8 April 2026
Dear Colleagues and Students,
With pride and excitement, I am delighted to share with you we have officially started the celebration of our University’s 70th anniversary, with the launch ceremony successfully held on 23 March.
The ceremony, and the vibrant celebration reception that followed, are truly memorable and heartwarming events for BUers. The proud, smiling faces, conversations between long-time friends and new acquaintances, and the sense of solidarity that filled the venue when the University Anthem was played, reminded us that we are part of this institution built by BUers over 70 years through resolute faith, steadfast dedication and unwavering effort.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Mr Sun Shangwu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Dr the Hon Starry Lee Wai-king, President of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR; Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the Government of the HKSAR; Dr Wang Weiming, Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Mr Tim Lui, Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC); and Professor James Tang, Secretary-General of the UGC. With impeccable teamwork from everyone involved, we impressed upon our 500 guests from different sectors as well as our faculty, students and alumni, with a showcase of the University’s remarkable evolution over the years and the visionary outlook we have for the future.
From our modest beginnings in 1956 at Pui Ching Middle School, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has grown into a vibrant, globally engaged university, nurturing more than 178,000 alumni who are making remarkable contributions across Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, the Nation, and the world. I invite you to enjoy the HKBU 70th anniversary thematic video “A Legacy Across Time and Place” featuring more than 30 faculty, students, alumni, Council and Court members, senior management members, and representatives from the University community witnessing HKBU’s development journey.
The progress of HKBU has been built on the vision and dedication of those who came before us, and anchored in our enduring motto, “Faith and Perseverance”. We also had the privilege of having former and current Chairmen of the Council and the Court, as well as emeritus and current President and Vice-Chancellors, share their blessings with us in the video “Leading with Wisdom”, which was played at the ceremony. Their moving and lively accounts of the University’s celebrated achievements under their leadership resonated with BUers across different generations, as the proud moments they recalled struck a chord with everyone in the room.
Over the past seven decades, HKBU has been a cradle for countless young people, nurturing their growth and guiding them in their life path. The video “Our Alumni, Our Stories” showcases the touching stories of three HKBU alumni and their enduring bonds with their alma mater. They include Ir Siu Man-po, former Director of Estates; Ms Jeannette Ma, Assistant Librarian; and Professor William Leung Wing-cheung, former Treasurer of the Council and the Court. Their vivid illustrations of how HKBU nurtured young minds and shaped the footprints of their life journeys remain timeless and as relevant today as ever.
Going forward, our purpose is clear. We will deepen our impact through transdisciplinary education, pioneering research, and global collaboration. Addressing critical challenges in health and drug discovery, creative media and practice, data analytics and artificial intelligence, and humanities and cultures, while contributing meaningfully to the communities we serve, will continue to top our strategic agenda. We also plan to register our School of Continuing Education as a recognised post-secondary college under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance, with a view to ultimately attaining the title of a private university and securing the designation as a University of Applied Sciences. This will greatly enhance our agility in responding to the evolving societal needs and further contributing to Hong Kong’s future talent development.
As we celebrate the 70th anniversary milestone, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported HKBU over the past seven decades. I shall also count on your continued support for the various 70th anniversary celebratory activities throughout the year. Together, let us honour our legacy, and more importantly, look ahead with faith, purpose and confidence.
Thank you.
President and Vice-Chancellor
Chair Professor of Photonics