Committed to helping the cause of CityU, a dozen University alumni formed the 2002 CityU Alumni Association Executive Committee under incoming Chairman Patrick Lee, who pledged that he and his committee would devote themselves to uniting CityU's alumni in support of University development.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the Multimedia Conference Room on 8 April, was officiated by CityU honorary graduates, Dr Cheng Hon-kwan and Dr Fong Yun-wah, as well as President H K Chang and Vice-President (Institutional Advancement) Professor Y S Wong. Over 150 staff, student representatives and alumni also came to render their support.

"I am very glad to see our Alumni Association upholds such high aspirations and commits themselves with such enthusiasm to taking up the important and challenging mission of uniting CityU's growing alumni," said Professor Chang. "Through the joint efforts of the University community and the Alumni Association, our institution and our alumni will help each other to grow and flourish."

In its two-year term, which runs until the end of 2003, the new committee is planning to organize a variety of activities, such as fun-filled gatherings, talks of interest, and outdoor exercises, to bring alumni together for friendship and fellowship. The Alumni Association also intends to join hands with University departments and the student body to play a more active role in certain University functions, such as Student Orientation and the Student Hostels Project. "We are willing to contribute our experience, our knowledge, our time and our care to enhance the development of our alma mater as well as our fellow schoolmates," said Mr Patrick Lee. "Certainly we have gained a lot from CityU and now is the time to give back."

To provide more association support and lessen the committee members' administrative workload, the Alumni Affairs and Development Office (AADO) will act as the secretariat for the association. "We're close partners and share a common goal of serving CityU's alumni," said Mrs Diana Ying, AADO Director. "Through regular meetings and collaborative projects, we have established a strong mutual understanding."