FOR CONVOCATION MEMB ERS

THE CONVOCATION OF THE

CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

REPORT FOR THE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

ON 17 DECEMBER 2015

THE FOURTH STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE

CONVOCATION

(JANUARY 2014 – DECEMBER 2015)

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BACKGROUND

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The establishment of the Convocation on 1 January 2007 marked an important milestone

in the alumni history of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU). It creates a

significant link between the University and its growing band of alumni. The Convocation

is a statutory body established under the CityU Ordinance (Cap 1132). Its Chairman is a

member of the Council (the supreme governing body of the University) and the Court

(the supreme advisory body of the University). Together with the Emeritus Professors

and honorary award recipients, each graduate on receipt of an academic award granted

by the University (or the then City Polytechnic of Hong Kong) automatically becomes a

member of the Convocation.

In November 2006, the University Council approved the establishment of the

Convocation and its constitution and rules, and also appointed members of an organizing

committee to serve on the Provisional Standing Committee of the Convocation, with its

term of office running from 1 January to 31 December 2007. The Secretary of the

Convocation was appointed by the University President.

The first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Convocation was held on 7 November

2007 in which an election was conducted with 15 candidates being elected for the First

Standing Committee (SC) for a two-year term from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009.

Members of the Second SC were elected in the AGM held on 26 November 2009. The 15

elected members along with the Immediate Past Chairman of the preceding SC assumed

the office on 1 January 2010 for a two-year term until 31 December 2011.

The Third SC members were automatically elected and took up the office from 1 January

2012 with Chairman of the Second SC continued to assume her chairmanship until 31

December 2013.

The Fourth SC took up the office from 1 January 2014. Fresh impetus has been instilled

to increase alumni participation, particularly in various celebratory programmes for the

University’s 30th

anniversary.

We are hoping that the Fifth SC, which will take up the office from 1 January 2016, will

continue to serve as a bridge between the University and alumni, and to cohere the strong

alumni community to support the University development.

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THE FOURTH STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE CONVOCATION

OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

_______________________________________________________________________

Sixteen SC Members:

Chairman

Vice-Chairmen

Members:

Mr Clovis LAU Koong-yep

Mr Cedric CHENG Cheuk-him

Mr William KHOO Wun-fat

Mr Robert LUI Chi-wang

Mr Joseph TSOI Wing-leung

Miss Karmen CHAN Ka-man

(Immediate Past Chairman)

Mr Gabriel HO Kai-pong

Mr Aaron HUI Siu-kee

Mr James KONG Cho-on

Miss Vera KONG Ting-kwan

Mr Bruce LEE Yiu-fai

Miss Flora LEUNG Ka-yan

Mr Billy LI On-yin

Ms Connie POON Wai-hong

Mr Douglas WONG Chi-yeung

Miss Ywing YEUNG Wing-ki

Convocation Secretariat:

Mr Xavier WONG

(Secretary of the Convocation

cum Alumni Relations Manager,

Alumni Relations Office)

Ms Pennie LAI

(Alumni Relations Officer,

Alumni Relations Office)

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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Sharing the mission of “Uniting alumni to support University development”, the

Convocation works towards strengthening the alumni relationship and facilitating alumni

to take part in the University development through an established structure and system.

Our SC members comprise alumni who were once active student leaders of different

generations and capacities. Serving a growing legion of diverse alumni community, we

uphold the belief of “Embrace diversity, respect differences and unite as a whole”.

1) Convocation cultivates camaraderie spirit through inspiring activities and

projects

1.1) Engaging alumni in support of City-Youth Empowerment Project – Career

Workshop for Ethnic Minority

Promoting the caring culture in the University community has been a mission of the

Convocation. Three years in a row, the Convocation served as Supporting Unit of

the City-Youth Empowerment Project (城青優權計劃 ): Career Workshop for

Ethnic Minority Youth organized by the University’s Department of Applied Social

Sciences. Convocation invited a group of alumni volunteers from different career

backgrounds to provide professional and practical advice to some 60 ethnic youths

at the workshop held on 7 March. The participants enthusiastically took part in

hands-on training including group discussion, mock interviews and insightful

sharing with Convocation SCs, alumni and student volunteers.

