Dear Colleagues,
As we step into 2026, my initial plan was to celebrate our University's achievements in the past year. However, recent tragic events in Hong Kong—where a fire devastated seven high-rise residential buildings, causing severe loss and hardship—have shifted my focus.
Our University responded by mourning the victims and actively supporting affected students, faculty and staff. This incident serves as a powerful reminder of life's fragility and the impermanence of material possessions. It encourages us to use our resources wisely to create a meaningful, lasting impact on others.
There have been discussions about HKMU's financial position, especially regarding the acquisitions of MU88 and MU Tower, and recent pay adjustments. I want to clarify that our healthy reserves are dedicated to improving education and services for students; planning and implementing the campus development blueprint; attracting and retaining quality faculty and staff with competitive remuneration packages; and building our financial capacity to support future growth and protect against potential economic challenges.
The acquisition of MU Tower is a strategic move to create inspiring spaces for learning, innovation and community engagement. When MU88 reopens in September 2026, it will provide 439 bed spaces for HKMU students and incoming exchange students, thereby facilitating participation in overseas exchange programmes for our students. Taken together, our investments, including real estate acquisitions, also aim to diversify our asset portfolio.
For context, HKMU ranks seventh among Hong Kong universities in terms of total reserves, noting that our UGC-funded peers receive at least half of their annual budgets from direct government funding.
Looking ahead, HKMU is planning a major internationalization initiative. The Office of Strategic Initiatives aims to add 100 new semester-based overseas exchange opportunities for undergraduate students in 2026.
Concurrently, we will add 100 overseas exchange scholarships (with two award levels at HK$30,000 and $60,000) to support students enrolled in the new “Minor in Global Studies”.
By using our resources wisely, we can create positive and lasting impacts for our university community and society.
Let us continue to work together to turn 2026 into another fruitful and productive year!
Paul LAM Kwan-sing
President
