CityU family bids farewell to Professor H K Chang

Press Release

CityU family bids farewell to Professor H K Chang

Staff members, students and alumni of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and its friends and partners converged at the InterContinental Hong Kong today (29 April) to bid farewell to Professor H K Chang, the outgoing president who will retire on 1 May.

The Farewell Banquet for Professor H K Chang, held under the theme “Time Together”, was jointly organized by CityU and the Community Relations Committee under the University Council and given support by the Council. The event represented CityU’s thanks to Professor Chang for his contributions to the University and higher education in Hong Kong over the past 11 years. It was also an outreach opportunity for the University.

Attending the Banquet were more than 600 guests, including CityU students, alumni and staff members as well as the University’s friends and partners from the community. Alumni and Council members showed their full support by sponsoring the activity.

Dr Norman Leung Nai-pang, Pro-Chancellor of CityU, kicked off the Banquet with a speech, which was followed by Chinese and Western musical performances staged by students, alumni and guests, and then by sharing sessions featuring staff members and students. The highlight was Mr Chung Shui-ming, Chairman of the University Council, and Dr Dennis Sun, Chairman of Community Relations Committee, presenting souvenirs to Professor Chang as a token of gratitude.

“CityU is a big united family,” Dr Sun said. “We are all for one and one for all.”

During his 11-year leadership, Professor Chang has led CityU through the transition from polytechnic to university status, enriching the education that the University delivers and making his mark in CityU’s history as, together with students and staff, challenges were overcome.

Notable achievements include setting up the Eminent Scholars Scheme that attracted top-notch academics to CityU, establishing the English Language Centre to boost English proficiency, and founding the Chinese Civilisation Centre to promote Chinese civilization studies. The University has also pioneered the School of Creative Media where talent is nurtured for the creative industries. There is now an ambiance throughout the University that is favourable to intellectual and personal growth.

In an interview with CityU Today, a CityU magazine, Professor Chang said his greatest source of satisfaction had been watching the University perform well in global university ranking exercises. Projects that have made him feel most proud are the construction of the nine halls of residence and the Creative Media Centre. Both form the hardware indispensable for conceptualizing the values of whole-person education.

Professor Chang added that he had contributed 38 years of his life to education and he had spent a significant part of his career at CityU, the University where he concluded his career. He has decided to stay in Hong Kong after his retirement, and he will spend a semester at Tsinghua University as a Senior Visiting Professor. After that he will spend another semester at Peking University working on courses on comparative and cross-cultural studies. He is looking forward to getting more rest and spending quality time with his family.

As a testament to Professor Chang’s contributions, CityU has published the Commemorative Book. This publication captures Professor Chang’s wisdom and vision, and illustrates CityU’s development over the past decade through a collection of Professor Chang’s speeches and letters to students and colleagues.

“For the last 11 years Professor Chang has led this institution with integrity and a passion for excellence that has resulted in its transformation into one of the foremost universities in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Dr Norman Leung Nai-pang in a message contributed to the Commemorative Book. “The University’s growing reputation has been confirmed through rankings, recognition and accreditation from many prestigious international organizations.”

Mr Chung Shui-ming pointed out in his message that under Professor Chang’s leadership the University had become firmly established as a university with an international reputation. Professor Chang had overseen the broadening of the undergraduate curriculum and pioneered students’ exposure to their Chinese cultural heritage, Mr Chung added. In addition, the University’s reputation in applied research has risen dramatically. “He leaves the University with a sure foundation for its future success,” Mr Chung said.

Professor Chang assumed the Office of President of CityU in May 1996 and will retire on 1 May 2007. On the same day, Professor Richard Ho Yan-ki will become Acting President of the University. His appointment will expire on 31 December 2007, or the date a new president is appointed, whichever is earlier.

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Photo caption (file name: Prof Chang): (from left) Professor H K Chang, Mr Tung Chee-hwa and Mr Chung Shui-ming.

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