Convocation helps unite fellow alumni to support various social service endeavors.

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1.2) Extending the caring culture to the society

Convocation demonstrated social responsibility spirit by supporting social service

endeavours. SC members led a group of devoted alumni volunteers to visit two care

centres for women and senior citizens of the Salvation Army in Shek Kip Mei on 14

June. They showed heartfelt care to the elderly, played games with them and gave

away gifts.

1.3) Instilling positive energy at Career Navigator

Embracing the caring spirit to nurture the young generation, the Convocation

organized a forum themed Career Navigator on 4 July featuring an internationally

acclaimed Hong Kong-born contemporary art master Mr Simon Ma (馬興文先生).

The forum provided young alumni and graduating students with an opportunity to

learn his compelling career stories, life philosophy and wisdom that earned him a

tremendous success in the art kingdom.

Alumni have a fruitful exchange with contemporary art master Mr Simon Ma (front

row, 5th

from left) at the Career Navigator forum.

1.4) Welcoming fresh graduates at the Congregation

The Convocation welcomed fresh graduates of Class 2015 to the alumni family and

promoted its work on campus during the Congregation period on 10-20 November.

Complimentary photo-taking service was offered to fresh graduates who captured

happy moments with a specially-designed backdrop and creative props. The alumni

were amazed by receiving a printed photo on the spot as a gift from the Convocation.

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Convocation Chairman Mr Clovis Lau (1

st right) and Vice-Chairman Mr Joseph Tsoi

(2nd

left) greet alumni at the Convocation booth.

The Convocation booth attracts hundreds of fresh graduates to stay connected with

the University and alumni community.

1.5) Enjoying the breeze and networking over healthy hikes

Alumni, their family members and friends spent two sunny Sundays on 22 March

and 19 April on healthy hikes organized by the Convocation. Experienced alumni

hikers led the trails and introduced the sceneries and specialties along the walk. The

trails were filled with laughter and joy of alumni who treasured the opportunities to

make new friends and strengthen the ties amongst themselves.

Convocation unites fellow alumni to strengthen the bonds with each other.

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1.6) Inviting alumni to a world-class innovation forum

Alumni were invited to attend an innovation forum presented by NU SKIN

featuring Professor Gunter Pauli, author and initiator of The Blue Economy, on 10

November. They enjoyed his presentation on YOUR TURN! and learnt how his

methodologies and strategies led to innovation and success.

2) Communication with alumni

2.1) Convo’s Poll

An interactive Convo’s Poll, of alumni interest, was posted on Convocation

homepage and Convocation News in the e-newsletter AlumExpress issued by

Alumni Relations Office (ARO). Relevant information about the topic was provided

upon making the poll and alumni could share their views through various channels.

The poll result would be announced in the following month on the homepage of

Convocation. Convo’s Poll served as a platform for SC to collect alumni’s views and

enhance their affiliation to the University.

A summary of topics and poll results (January – December 2015):

Month Topic Poll result

January Will you consider cheering on CityU runners

(including alumni, students and staff) at the Standard

Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on 25 January?

82% (Yes)

February Would you like to visit the newly revamped

Convocation website that will be launched soon?

83% (Yes)

March Will you consider joining the upcoming hiking

activity organized by the Convocation on 22 March?

82% (Yes)

April Do you support the University to re-apply funding

from the University Grants Committee for offering

undergraduate programmes in veterinary medicine

based on the experience in postgraduate degree

programmes?

88% (Yes)

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May Alumni can support students with financial

difficulties or special needs via making a donation to

the Convocation Student Bursary. Will you consider

it?

82% (Yes)

June Are you willing to share your work/life experience

with CityU students and fresh graduates?

86% (Yes)

July Do you know that CityU is now ranked 9th in the

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings for

Asia, the first time that it hits the top 10 league?

