CityU's strategic and productive partnership with industry experienced a quantum leap today when the University's Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) received donations totaling HK$4 million from a group of distinguished industrialists. Surface Mount Technology (Holdings) Ltd, (SMT), donated HK$1.5 million to CityU while SMT's Chairman and Managing Director Dr K B Chan, who is also Chairman of the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association, topped it up with a personal donation of HK$1 million. In addition, AV Concepts Holdings Ltd (AV), Fujikon Industrial Holdings Ltd and Mobicon Group Ltd made donations of HK$500,000 each.

The donor companies have been supportive of the work of the Faculty, and of its innovative Industrial Attachment Scheme and the Co-operative Education Scheme since inception in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

Lauding the donations as timely, at the donation ceremony, CityU's President Professor H K Chang said that this generosity heralds a new era in academia-industry partnership. Proper support from the industry community, in monetary and other forms, will help CityU students achieve better results. He thanked Dr Chan for his vision and foresight in forging a strong partnership between the electronics industry and CityU, an endeavour that will help create a win-win situation for both parties and revitalize Hong Kong's economy.

The donations signal that the manufacturing industry is alive and well in Hong Kong, said Dr Chan. He and his peers will continue to take an active role in nurturing local talent in science and engineering. He believes that CityU is doing its best to train better engineers to meet the need of local manufacturers in the context of the Pearl River Delta Region. The electronic industry bolsters the tertiary institution. "We are CityU's partners; we'll help you to achieve your goals," he told the audience.

The donation ceremony was officiated by Dr K B Chan, AV Chairman Mr Y K So, Fujikon Chairman Mr Johnny Yeung, Chairman and Managing Director of Mobicon Mr Measure Hung, CityU President Professor H K Chang, and Dean of FSE Professor Roderick Wong.

Under the provisions of the Government Matching Grant Scheme, every dollar the universities receive from industry and community is entitled to a matching amount from the Government.