Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, said at the opening ceremony, 'CUHK has a long history and close connection with Taiwan.  Many former and current academic members at CUHK come from Taiwan or have Taiwan connections. At present, only a few international academic institutions have set up Taiwan studies or research centres, including the London University School of Oriental and African Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara and San Diego, Tokyo University and the European Research Centre on Contemporary Taiwan at Tübingen University.  The Taiwan Research Centre at CUHK will join these organizations to promote Taiwan studies and to foster collaboration with institutions in Taiwan for academic and cultural cooperation.'

Mr. Fredric Mao, Convenor of the Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Cooperation Committee, congratulated CUHK on the establishment of the Taiwan Research Centre.  He believed that there would be many exchange and collaboration opportunities between his committee and the Centre.  Prof. Desmond Hui, Director of the Taiwan Research Centre, introduced the aims and objectives of the Centre, including the establishment of research themes and projects on Taiwan; organizing workshops, seminars and conferences; supporting researchers, scholars and students from Hong Kong and Taiwan; coordination with the counterpart institutions from Taiwan and dissemination of research activities and results to the public. 

The first academic event of the Centre, the 'Taiwan Film and Culture Symposium', took place immediately after the opening ceremony with Prof. Leo Lee, Sin Wai Kin Professor of Chinese Culture, CUHK, as the moderator.  Speakers included Prof. Michelle Bloom from the University of California, Riverside; Prof. Liao Hsien-hao from Taiwan University; and Prof. Lin Wen-chi from Central University. 

On 23 April, Prof. Jack Cheng, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, led a delegation to Taiwan and officiated at the establishment ceremony of Hong Kong Research Centre in Taiwan Central University. The Centre will collaborate closely with Taiwan Research Centre of CUHK, serving as a platform and contact for academic institutions in Taiwan and Hong Kong to promote territory-wide collaboration between Hong Kong and Taiwan.