Honouring History, redefining the future
Sets sights on creating global solutions with Innovation and Technology

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) hosted a High Table Dinner on March 15 (Wednesday), with over 1,000 guests in attendance to mark the grand finale of its series of 111th anniversary celebratory activities.

High Table dinner is a cherished, time-honoured tradition at HKU, bringing together students, staff, alumni, and friends of the University to celebrate its rich history and bright future. Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, Henry Fok Professor in Infectious Diseases, was the keynote speaker. Professor Yuen underscored in his speech the pivotal role played by microbiology researches at HKU in safeguarding public health, in particular during SARS and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, addressed the guests at the dinner, saying: “In 1911, a group of visionaries sat down together and charted a dream, to create and build the finest university imaginable. 111 years later that dream continues to come true.”

Today, HKU is recognized as being among the best universities worldwide. It is ranked 1st globally for internationalisation, 26th in the world for the most highly-cited researchers, and 150 of its professoriate staff are among the world’s top 1% of scientists. It is home to world-class research facilities and renowned scientists and scholars in diverse fields, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and smart cities.

“Beyond results and rankings, what I believe in most are the values and ideas that shape our minds and souls,” Professor Zhang said.

“HKU has a new opportunity to transform. Improving the human condition is important at any time, but especially now, when our world is struggling with poverty, climate change, and disease outbreaks. HKU is not an observer to global challenges, but an active participant in global solutions,” he added.

By supporting Hong Kong’s ambition to be an international hub for innovation and technology, HKU can be a leader in helping to create solutions for the world. It is activating a roadmap of milestone projects, including the Tech Landmark, the Global Innovation Centre and the Pokfield Campus, which will change the way the University works with the world through every academic discipline. It will continue to recruit and nurture the best scholars from both Hong Kong and overseas – both academics and students.

HKU is committed to the next 111 years of progress and achievements. The past year was a time of great celebration, strengthening the bonds of the HKU community. Events held included the 111th Anniversary Light Show and Tech Landmark ground-breaking ceremony, and art installations “111uminate” and “ARTathon”.

Please click here to view and download the event video.