79% (Yes)

August Are you aware of the recent contributions of your

alma mater's research achievements to the

community?

83% (Yes)

September The Convocation launched a newly revamped

website in June to enhance communication among

alumni. Would you like to visit it?

81% (Yes)

October Do you know that CityU has risen greatly to 57th

from 108th in the latest QS World University

Rankings? The University made the biggest jump

among all local universities.

83% (Yes)

November The first CityU Senior Counsel, Mr Hectar Pun Hei,

and Chairman of Mustard Seed Foundation, Mr Chan

Ka-kui, BBS, JP, have been honoured the 4th

Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of their

achievements and contribution to their careers, CityU

and society. Do you want to learn more about the

success stories of distinguished alumni at upcoming

Convocation events?

78% (Yes)

December The Annual General Meeting of the Convocation will

be held on 17 December (Thursday) where

Convocation members will learn accomplishments of

the Convocation in 2015. Will you plan to join?

Available in

end-December

Alumni are encouraged to participate in the monthly poll and share thoughts through

various channels.

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2.2) e-Communication platforms

SC members put considerable efforts to enhance effectiveness of e-communication

platforms to keep the growing alumni members abreast of development of the

Convocation and the University. In this connection, the Convocation revamped its

homepage with a vibrant design and user-friendly features and set up a WeChat

account which was particularly useful for connecting with alumni residing in

mainland China and overseas.

Convocation’s homepage and WeChat keep alumni abreast of news of Convocation

and the University.

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3) Serving as a bridge between alumni and the University

The Convocation Chairman has been serving on the Council, its Community Relations

Committee and Advisory Committee for Graduate Employment, and the Court. The

Chairman helped channel feedbacks of alumni to various parties and units.

The Chairman joined the selection panel of the Teaching Excellence Awards to select

outstanding teaching staff and that of the Alumni Civility Hall JUMP Scholarship to

select students who excelled in academic performance and contributed significantly to

the Hall.

SC members were invited to join the organizing committees of the Congregation and

CityU Delegation for Standard Chartered Marathon. Other involvement of SC could

be found in the appendix.

4) Engagement in University activities

4.1) Cheering on valiant Marathon runners

Convocation showed full support again to the CityU Delegation at the Standard

Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. SC members joined the support team on-site in the

early morning on 25 January to cheer on some 1,200-strong CityU runners at the

race.

SC members cheer on our valiant runners at the CityU booth.

4.2) Supporting students’ initiative at Joint-Hall activity

SC members who stayed at student hostels during their study continued to support

hall activities. They joined the Joint-Hall Dinner “Hall in Love” on 3 March and

appreciated students’ effort in enhancing residents’ sense of belonging to the

University.

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Convocation supports hall activities.

4.3) Interactive dialogue with University management

At a meeting hosted by the Council Chairman Mr Herman Hu and joined by the then

Associate Vice-President (Alumni Relations) Ms Kathy Chan on 19 January, SC

members proactively exchanged views on development of the University and made

invaluable suggestions on strengthening relationship among the CityU community.

Standing Committee members have a fruitful exchange at the meeting hosted by

Council Chairman Mr Herman Hu (4th

from right).

4.4) Participation in alumni gatherings in Shanghai and Beijing

The Chairman represented the Convocation to join the CityU Alumni Reunion @

Shanghai on 17 July organised by ARO, and Convocation and CityU Shanghai

Alumni Chapter served as Event Partners. He served as a facilitator at the interactive

forum held at the dinner featuring a renowned guest speaker Mr Vincent Lo Hong-sui,

Founder of Shanghai Xintiandi and Chairman of Shui On Group. Another highlight

at the reunion was establishment of CityU Shanghai Alumni Chapter, a platform

formed by enthusiastic alumni in Shanghai that aimed to help strengthen alumni

network. Right after the reunion, the Chairman joined another alumni gathering in

Beijing on 18 July organised by the CityU Beijing Alumni Association.

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Convocation has been dedicated to supporting non-local alumni reunions to strengthen

the alumni network.

