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The foundation stone laying ceremony for the Jockey Club Postgraduate Halls 2 & 3 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) was held on 9 December.  The two new hostels, expected to come into service in 2018, will enrich students’ learning experience and foster communication among students of diverse backgrounds.  The hostels are named after The Hong Kong Jockey Club in appreciation of a generous donation of some HK$137 million from the Club’s Charities Trust to the project. 

Officiating at the ceremony were Dr. Norman N.P. Leung, Chairman of the Council, CUHK; Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President, CUHK; Prof. Lutz-Christian Wolff, Dean of the Graduate School, CUHK and Ms. Irene Chan, Head of Charities (Communication and Engagement), The Hong Kong Jockey Club. Over a hundred distinguished guests and members of the University were in attendance. 

Sited on the northern campus near Area 39, the University’s research hub, The Jockey Club Postgraduate Halls 2 & 3 will provide a total of 676 bed places for CUHK postgraduate students of the UGC-funded postgraduate programmes.  Together with the existing six postgraduate hostel buildings, including the first Jockey Club Postgraduate Hall operating since 1999, a total of 1,776 residential places will be offered to cater to the growing student population. 

Prof. Joseph J. Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK said, ‘Hostel life is an essential part of higher education as it provides students with an environment conducive to learning and allows more social interaction which enriches students’ personal development.  Student hostels can also attract more non-local students and, in turn, broaden the horizon of local students and foster Hong Kong’s international links.  We are deeply grateful to the Jockey Club, the long-time supporter of the University and of education, for supporting the hostel development project and joining us to nurture the next generation of leaders.’

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has put strong emphasis on nurturing talent and allocated substantial resources for higher education in Hong Kong. The Club's Head of Charities (Communication and Engagement) Irene Chan said that while academic studies were certainly important, the Club was also helping university students enjoy hall life, which helped build their all-round development, social skills and leadership. Since 1979, the Club has supported eight UGC-funded Universities to build student hostels, providing over 20,000 residential places. The Club hopes that the Jockey Club Postgraduate Halls 2 & 3 will attract more local and overseas elite students to pursue advanced courses, meanwhile broaden the horizons of local students.  

Award-winning design with green and sustainable features 

Facing the beautiful Tolo Harbour, the Jockey Club Postgraduate Halls 2 & 3 comprise two 12-storey hostel blocks, sky gardens and multi-purpose facilities with a total construction floor area of approximate 16,000m².  The hostels are designed to encourage students to appreciate the natural surroundings and enjoy communal life on campus. 

Various green architectural elements are incorporated in the design of the hostels.  Green roofs will be built to provide insulation and natural cooling to save energy.  Students can also enjoy organic farming activities on the green roofs.  Sky gardens with vertical greening will be crafted between floors to introduce natural ventilation and lighting to the corridors, minimize ‘heat island’ effect and insulate the buildings from external heat.  The gardens will also serve as communal areas, enhancing interaction among students from different floors. 

Various energy efficient features and renewable energy technologies are adopted in the hostels, including a solar hot water system, wind turbine system, rainwater recycling system, kitchen waste management system and motion sensors in lighting systems.  In recognition of its holistic green and sustainable design, the building project has been awarded Finalist of the ‘Green Building Award 2014’ and rated ‘Provisional Platinum’ under the BEAM Plus New Buildings [V1.2] assessment by the Hong Kong Green Building Council. 

To give students more opportunity for learning and interaction with each other, a multi-purpose hall will be built at a prominent corner of the area which is easily accessible from both hostel blocks.  Comprehensive facilities including a canteen, a gymnasium, seminar/conference rooms, and learning/activity centres will be available there.

Source: Communications and Public Relations Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong