Message from Department Chairman

The Department of History was established in 1963, when the Chinese University of Hong Kong first opened its doors. Since then, generations of historians have produced excellent, meaningful work here. Professors like Ch’ien Mu, Yu Ying-shih, Mou Jun-sun, Yen Keng-wang, Chuan Han-sheng, and Sun Kuo-tung analyzed Chinese history, found new ways to study it, and contributed to the development of China. Building upon their efforts, the History Department has changed its focus in the more than half a century since 1963. For example, we extended our studies to cover not only the history of emperors and their senior ministers, but also the history of common people. For this reason, we not only read and study the government archives, but also consult the interview records and stone inscriptions that we have discovered in temples and ancestral halls. In addition, the department now offers over 80 courses every year, making us the largest and most comprehensive history department in Hong Kong.

Our proudest achievements are our students and their ongoing contributions to society. The History Department has produced many fine historians, as well as many other graduates who work in sectors not directly related to history. Their training in the department, such as learning to understand classical Chinese, to analyze texts and documents, and to present their ideas on paper, stands them in good stead as they go on to other pursuits. Regardless of their vocation, by the time they leave CUHK, the graduates of the History Department are equipped to be the witnesses and scribes of their own times.

I welcome you and invite you to become one of us.

Professor CHEUNG Sui Wai
Chairman, Department of History

Welcome Back!

Hope you all had a wonderful summer and wish you a successful academic year ahead!

Our warmest welcome to all new students of the Department of History!

Congratulations to our Teaching Staff Awarded Research Funds

Our Department continued to succeed in the recent funding exercises of the Direct Grant 2020-21 and RGC General Research Fund 2021-22.  We would like to extend our congratulations to our distinguished teaching staff who were successful in securing the grants.

Direct Grant 2020-21

RGC General Research Fund 2021-22

Congratulations to Prof. Stuart MCMANUS on Awarding the David Berry Prize 2021

Congratulations to Prof. Stuart MCMANUS on obtaining the David Berry Prize 2021 from The Royal Historical Society for his article “Scots at the Council of Ferrara-Florence and the Background to the Scottish Renaissance”, The Catholic Historical Review, 106.3 (2020), 347-70. [Details …]

Course Enrolments

Students who wish to change their 2021-22 First Term course enrolments are reminded to do so via the CUSIS during the following specified add/drop periods:

Undergraduate programme: Between 8:30pm on 13 September 2021 and 8:30pm on 19 September 2021

Postgraduate programmes: Between 10am on 6 September 2021 and 5:30pm on 20 September 2021

Honouring the Retirement of Professors

Prof. CHOI Chi Cheung, Prof. LAI Ming Chiu and Prof. POO Mu-chou retired at the end of July 2021. The Department would like to extend its appreciation to them for their dedication and significant contributions to the Department.

Prof. CHOI, Prof. LAI and Prof. POO are now appointed as Adjunct Professors of the Department.

Senior Appointments

Prof. CHEUNG Sui Wai succeeded Prof. LAI Ming Chiu as Department Chairman with effect from 1 August 2021.

Prof. PUK Wing Kin succeeded Prof. CHEUNG Sui Wai as Head of Graduate Division with effect from 1 August 2021.

Prof. HE Xi succeeded Prof. PUK Wing Kin as Director of M.A. Programme in Comparative and Public History with effect from 1 August 2021.

The Department would like to extend its appreciation to Prof. CHEUNG, Prof. LAI and Prof. PUK for their contributions to the Department.

Prof. PUK Wing Kin and Prof. Ian MORLEY appointed as Vice Chairman (Internal) and Vice Chairman (External) respectively with effect from 1 August 2021.

New Appointments and Reappointment

We extend our welcome to Prof. LUK Chi Hung Gary and Dr. FOK Yeung Yeung, who joined the Department of History as Assistant Professor and Assistant Lecturer respectively on 2 August 2021.

Prof. LUK Chi Hung Gary received his B.A. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, M.Phil. from the University of Hong Kong, and D.Phil. from the University of Oxford. Before joining The Chinese University of Hong Kong, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and University of Saskatchewan. Prof. LUK will teach HIST2500 History of Hong Kong in Term 1; HIST4500GL Topic Studies in Hong Kong History: Global Historical Perspectives on Modern Hong Kong; and HIST4604GL Chinese Diaspora in Term 2.

Dr. FOK Yeung Yeung received his B.S.Sc. and M.Phil. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Ph.D. from the University of Leicester. Dr. FOK will teach UGEA2230F Introduction to Transformation in Chinese History in Term 1 and Summer Term; UGEA2234 Imperial and Religious Power: The Transformation of Chinese Society and Culture in Term 2; UGEC2945F History of Hong Kong: From Colony to Special Administrative Region in Summer Term.

Dr. WOO Tze Yan Jessie has been reappointed as Lecturer with effect from 2 August 2021.

Recapping the “Staff-Student Consultative Committee Meeting” held on 9 June 2021

Prof. LAI Ming Chiu, Department Chairman, and Prof. CHEUNG Sui Wai, Head of Graduate Division, conducted the Staff-Student Consultative Committee Meeting on 9 June 2021.  The Committee is composed of faculty members as well as undergraduate and postgraduate student representatives. The Committee serves as a bridge to strengthen two-way communication between the Department and students.

Recapping the “Teaching Enhancement Workshop” on 10 June 2021

Prof. LAI Ming Chiu, Department Chairman, Prof. CHEUNG Sui Wai, Head of Graduate Division Head, and Prof. POON Shuk Wah, Division Secretary, held a Teaching Enhancement Workshop on 10 June 2021, which was attended by 32 MPhil and PhD students. Both the teachers and students treasured the opportunity to discuss issues on teaching and learning. MPhil and PhD students also shared their valuable experience as teaching assistants in the Department of History.

Recapping the "Orientation Workshop for Research Postgraduate Students 2021-22" conducted on 3 August 2021

The Orientation Workshop for Research Postgraduate Students was conducted on 3 August 2021. The workshop was hosted by Prof. PUK Wing Kin, Head of Graduate Division, with the welcome notes delivered by Prof. CHEUNG Sui Wai, Department Chairman. It provided an overview of the Department and programme features to postgraduate students. Miss Emily CHEUNG, Assistant Lecturer, then gave a briefing on the duty of teaching assistants in the Department.

For teachers and students who have information to share with the Department, please email your articles in both Chinese and English to chanfiona@cuhk.edu.hk by 4:00pm every Monday.