A donation of HK$2 million from Mapletree Investments (Mapletree) will be used to set up an endowment fund for students of City University of Hong Kong (CityU). 

The endowment fund will support two CityU scholarship schemes, which are named as the Mapletree Scholarships and the Mapletree Exchange Scholarships, to recognise CityU students with outstanding academic achievements, as well as support qualified students to participate in exchange programmes, respectively. 

Professor Matthew Lee Kwok-on, CityU Vice-President (Development and External Relations) expressed his heartfelt thanks to the generous donation made by Mapletree. “The donations will provide significant resources for supporting our students who have brilliant academic results as well as providing staunch financial support for students in joining outbound exchange activities,” Professor Lee said.

The endowment is the first endowed donation to an overseas university by Mapletree and is in line with its Academic Achievement Programme. “We are happy to kick start the initiative with CityU as it is directly connected to Festival Walk at Kowloon Tong, which is one of Mapletree’s landmark properties in Hong Kong SAR,” Mr Hiew Yoon-khong, Mapletree Group Chief Executive Officer said. 

A donation ceremony was held on 18 July at CityU. Guests attending the ceremony included Mr Chua Tiow-chye, Mapletree Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer; Mr Wan Kwong-weng, Mapletree Group Chief Corporate Officer; Ms Wendy Lee, Head of Lease Management & Tenant Relations, Festival Walk; Professor Lee and Mr Gavin Kwok Man-kit, Director (Development Office) of CityU.

Commencing Academic Year 2020, a maximum of eight scholarships will be given out by CityU per annum. Out of the eight scholarships, four will be designated to students who have joined the University’s student exchange programme and the other four will be awarded to students who have achieved excellent academic performance. Students with qualified financial needs will be given priority.