HKU Bulletin April 2010 (Vol. 11 No. 2)

42 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin 43 April 2010 New reservoirs of new campus Construction work started on the new Centennial Campus in September 2009, after work to re-provision the existing reservoirs at the site was completed. Two saltwater reservoirs have been built in a cavern, the first time this has been done in Hong Kong, to minimize the disturbance to vegetation and the neighbourhood. Two freshwater tanks have also been built and their rooftops will become landscaped gardens with more than 100 trees. The project took two and a half years to complete at a cost of $500 million and the reservoirs were officially handed over to the Water Supplies Department last year. The Centennial Campus will be ready by 2012 in time for implementation of the new four-year undergraduate curriculum. One of the central planning principles behind HKU’s campus development is that it is done through an open and respected process. Numerous consultations have been held with local residents, district councillors and organizations. Now, we are moving to the next level with a programme to develop local partnerships and more closely integrate HKU with the community. The Friends of Centennial Campus programme was launched last year to invite individuals and organizations to have a closer connection with HKU. They may participate in selected seminars, concerts and other HKU activities, join guided tours on campus, join talks on the environment and heritage, and receive updates on the development of the campus. All of this is for free. Organizations may also enjoy free access to HKU Libraries and a 50 per cent discount on lending services. “We’re different from other universities in Hong Kong because we’re in the middle of a very densely populated area and we Campus Development need to deal with community members proactively,” said Henry Ho, who is overseeing community relations on the University’s campus development. “Our ultimate aim is to build partnerships. It’s one thing to have a meeting where people show up, voice their opinions, then leave. It’s another thing to try to work closely with them. We want to work with community leaders, the schools and the neighbourhood, and we’ve had a good start. We’re making more and more friends.” About 30 organizations have signed up to be Friends of the Centennial Campus. Membership is open to anyone in Hong Kong, although most members have come from the Central and Western District. Some of the members were actively engaged in earlier consultations on the new campus, where construction work has now got underway. Mr Ho said the University would continue to engage with people on its building projects and on wider issues of interest to the community. “Sharing knowledge is important. We not only want to make friends to support our projects, we also want to share knowledge that can benefit the local community. The community is especially concerned about the environment and heritage issues, and the Friends of the Centennial Campus programme acts like a bridge with them,” he said. The programme has been supported by the Head of the University Libraries, Dr Anthony Ferguson, who provided the library passes, and the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Albert Chau, who is allowing a quota of individuals from the community to attend selected General Education courses. From left: Mr Jack So, Chairman of the HKU Campus Development and Planning Committee, Dr the Honourable Leong Che-hung, Chairman of HKU Council, Mr Ma Lee-tak, Director of Water Supplies, and Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, Vice- Chancellor of HKU officiated at the ceremony. MAKING FRIENDS IN the neighbourhood The community is invited to form closer ties with the University.