The Review 2007

10 11 Internships in Shanghai A new internship programme took students to Shanghai to experience life and work in a booming city that is attracting many Hong Kong workers. The month-long internships were organised with the Hong Kong United Youth Association, which hopes to expand the programme to all university students in Hong Kong. Thirty-one HKU students were placed with companies in Shanghai and spent weekends meeting with CEOs from various companies in the city. On their return, they met with Hong Kong government officials to talk about their experiences. Ray Kong, a second year arts student, worked for a credit card company and was offered the chance to draft a marketing plan, which the company then adopted nation- wide. Xenia Ho, a second year science student, worked for a real estate company and conducted investment research and appraisals. “I was glad to have a chance to work in China because in future that’s where a lot of us will be working,” Xenia said. Law Students Among Top-tier Performers A team of law students have been among the top tier performers for two years running in the Jessup International Moot Competition, one of the most prestigious contests of its kind. The students reached the top 24 of more than 400 teams competing from the world’s best law schools, in both 2006 and 2007. They also took home the top award for their written submission in 2006. The contest focuses on public international law, which provides common ground for students from different countries to test their skills and abilities against each other. The Faculty of Law team spent six months preparing for each contest. Tim Parker, a third-year law student from Australia, participated in both competitions and said they provided valuable experience in testing and stretching his abilities. “We would write our submission and then argue it dozens of times and try to assess the flaws. In the context of this competition, we deepened our understanding probably much more so than in classes. We had to take both views to the extreme and push arguments as far as they could go,” he said. I was glad to have a chance to work in China because in future that’s where a lot of us will be working. Ray Kong and Xenia Ho, back from the Bund Everyday Life in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan was the unusual destination for a group of students participating in Project SEE (Students for Equality and Equity) in summer 2007, an initiative of the General Education Unit. One group helped to build a youth centre in a remote village, while another worked with the charity Crossroads International in an urban centre. The l ifestyle changes were demanding as few people spoke English, the students had to perform manual labour and there was little contact with the outside world, particularly in the village. The students stayed in Kazakhstan for six weeks. Jeffrey Wong, a second-year law student, worked in a village where the main entertainment was Russian television. “We grazed the cows and picked cherries for jam and it was a healthier life because we went to bed early and woke up early. This was an unforgettable experience, like I was living the lifestyle of my father or grandparents.” Grace Tan, a third-year arts student, was based with Crossroads and helped in an orphanage. “After this trip I felt very lucky to live in Hong Kong. The orphans had no idea about their future and they faced so many social problems. We in Hong Kong may worry about our future, but worrying is a gift because you have choices, that’s what you worry about. The orphans we met don’t have this opportunity.” From left: Grace Tan, Jeffery Wong, Giselle Ng, Simon Wong who all experienced life in Kazakhstan Tim Parker