To strengthen its relationship with local communities, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently invited representatives of Sham Shui Po District Council and officials of Sham Shui Po District Office to visit the University. The occasion also served to highlight to the visitors CityU's emphasis on quality education, applied research and future development.

Dr Chan Tung, Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Council, Miss May Chan Wing-shiu, Sham Shui Po District Officer, Mr Alvis Tsui, Assistant District Officer, and Mr Lo Kwai-chuen, Senior Liaison Officer, visited CityU on 21 July. They were warmly welcomed by Professor David Tong Shuk-yin, Deputy President of CityU, Professor Richard Ho Yan-ki, Special Advisor to the President, and Dr Ellen Ko Law Yin-lan, Vice-President (Administration).

Professor Tong thanked the visitors for including a trip to CityU in their hectic schedule, while Dr Ko conveyed an apology from Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, for not being able to meet them due to other appointments. Professor Kuo hoped another meeting could be arranged.

Professor Ho highlighted to the visitors the University's development vision and its applied research contributions to society. He indicated that the University was ready to meet the challenges of the new four-year normative degree structure to be implemented in 2012. He said CityU would offer academic programmes that support Hong Kong's economic and social development and make its best effort to nurture multi-talented graduates capable of facing local and global competition.

Mr Fung Siu-man, Acting Director of Campus Planning Office, explained to the visitors the campus development plans. To accommodate the new four-year academic structure, many major construction projects were underway or in planning, including the Multi-media Building, the Community College of City University Building, the new Academic and Administration Building and Student Residences Phase 4. Mr Fung stressed the University would carefully consider environmental issues in the process of campus development to ensure the development would incorporate greening strategies and a sense of harmony and balance with local surrounds. The visitors were keenly interested in the University's campus development and made valuable suggestions.

To express his gratitude to the visitors, Professor Tong presented the University Library cards to Dr Chan and Miss Chan so that they could use the state-of-the-art facilities.