Hong Kong 2006

More than 500 guests attended the Graduation Ceremony on 4 November in Hong Kong where 130 graduates were presented to the Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Justice Kim Santow.

Addressing the Sydney graduates, the Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Lawrence J. Lau looked forward to more intense collaboration between the two cities. Professor Lau, an economist, said: "I think there is a great deal of room for more intense collaboration between Australia and Hong Kong, and that is also true of the relationship between Sydney University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong,"

Professor Lau also looked forward to a change in the traditional one-way flow of students between Hong Kong and Sydney, expressing a hope that more Sydney students would see the advantage of studying in Hong Kong, a world centre for finance and trade and the richest region of China.

He added that there were 19 University of Sydney graduates on the staff at the Chinese University. Click here for a full copy of Professor Lau's speech.

Vincent Lam, President of the Chinese Alumni Network, who attended the graduation ceremony, said it was vital for the University of Sydney to maintain its presence in China. "This is a chance for us to show people what a fine University we have, and to give the parents and friends of graduates a taste of Sydney's prestige and tradition.

The Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown, welcomed over 300 alumni who reside in Hong Kong to an Alumni Reunion Reception on 1 November. The University of Sydney has a significant presence in Hong Kong and currently has over 700 Hong Kong students enrolled in degree programes.

One of the University's most eminent alumni in Hong Kong, Professor John Wong from the Department of Surgery of the University of Hong Kong, in a lively speech reminded all present of the great advantages they have because of a University of Sydney education.

50 representatives from Hong Kong Universities, industries and government attended a dinner on 2 November where two agreements were signed: a memorandum of understanding between the Centre for Asian Studies at Hong Kong University, and the Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney; and a student exchange agreement between the School of Business and Management at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Sydney.

Speaking at the Dinner, Profesor Gavin Brown said Hong Kong was an "important and vibrant international city with important and vibrant universities". He said Sydney looked forward to making ongoing and sustainable research partnerships and friendships.

Speaking to senior Sydney University delegates, including the Chancellor, Justice Kim Santow and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gavin Brown, and representatives from universities in Hong Kong, Mr Murray Cobban, the Australian Consul General, outlined a series of challenges including environmental, social and skill shortages that were being addressed by Hong Kong.

He stressed cooperation between universities was an essential step in dealing with these challenges, and welcomed the links being forged between the University of Sydney and its Hong Kong counterparts.

While in Hong Kong, the University of Sydney's Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown also signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Student Exchange Agreement with the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Please click here for more photos of these events.