City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has always cherished its connections with alumni. To strengthen ties with graduates in the North China region, CityUHK hosted a grand alumni reunion dinner in Beijing on 22 March. The event welcomed over 240 esteemed alumni and guests from academia, the legal profession, business and the public service. They gathered to reminisce about their student days at CityUHK and learn about the University’s latest developments. This dinner was particularly significant as it marked Mr Michael Ngai’s first attendance at a Mainland alumni event since assuming his role as Chairman of the CityUHK Council.

In his address, Mr Ngai emphasised CityUHK’ s commitment to nurturing outstanding individuals with an international outlook, innovative spirit and sense of social responsibility. He noted that CityUHK alumni have excelled in various industries across the globe, becoming a vital force driving societal progress through their exceptional talent and leadership. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the leading figures from the School of Law and the distinguished individuals from various colleges who attended, demonstrating their deep affection for their alma mater.

CityUHK’s remarkable development is underpinned by the unwavering support of its alumni. Over the past year, the CityUHK Alumni Relations Office has organised numerous events to connect global alumni, including the CityUHK Homecoming Day on the Hong Kong campus, which drew over 3,000 alumni. Furthermore, CityUHK established the “CityUHK Singapore Alumni Chapter” this January, expanding its global alumni network. Additionally, CityUHK hosted alumni dinners in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, fostering a simultaneous sense of belonging to alumni spanning multiple provinces and cities within the CityUHK community.

Professor Freddy Boey, President of CityUHK, shared with alumni CityUHK's recent outstanding achievements. As a pioneering and innovative young university, CityUHK’s excellence has been highly recognised by leading international bodies. In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2025 Asia University Rankings, CityUHK was ranked among the top 100 globally and 10th in Asia, placing it among the top 1% universities in Asia. CityUHK was also recognised as the ‘Most International University in the World’ for two consecutive years, actively expanding its global academic network, forging close ties with world-leading universities, attracting outstanding students from nearly 100 countries and regions, and establishing exchange and cooperation agreements with 44 countries and regions.

In research, CityUHK is actively driving innovation, having successively established the CityUHK Academy of Innovation, the Institute of Digital Medicine, the College of Computing, the Hong Kong Institute of AI for Science, and the College of Biomedicine. CityUHK also partnered with the école Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) to establish the Institute for Materials Innovation. CityUHK has established a new campus in Dongguan, Guangdong, and a joint research laboratory in Nansha, Guangzhou, to promote collaboration in education and research between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

President Boey stated, “I am confident that CityUHK will continue to grow and make our alumni proud. CityUHK’s potential is limitless. When you come to CityUHK, you come to the world. Beijing, as China's cultural and innovation hub, aligns perfectly with CityUHK’s international vision. Looking ahead, we look forward to exploring more collaborative opportunities with alumni. Together, we will write a new chapter for CityUHK.”

To further enhance alumni connections, the Alumni Lounge in the CityUHK International Centre was officially opened, providing a comfortable home for alumni gatherings and a place to reconnect when alumni are in Hong Kong. CityUHK also plans to establish more alumni lounges in Shenzhen, Shanghai and other locations to link leaders and elites from various fields and provide more opportunities for alumni to strengthen their bonds.

The CityUHK North China Alumni Dinner has invited several prominent guests to attend, including Mr Liu Chunhua, Director-General of Legal Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Feng Wei, Former Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; Ms Wang Xiaofang, Vice-President of National Judges College; Mr Sun Xiaoyong, General Manager of the Legal Affairs Department of China Construction Bank Corporation and Former President of National Judges College; Mr Cai Shaogang, Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Standing Committee of the Suzhou Municipal People’s Congress; Mr Li Renxing, Chairman of the CityUHK Beijing Alumni Chapter; Dr Fan Chaobin, Chairman of the CityUHK Shenzhen Alumni Chapter and alumni Dr Duan Junping.

The dinner programme was rich and varied, with alumni from across the Mainland provinces gathering in a lively atmosphere. As well as a grand lucky draw, a song titled ‘September Hillside’, composed by alumni from the School of Law, was played. It depicted scenes from a September when adjudication experts from different fields met on the CityUHK campus and revisited their classroom days, showcasing their deep affection for their alma mater.

Attendees at the North China Regional Alumni Reunion Dinner also included: Professor Lee Chun-sing, Provost and Deputy President; Professor Kevin Downing, Secretary to Council and Court; Professor Lu Chun, Vice-President (Mainland Strategy) and Executive President of CityUHK(Dongguan) ; Professor Lin Feng, Dean of the School of Law; Professor Kalok Chan, Dean of the College of Business; Professor Alfred Ho Tat-kei, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Professor Lu Jian, Dean of the College of Engineering; Professor Ding Chunyan, Associate Dean of the School of Law; Ms Ng Pheck Choo, Senior Director of the Office of the President and Director of Global Engagement Office; Ms Sng Jing Li, Director of the Office of the President; Ms Grace Liang, Director of the Alumni Relations Office; and Professor Shirley Chong, Director of the Communications and Institutional Research Office.