commissioner to promote awareness and understanding of the Ordinance.

Before 2000, roughly 96% of China’s energy demands were met domestically. Since 2001, however, this position of near self-reliance has changed. With steadily increasing demands, China’s need for foreign energy has grown. Today, China is the world’s biggest energy consumer and emitter of greenhouse gases. Building upon the first volume, which examined China’s energy plans, this book will examine the strategies China has taken to meet its burgeoning energy demands, continue its fast-paced economic growth and also address mounting concerns about environmental welfare and the true cost of China’s development. With new chapters addressing international agreements, the so-called “China energy threat” and the Belt and Road Initiative, this volume will continue to discuss and interpret both domestic policies and China’s international role.