The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) staged an opening ceremony yesterday for HKUST Jockey Club Hall – a new residential building at Tseung Kwan O that provides 512 bed spaces for undergraduate students. The off-campus hostel was named after The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) for its generous donation of HK$33 million to help undergraduate students with the opportunity to stay in a student hostel for at least one year of their course.
“The partnership between The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and HKUST began when the Trust made a HK$2 billion donation to construct the campus in the late 80s’. This turnkey project provides a solid foundation for the University to focus on the software development at the early stage of establishment,” Mr Cheung Leong, Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club said at the opening ceremony. “In carrying out our work we have been pleased to form close partnerships with Hong Kong universities - leveraging their intellectual expertise and field leadership to create greater and sustainable social benefits for Hong Kong.” Other officiating guests include HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan and other senior management from the University.
President Chan thanked HKJC’s generosity that helps facilitate the University’s goal to enrich student life, “Fulfilling our vision in holistic education has always been the University’s top priority. We wish to provide educational opportunities with living and learning components integrated within a smaller community, and a rich, personal experience that complements students’ academic studies.”
The nine-story hostel provides 64 apartments – each with four double bedrooms, two shared bathrooms and a common living room. The hostel aims to blend in with its neighborhood not only by opening its communal facilities for community events, but will also encourage its residents to engage in or initiate community outreach programs such as hosting tutorial for underprivileged students and visits to nearby schools and hospitals.
The Hall incorporates many green features such as user-pay air conditioning system that charges according to the residents’ actual electricity consumption, motion sensor lighting in corridors and lift lobbies, as well as solar powered lampposts in outdoor areas to minimize use of electricity. There are also designs that facilitate natural lighting, ventilation and the recycling of rain water for watering.
The Jockey Club Hall is the tenth undergraduate residential building at HKUST. It brings the total number of bed space for undergraduate students to over 4,500.
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