The University of Hong Kong held a gala dinner on December 18 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre as a part of its centenary-celebration activities. More than 5,000 guests, including alumni, staff and students, ate at 360 tables. Joining the event were HKU chancellor Donald Tsang, pro-chancellor David Li Kwok Po, vice-chancellor professor Lap-Chee Tsui, former vice-chancellors Rayson Huang, Wang Gungwu, Cheng Yiu-chung and 80 overseas and local university presidents.

A short film, Sapientia, produced by alumni and famous directors Mabel Cheung and Alex Law, using the newly recorded HKU anthem as background music, premiered at the dinner. The 1912 “University Anthem”, reconstructed from original parts by the head of HKU's music department, Dr Chan Hing-yan, originally was composed by St John's Cathedral organist Denman Fuller, with the Latin verses by former governor Sir Cecil Clementi, and first performed at HKU's opening ceremony a century ago. The anthem was used at university occasions until the 1930s and then preserved in archives.

University of Hong Kong

(December 22, 2011)


Guests crowd in for a once-per-century meal.

ARCHIVES