5) Fundraising

Supporting students and alumni had long been the mission of the Convocation.

Alumni were encouraged to contribute to their alma mater by making donation

through Convocation. A total of HK$375,828.5 has been received to support

University development, Convocation activities and needy students and alumni. A

bursary case of HK$15,000 was granted to a disabled student with visual

impairment of the Department of Applied Social Sciences (Social Work) who passed

away in January due to an accidental injury in the International Football Match of

the Blind. His family encountered financial hardship in covering the student’s

hospitalization and funeral expenses.

6) Recommending to remove in the Rules of Meeting the requirement of

newspaper advertisement for Annual or Special General Meeting

The Fourth SC put forth a suggestion to remove in the Rules of Meeting the

requirement of newspaper advertisement for Annual or Special General Meeting

(AGM/SGM). The suggestion was based on three rationales – (1) the arrangement of

publishing notice on newspaper was not a compulsory legal requirement, (2) to

support environmental protection, and (3) to save advertising cost of around

HK$22,000 per annum. The motion was endorsed by voting at the AGM held on 12

December 2014 and the University Council resolved at its meeting on 16 April 2015

to approve the recommendation.

Members noted the arrangement that the notice was published on various e-

platforms including Convocation website, Facebook and AlumExpress, the e-

newsletter of the ARO.

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7) Partnership with Alumni Relations Office

Apart from co-hosting activities, Convocation had developed a collaborative

partnership with ARO to welcome fresh graduates by co-presenting a welcoming

message to Class 2015 graduates on the Congregation booklet and a heart-shaped

bookmark. The new graduates will also get access to a Congregation video

comprising a 20-second introduction of Convocation and ARO.

Arranged by ARO, a SC member joined the Advisory Committee for City AlumNet

to give invaluable inputs.

In addition to ARO, SC members were involved and participated in activities

organized by various University units, details as listed in the appendix.

We are thankful for the support of the University

As the tenure of the Fourth SC comes to an end, we would like to take this opportunity to

express our heartfelt gratitude to the University Council and the senior management for

their invaluable advice, our fellow SC members for their unwavering devotion, the

Secretariat for their professionalism, and ARO for the indispensable partnership in

alumni relations building. We highly appreciate Convocation members for their support

rendered over the year. Their support is the driving force that keeps us moving forward.

Presented by:

Clovis LAU

Chairman of the Convocation

On behalf of

The Fourth Standing Committee of the Convocation

17 December 2015

Appendix

Date Activities Number of participants Organiser(s)

25-Jan-15 CityU Delegation for Standard Chartered Marathon 2015 5 SC representatives: Gabriel Ho, James

Kong, Flora Leung, Billy Li and Connie Poon

Jointly organised by Alumni

Relations Office, Campus

Development and Facilities

Office, Department of

Management, Human

Resources Office, Student

Development Services and the

Convocation

3-Mar-15 Joint-hall Dinner 2015 - "Hall in Love (城意結)" 1 SC representative: Gabriel Ho Jointly organised by 10 hall

residents' associations

7-Mar-15 City-Youth Empowerment Project - Career Workshop for Ethnic Minority 4 SC representatives: Flora Leung, Vera

Kong, Billy Li and Ywing Yeung

Department of Applied Social

Sciences as Organiser, and

Convocation as Supporting

Unit

10-Mar-15 CityU Discovery Festival Opening Ceremony and Teaching Excellence

Awards Presentation

1 SC representative: William Khoo University

22-Mar-15 Convocation's hiking activity 4 SC representatives: Flora Leung (as leader),

Vera Kong, Douglas Wong and Ywing Yeung

Convocation

27-Mar-15 30th Joint Inauguration Ceremony of Students' Union 4 SC representatives: Clovis Lau, Karmen

Chan, Billy Li and Douglas Wong

Students' Union

The Fourth Standing Committee of the CityU Convocation

Activities and Meetings in 2015

28-Mar-15 CityU Delegation Reunion & Prize Presentation Dinner 2 SC representatives: Gabriel Ho and Flora

