As a self-financing institution, the OUHK relies heavily on donations and other forms of support from a wide range of benefactors – including charitable institutions, government departments, corporations in various business sectors, our alumni and other well-wishers in the community. In mentioning some particularly noteworthy donations we received in the past year, we would also like to extend our gratitude to all the many other supporters who helped to make our work possible.

Substantial support for the New College

The OUHK has embarked on a major fund-raising effort to finance the New College project. While we have secured a $317 million interest-free government loan towards the estimated construction cost of over $720 million, we still need to raise a considerable amount of money from other sources.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust made a very generous grant of $200.7 million for this purpose. Of this, $190 million will be used to fund the College’s construction, with the remaining $10.7 million being used to launch the Jockey Club Community Healthcare Education Programme. In recognition of this contribution, the New College Campus and Auditorium will be named, respectively, the Jockey Club Campus and Jockey Club Auditorium.

The Wu Jieh Yee Charitable Foundation and Ms Connie Fong Yin-king also made very significant donations of $20 million and $6.006 million respectively for this project.

At the same time, we launched the ‘Name a Desk’ campaign to raise funds for the construction of the New College. It called on members of the community to donate the $6,000 handout paid by the Hong Kong SAR Government in the ‘Scheme $6,000’. In recognition of their support, the name of each donor will be printed on a desk in one of the New College lecture halls.

Funds for further development

The Yuen Yuen Institute made a donation of $3 million to the OUHK to fund our further development, including the expansion of our campus facilities, the enhancement of learning support, and the establishment of scholarships and bursaries for students.

We also received a donation of $2 million from the Midland Charitable Foundation to support the OUHK’s general development.

Scholarships and bursaries

The OUHK Student Assistance Fund provides scholarships and bursaries to students who excel in their studies or who have heavy financial burdens. Dedicated bursaries have also been set up for students with disabilities, new arrivals and prison inmates.

At the Award Presentation Ceremony held in October 2011, the University presented about 300 scholarships and subject prizes, as well as 380 bursaries, with a total value of more than $5.5 million for the 2010–11 academic year. The awards were handed over by the Director of The Yuen Yuen Institute, Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai, together with senior officials of the OUHK, and a number of our patrons and representatives from various organizations.

Exchanges and sponsorships

We have received sponsorships for our students to participate in a number of academic exchange programmes overseas and in mainland China. Through these activities, students can benefit academically, and gain international experience and exposure.

The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce sponsored our full-time students to take part in three academic exchanges in mainland China in May 2011. Sixteen nursing students went to Guangzhou for a Chinese medicine exchange visit, while another group of 56 nursing students took part in the Hong Kong – Zhuhai Nursing Study Tour. Also, 30 students from the Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration went to Kunming for a six-day academic exchange.

The Hong Kong Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce Ltd – Winnie Ko Student Exchange Fund sponsored a number of exchange programmes. In May 2011, 18 full-time nursing students joined the Hong Kong and Singapore Nursing Student Exchange Programme, while 12 students from the School of Arts and Social Sciences and the School of Education and Languages took part in the English Cultural Literacy UK Study Tour. In addition, in October 2011, six full-time students from the School of Science and Technology joined the 12th National University Students Technology Challenge Cup Competition held in Dalian.

The CASH Education Fund sponsored a one-day study tour to Shenzhen by 20 full-time students from the Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration in May 2011 and a week-long cultural exchange tour to Taiwan by 22 full-time students from the School of Arts and Social Sciences in June 2011.