Measures to recognize staff contributions pending Council approval
The University Council's Human Resources Committee, at its meeting on 13 February, endorsed the Management Board's recommendations for several measures to reward University staff for their hard work and contributions to boosting staff morale. The measures, yet to be approved formally by Council, include a Productivity Award at one third of the staff's monthly salary, capped at $25,000, to full-time University staff in May 2007; a pay increase of 3% to University staff, effective 1 April 2007; and the implementation of a one-off leave encashment scheme, with payment to be made in September 2007.

More space for campus development
The University is working hard to find cost-effective short- and long-term solutions for freeing up more space for the entire CityU community in the run up to the implementation of major projects such as the introduction of the 4-year curriculum. Professor Richard Ho Yan-ki, Vice-President of Undergraduate Education and Chairman of the Accommodation Committee, and Dr Jerry Yu Jer-tsang, Chief Information Office and Convenor of the Campus Facilities Improvement Working Group, met Deans and Heads of Departments on 1 December 2006 to solicit views on campus planning and space use. Subsequently, the Management Board endorsed at its meeting on 9 February a proposal from the Working Group to lease space at the InnoCentre on Tat Chee Avenue next to the University for housing some administrative and academic personnel.

CityU corporate identity
Corporate identity is an essential part of good governance and the University has taken steps to establish guidelines and policies concerning the use of the University Logo and other key elements in printed material, stationery, signage, uniforms, websites, and so forth. The University has ownership over the Logo and the corporate identity of the University. These elements are becoming more important as CityU engages in a greater number of commercial activities. Thus the Management Board, at its meeting on 9 February, approved recommendations from the Task Group for Corporate Identity to register the CityU Logo as trade marks in Hong Kong and the mainland, thus ensuring consistent and correct usage.

Distinguished lecture series by Nobel Laureate
Following his highly-popular talk last year, Professor Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, the 1997 Nobel Laureate in Physics, will give a lecture entitled "Measuring time: atomic clocks and ultracold atoms" as part of the high-profile France¡VHong Kong Distinguished Lecture Series. Professor H K Chang, University President, and Mr Jean-Pierre Thˆmbault, Consul General of France in Hong Kong, will give the opening speeches. Professor Cohen-Tannoudji is a Member of the French Academy of Sciences and Chair Professor-at-Large at CityU. The lecture will be on 27 February and will be followed by five lectures between 28 February and 9 March on selected topics in atomic, molecular and optical physics.

Wellness March 2007
Campus will be buzzing with energy over the next few weeks as the 11th Wellness March initiates a series of workshops, talks, outdoor pursuits, health assessments, competitions, food promotions and health schemes, plus free use of the CityU sports facilities throughout the month, aimed at promoting healthy living. From introductory classes in Qi Gong and Pilates to quali-runs and talks on stress management, Wellness March 2007 promises to make a difference to the way we lead our lives and contribute significantly to whole-person development.

Sporting achievements
CityU has an outstanding track-record in sporting achievements, and once again the sports teams have maintained this tradition with a run of excellent performances at the Hong Kong Inter-varsity Competitions 2006¡V07, which were held on 10 and 11 February. The Men's Team won the Fencing competition, while the Men's and Women's Teams were Overall Second Runner-Up. In Taekwondo, the Women¡¦s Team was the Champion, and the Men's Team came Second. The teams also clinched the Overall Second title. CityU swept the board in Woodball, winning the Overall Champion title as well as the men's and women's events. The Hong Kong Inter-varsity Competitions are organized by the University Sports Federation of Hong Kong and feature 11 higher education institutions in Hong Kong. To celebrate another great season, the Physical Education Section of Student Development Services is planning a Prize Presentation Ceremony cum Annual Team Gathering on 27 April.

New Year staff party
CityU has laid down the foundations for a successful New Year and to anticipate the months to come and bring colleagues together to celebrate, the Human Resources Office is hosting the Year of the Pig Chinese New Year Staff Party on 1 March. There will be a buffet lunch plus a lion dance, a lucky draw, music, Chinese handicraft stalls and a distribution of red packets. Good health, joy and prosperity to all! Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Kudos
The Japanese Government has awarded Ms Pauline Chui Pui-ling, who graduated with first-class honours from the Department of Computer Science in 2006, the prestigious Monbukagakusho Scholarship under the Educational Programme of Japanese Advanced Information Technology at the Tokyo Institute of Technology.