Leung

Jointly organised by Alumni

Relations Office, Campus

Development and Facilities

Office, Department of

Management, Human

Resources Office, Student

Development Services and the

Convocation

16-Apr-15 Dialogue in Town (featuring speaker Mr Lam Wai-chun) 1 SC representative: Joseph Tsoi ARO as Organiser, and

Convocation as Event Partner

19-Apr-15 Convocation's hiking activity 2 SC representatives: Flora Leung (as leader)

and Douglas Wong

Convocation

14-Jun-15 Convocation's social voluntary service 4 SC representatives: Gabriel Ho (as leader),

Vera Kong, Flora Leung and Ywing Yeung

Convocation

4-Jul-15 Career Navigator (featuring speaker Mr Simon Ma) 8 SC representatives: Clovis Lau (as

Facilitator), Cedric Cheng, Robert Lui,

Joseph Tsoi, Vera Kong (as MC), Bruce Lee,

Billy Li and Ywing Yeung

Convocation

17-Jul-15 Alumni Reunion @ Shanghai 1 SC representative: Clovis Lau (as

Facilitator of the interactive forum)

ARO as Organiser, and

Convocation as Event Partner

16-Sep-15 City-Youth Empowerment Project's Kick-off Ceremony 1 SC representative: Cedric Cheng (to receive

a Certificate of Appreciation)

Department of Applied Social

Sciences

30-Sep-15 Honorary Fellow Council Dinner 2015 1 SC representative: Clovis Lau University

10-20 Nov Convocation booth at Congregation 2015 Convocation

10-Nov-15 Innovation Forum (featuring Professor Gunter Pauli) 12 alumni participants NU SKIN as Organiser, and

Convocation as Supporting

Organisation

20-Nov-15 Honorary Awards and Higher Degree Conferment Ceremony and Dinner 2 SC representatives: Clovis Lau and Joseph

Tsoi (ceremony only)

University

26-Nov-15 City University of Hong Kong Foundation Annual Dinner 2015 1 SC representative: Clovis Lau University

Date

8-Jan-15

9-Jan-15

19-Jan-15

22-Jan-15

9-Apr-15

29-Apr-15

18-Jun-15

23-Jul-15

28-Jul-15

23-Sep-15

3-Oct-15

Eighth meeting of Fourth Standing Committee

Ninth meeting of Fourth Standing Committee

Council meeting (Clovis Lau as Council member)

Selection interview for "Alumni Civility Hall JUMP Scholarships" (Clovis Lau as a panel member)

Meeting with Council Chairman (Clovis Lau, Robert Lui, Aaron Hui, Bruce Lee, Douglas Wong, Billy Li)

Other Meetings

Panel interview for Teaching Excellence Awards 2014/15 (William Khoo on behalf of Clovis Lau as a panel member)

Tenth meeting of Fourth Standing Committee

Meeting of the Community Relations Committee of University Council (Clovis Lau)

Meeting of Advisory Committee for City AlumNet 2016 (Robert Lui)

Council retreat (Clovis Lau as Council member)

Panel meeting for Teaching Excellence Awards 2014/15 (William Khoo on behalf of Clovis Lau)

13-Oct-15

15-Oct-15

3-Nov-15

9-Nov-15

25-Nov-15

30-Nov-15 Eleventh meeting of Fourth Standing Committee

Congregation Organising Committee meeting (Robert Lui on behalf of Clovis Lau)

Panel meeting for Teaching Excellence Awards 2015/16 (Robert Lui on behalf of Clovis Lau as a panel member)

Panel interviews for Teaching Excellence Awards 2015/16 (Robert Lui on behalf of Clovis Lau as a panel member)

Panel interview for Teaching Excellence Awards 2015/16 (Robert Lui on behalf of Clovis Lau as a panel member)

Panel meeting for Teaching Excellence Awards 2015/16 (Robert Lui on behalf of Clovis Lau as a panel member)