7 6 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2023 KEY EVENTS IN 2023 FAMILY CARNIVAL MARKS OUR ANNIVERSARY A HIGH TABLE GRAND FINALE An arts carnival held at the Art Park of the West Kowloon Cultural District in January 2023 brought together students, alumni, staff, families and friends to celebrate HKU’s 111th anniversary and enjoy the University’s first large outdoor event since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The ARTathon transformed the Art Park into a carnival featuring giant artistic balloon installations on the theme of the 111th anniversary, family-friendly arts and games, and graduation gown lending services so HKU graduates who did not have a physical graduation ceremony due to pandemic control measures, could take graduation photos with their family and friends. 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,” with the University and its scholars regularly ranked among the top tier in the world. Professor Yuen Kwok Yung, Henry Fok Professor in Infectious Diseases, was the keynote speaker and spoke on the pivotal role that HKU microbiology has played in safeguarding public health around the world, particularly during SARS and the COVID-19 pandemic. The year-long celebrations of HKU’s 111th anniversary culminated with a Grand Finale High Table Dinner in March 2023, attended by more than 1,000 guests including students, staff, alumni and friends of HKU. This followed other festive events, including the 111th Anniversary Light Show, Tech Landmark groundbreaking ceremony, the ‘111uminate’ DJ party, and the ARTathon carnival. Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor, addressed the High Table Dinner guests, noting that in 1-1-1: CELEBRATING HKU’S LEGACY KEY EVENTS IN 2023 A unique attraction was an eight-metre-high bookshelf resembling the Main Building façade to collect donated books that were subsequently distributed to local non-profit charitable organisations, symbolising the sharing of knowledge across the community. In addition, more than 500 secondary school students from low-income families were sponsored to visit the Hong Kong Palace Museum and enjoy the carnival day of fun. Watch event highlights
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