HKU Bulletin February 2004 (Vol. 5 No. 2)

33 32 PEOPLE The setting was the Hong Kong Coliseum, the event was The University of Hong Kong’s 168th Congregation and the object was to turn 5,185 graduands into graduates. The Pro-Chancellor of the University, Dr the Hon. David K.P. Li, presided and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lap- Chee Tsui, addressed the assembly. In the audience were 193 graduands at doctoral level, 1,956 at master level and 3,036 ready to receive bachelor degrees in front of their families. But before the ceremony got underway The Bulletin decided to talk to a cross section of graduands and their families to find out their personal stories. F or Chick Ka Shing the Congregation was not just a personal triumph it was also a family triumph as he was the first in his family to reach university. The Food and Nutritional Science graduate was present in Hung Hom along with his mother Wing Tsin and his aunt Siu Mei to witness a piece of family history. Mainland migrants – Ka Shing came over when he was seven-years-old – Wing Tsin, a part time maid, has spent the last seven years nursing her husband Kwung Ming. Chick said: “I am very proud especial ly for my mother because it has been a very tough time with my father suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. “I feel so grateful to my mother because she has had to bring up not just me but my two younger sisters and young brother as w “ e A ll l . though she does not show her emotion easily I can tell you there were a few tears shed today.” Now with health chain OSIM, Chick is helping develop a new health food line but has also developed fond memories of his time at the University. He said: “It was a most enjoyable time and provided me with plenty of opportunities to learn as well as participate in extra curricular activities. Families Triumph “I went to Australia for a month and it was really good. I met a lot of people from around the world and got the chance to travel around the country.” Brought up in Sham Shui Po and educated in Ming Kei College, in Mongkok, Chick now bears the burden of acting as a role model for his younger siblings. Wing said: “I am very pleased. We came to Hong Kong to see our children get a good education and I always believed my son would succeed. “We did not have to push him too hard either.” W ith a master’s degree in journalism under his belt Timothy Leemaster feels his decision to move to Hong Kong from California has been fully vindicated. The San Diego native has completed a two-year part-time course at the University after setting his heart on seeing a slice of Asia, as well as studying. Leemaster said: “I came for the whole China story and wanted to develop a knowledge of Asia and Asian economics. “I thought studying here would be better.” Combining teaching English as a second language with his studies, Leemaster also managed to fit in internships with well- known media empires. These included the Far Eastern Economic Review and Bloomberg, which the University of Cal ifornia: Los Angeles graduate called the ‘highlight’ of his stint in Hong Kong. He said: “I am very happy with the professors and it was a very good programme, which was well geared to what I was looking for.” His parents Sharon and Paley Leemaster had come over from the US for the ceremony. Mrs Leemaster said: "We came just for this. We are proud he is graduating with distinction." Just to prove his commitment to Hong Kong, Leemaster has even been learning Cantonese. Chick Ka Shing Timothy Leemaster