New CityU student leaders sworn in

The 25th Students’ Union Executive Committee, Union Council, Arbitration Committee, Editorial Board and other student groups of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) pledged to make concerted efforts to serve the students, society and the country at a joint inauguration ceremony on 26 March.

The Hon Leung Chun-ying, CityU Council Chairman, and Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, officiated at the ceremony. Mr Leung pointed out that Hong Kong is a competitive society and the competition has become more intense. Taking the number of post-secondary graduates as an example, university graduates have increased by more than 30% and associate degree holders by 130% in recent years. The number of overseas graduates returning to Hong Kong has also surged year by year. He therefore encouraged students to constantly equip themselves for future challenges.

“For students, a definite key to success is to work hard and work smart. For the University, all staff members should work together with a forward-looking vision to design curriculum and development strategies to suit the future needs of society. As student representatives of the Students’ Union, you should communicate effectively and work closely with the University to enhance the competitiveness of fellow students,” said Mr Leung.

Professor Kuo said a person’s mindset and working style will not be changed by age, but through continuously striving for improvement. “Bad habits should go away and good ones stay,” said Professor Kuo.

Billy Li On-yin, President of the 24th Students’ Union, shared his experience of serving as a student leader last year and offered his encouragement to committee members of the new Union. “From today’s ceremony onwards, your fellow members will stand by you. They are the reason for what you will or won't do. As a student leader, you should share your experience with your fellow students and grow with them,” he said.

Under the supervision of Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Vice-President (Student Affairs),

more than 40 student leaders took their oath and pledged to do their best for fellow students during their term. Chan Tin-yau, the new President of the Students’ Union, promised to uphold the principles of the Students’ Union to serve the students and the University.

To mark the special occasion of the University’s silver jubilee and the 25th term of the Students’ Union, representatives of the previous 24 executive committees were invited to the inauguration ceremony. When all the new executive committee members cast sand from small cups into a clear box, the logo of the Students’ Union and the number 25 appeared, signifying the continuous passing on of the spirit and experience of the Students’ Union.