New student hostel donated by The Hong Kong Jockey Club opens on Lingnan campus

18 Sep 2014

 

The Jockey Club New Hall, a new student hostel of Lingnan University funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with an HK$85 million donation, was officially open today. Together with the existing Jockey Club Hall, the northern area of the Lingnan campus where the hostels are located was named “Jockey Club Student Village”.

The ceremony was officiated by Dr Simon S O Ip, CBE, JP, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; The Hon Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the Council, Lingnan University and President Leonard K Cheng.

Dr Ip told the audience that it was gratifying to know the completion of the Jockey Club Student Village fulfilled the University’s founding mission of providing distinctive liberal arts education for students in an all-encompassing campus environment, as well as helping the University address the needs and challenges that come with the new 3-3-4 curriculum. He also said that residential life gave students more time to participate in multi-faceted cultural and social programmes, and facilitated closer interactions between local and exchange students.

"Thanks to the support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Lingnan is able to offer students something that other universities cannot – full residence for our students on campus,” Mr Chan said. “I sincerely wish that Lingnan students will treasure all the valuable opportunities given, to learn, to grow, to take challenges, and to maximise their potential to the fullest during their years at Lingnan.”

President Cheng thanked The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their generous support for Lingnan over the years, which goes beyond the hostel projects. “For instance, it supported The Hong Kong Jockey Club Distinguished Visiting Professorship of Modern Chinese Literature from 2009 to 2013. And a total of 41 students have been awarded the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships, in recognition of their outstanding academic performance as well as active participation in community services. All these donations and support from the Club are deeply appreciated,” he said.

Siu Pui-yiu, a Year Three student, was excited to have a chance to live in the new hostel: “The pool of residents here is the most diversified among all the hostels at Lingnan. I like to make friends with people from different backgrounds, and I am sure that my life here will be fruitful and fantastic!”

The Jockey Club Scholarship winner Lam Wing-yee said hostel experience has helped her become more independent as she learned to take care of herself and others. “I could save three hours travelling between home and university every day and spend more time on studies, campus events and social activities,” she said. Wing-yee, who came from a grassroots family, thanked the HKJC for providing financial support for her studies.

Another Scholar winner Lindsay Lam said, “It is wonderful that undergraduates can enjoy living in hostel for four years without worrying that there will not be enough rooms. Living in hostel is an once-in-a-lifetime experience and would bring us many unforgettable memories.”

Comprised of two wings, the Jockey Club New Hall offers about 400 new hostel places, enabling Lingnan to accomplish its goal of providing full residence for undergraduates.


Attachment: Fact Sheet on Jockey Club Student Village, Lingnan University