The State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology (The Chinese University of Hong Kong) was officially opened on 13 December. Prof. Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Zhan Yongxin, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR; Mr. Li Ling, Deputy Director General of Education, Science and Technology Department of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Mr. Gregory So Kam Leung, Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development; Prof. Sun Qixin, Vice President of the China Agricultural University; and Prof. Lawrence J. Lau, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, officiated at the plaque unveiling ceremony.

The heads of 10 prestigious universities from the mainland and Hong Kong gathered at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on 16 December for the 2008 Meeting of the Association of University Presidents of China (AUPC) and Presidents' Forum. They included university presidents of the founding members: Prof. Gu Binglin, AUPC Chairman and President of Tsinghua University; Prof. Wang Shenghong, AUPC Vice-Chairman and President of Fudan University; Prof. Lawrence J. Lau, AUPC Vice-Chairman and Vice-Chancellor of CUHK; President Zhang Jie of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; President Zhou Qifeng of Peking University; President Zheng Nanning of Xi'an Jiaotong University; President Chen Jun of Nanjing University; Vice-Chancellor Tsui Lap-chee of The University of Hong Kong; President Yang Wei of Zhejiang University; and Vice-President Wong Yuk-shan of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Altogether 45 representatives from these 10 prestigious universities attended this major event in higher education.

The plaque-unveiling ceremony of "The Chinese University of Hong Kong – Zhejiang University Joint Research Centre for Human Reproduction and Related Diseases" between the Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Faculty of Medicine of Zhejiang University, was held in CUHK on 16 December.

Prof. Lawrence J. Lau and Prof. Yang Wei unveiled the plaque in commemorating the establishment of the Joint Research Centre. At the ceremony, they also delivered addresses and Prof. Chan Hsiao-chang gave a presentation on the Joint Research Centre. The joint research centre pulls together the research strength of Zhejiang University's Faculty of Medicine and CUHK's Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre to achieve the objective of enhancing the quality of reproduction and health in China through joint research as well as joint supervision of research students.  Prof. Huang He Feng, Associate Dean of Faculty of Medicine and Prof. Chan Hsiao-chang will be the co-directors of the Centre.

A delegation of 8 senior members from the South China University of Technology (SCUT) led by Prof. Li Yuanyuan, President and Prof. Zhu Min, Vice-President of SCUT, visited the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on 18 December.

Prof. Sun Qixin, Vice-President of China Agricultural University (CAU) led a delegation to visit the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on 13 December to present at the plaque-unveiling ceremony of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology (The Chinese University of Hong Kong) and to sign collaboration agreements with CUHK.

After the ceremony, the delegation met with Prof. Jack Cheng, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK; Prof. Henry Wong Nai-ching, Chairman of Research Committee; and Prof. Samuel Sun Sai-ming, Director, SKL of Agrobiotechnology (The Chinese University of Hong Kong). In the meeting, Prof. Sun Qixin and Prof. Jack Cheng, signed an university-wide memorandum of understanding, and together with Prof. Li Ling of CAU and Prof. Samuel Sun of CUHK, they signed an agreement between State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology of the two universities. It is believed that the new agreements will strengthen their ties in academic and research cooperation.

Headed by Prof. Zheng Nanning, the President, a 15-member delegation from the Xi'an Jiaotong University visited the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) from 17-19 December to exchange views and share experience on running the college system in the university.

CUHK offers Hong Kong's only college experience. The four constituent colleges, Chung Chi, New Asia, United and Shaw, complement the efforts of the University to deliver whole-person education and pastoral care. Five new colleges are Morningside College, S.H. Ho College, C.W. Chu College, Wu Yee Sun College and Lee Woo Sing College.

With the support of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the H.K.S.A.R. and The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, 11 Hong Kong Universities joined hands in organizing the "Higher Education Forum for Universities in Jiangxi, Fujian" in early December. 38 leaders and administrators from higher institutions in Jiangxi and Fujian participated in the Forum.

The Centre for Health Behaviors Research of the School of Public Health of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the National Centre for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) jointly organised the "National Workshop on Prevention and Intervention for HIV High Risk Behaviors" in Shenzhen, China, from 15 October to 17 October, 2008. Over 100 experts and professionals in charge of the prevention and care work on HIV/AIDS in 32 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the mainland participated in the workshop.

The "Academic Seminar Supported by K. C. Wong Education Foundation" is now open for application. CUHK scholars who plan to deliver academic seminars in the Mainland in 2009 are welcome to apply.

Completed application forms should be sent to the Office of Academic Links (China) for collective submission to the Foundation before 28 February, 2009. The application guidelines, procedures and forms can be obtained from our website at: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/oalc/ch/cu/fund.htm.

For enquiries please contact Ms. Mable Law at 2609-8725 / mable-law@cuhk.edu.hk

Agreement newly established between the Chinese University of Hong Kong and higher education institutions in the mainland / Taiwan :