City University of Hong Kong
The City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is a public research university located in Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1984 as the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong and became a fully accredited university in 1994.
Other name
CityU
1 January 1984 (as City Polytechnic of Hong Kong)
1994 (full university status)
845
12,309
4,929
English
Bold burgundy
USFHK
香港城市大學
香港城市大学
Xiānggǎng Chéngshì Dàxué
Xiānggǎng Chéngshì Dàxué
Hēunggóng Sìhngsíh Daaihhohk
Hoeng1gong2 Sing4si5 Daai6hok6
The university currently has nine main schools offering courses in business, science, engineering, liberal arts and social sciences, law, and veterinary medicine, along with the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies, CityU Shenzhen Research Institute, and Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study.
History[edit]
City University's origins lie in the calls for a "second polytechnic" in the years following the 1972 establishment of the Hong Kong Polytechnic. In 1982, Executive Council member Chung Sze-yuen spoke of a general consensus that "a second polytechnic of similar size to the first should be built as soon as possible."[3] District administrators from Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan lobbied the government to build the new institution in their respective new towns.[3] The government instead purchased temporary premises at the new Argyle Centre Tower II in Mong Kok, a property developed by the Mass Transit Railway Corporation in concert with the then-Argyle station. The new school was called City Polytechnic of Hong Kong, a name chosen among nearly 300 suggestions made by members of the public.[4]
The new polytechnic opened on 8 October 1984, welcoming 480 full-time and 680 part-time students.[5] The provision for part-time students contributed to high enrolment, with the quota being filled almost immediately.[5]
A tract of land on the former site of a village named Chu Koo Chai was chosen for the new campus.[6] The architectural contract to design the campus was won by Percy Thomas Partnership in association with Alan Fitch and W.N. Chung.[7] It was originally slated to open by October 1988.[8] The first phase was officially opened by Governor Wilson on 15 January 1990, and boasted 14 lecture theatres and 1,500 computers.[9] By 1991, the school had over 8,000 full-time students and approximately 3,000 part-time students.[10] The second phase of the permanent campus opened 1993.[7]
The school achieved university status in 1994 and the name was changed accordingly.[11]
In 2023, to welcome the start of the new academic year, CityU launched CityU Heroes, stories about outstanding alumni, students and faculty that demonstrate CityU's determination to pursue academic excellence and illustrate how to realise their dreams and give back to society through learning-centric pedagogy. The tunnel connecting the CityU campus to Festival Walk proudly champions the stories of the CityU Heroes. Visitors passing through the new-look thoroughfare can access QR codes to learn more about the 12 featured CityU Heroes.
Main Entrance from Tat Chee Avenue
Logo
Buildings
Swimming Pool, 2019
Kirin sculptures near the main entrance
University rankings
101-150 (2023)
62 (2025)
4 (2021)
82 (2024)
176-200 (2023)
4 (2024)
120 (2023)
17 (2024)
15 (2024)
Student life[edit]
Student residence[edit]
Student residences are located on Cornwall Street, near Lau Ming Wai academic building. They provide housing and recreational space for undergraduates and postgraduates. Among them, halls 1 to 9 were designed by the British firm RMJM, while halls 10 and 11 were designed by P&T Group. Most halls are named after donors:[43]
Construction work for the 5th phase of the Student Hostel project at Whitehead, Ma On Shan commenced in March 2022. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, and tentatively in use by 2024, providing more than 2,000 bed-spaces for CityU undergraduates and postgraduates.
Publications[edit]
City University of Hong Kong Press[edit]
The City University of Hong Kong Press was founded in 1996 as the publishing arm of the university.[47] It mainly publishes three types of publications: academic works, professional books, and books of general interest and social concern. The press focuses on China studies, Hong Kong studies, Asian studies, politics and public policy.
Main Entrance
College of Business
AC2 Roof Garden 2013
AC3
University Sign
Kirin sculptures near the main entrance
One of the Kirin sculptures near the main entrance
ACAD2
CityU AC2
Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre
Aerial view of the Student Residences
Escalators inside the Festival Walk mall connecting to CityU
Kowloon Tong MTR Station
Incidents[edit]
Shut down of MFA in Creative Writing[edit]
In April 2015, CityU shut down the programme of Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Students and alumni launched a petition against the decision while faculty and noted international writers issued an open letter questioning the reasoning behind the closure.[63] Canadian novelist and faculty member Madeleine Thien, writing in The Guardian, was among those who attributed the decision to censorship and diminishing freedom of expression in Hong Kong.[64]
Collapse of roof of sports hall[edit]
On 20 May 2016, the roof structure of the Chan Tai Ho Multi-purpose Hall (the Sports Hall) in the Hu Fa Kuang Sports Centre (the Sports Centre) collapsed. Two staff members of CityU sustained minor injuries and a third individual was in shock. The venue was originally scheduled to hold an annual celebration banquet on that night for 700–800 CityU student athletes.[65] The investigation report released by the Buildings Department said three factors contributed to the collapse: (1) a leveled layer of material applied to the surface of the roof structure being thicker than the original design, (2) the laying of greenery on the roof, and (3) large puddles of water.[66] CityU did not seek separate advice from an independent surveyor to conduct feasibility studies and designs before tendering out the project to consultants or contractors. A report by CityU's investigation committee concluded that the surveyor of the green roof project was to be held liable for the collapse despite his repeated denial of involvement in the works.[67] It was reported that CityU vice-president Sunny Lee Wai-kwong (who oversaw the Campus Development and Facilities Office) escaped liability while technical staff would face disciplinary action.[67]
QS ranking dispute[edit]
In 2017, CityU was accused of providing misleading information to Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) to boost its university rankings.[68][69] The QS review, however, confirmed that the data submitted by CityU was accurate. CityU would submit the case to an external audit firm to verify the data.[69] In January 2018, CityU issued a statement stating that it had commissioned an accounting firm to complete an independent review of the student data declared by CityU and confirmed that it found no declarations that did not meet the scope of QS requirements.[70]
Chinese Judge Meeting on campus[edit]
On 20 October 2018, National Judges College under the Supreme People's Court of China uploaded an article to its website about a meeting held by "provisional branches of the Chinese Communist Party" at CityU. According to the article, 39 party members, including Huang Wenjun, president and party secretary of the National Judges College and 11 non-party members, attended the meeting and gave a lecture. Huang told attendees that judges must take a "clear-cut stance" on politics, increase their political sensitivity, learn socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era led by the Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, and should fight against "incorrect words and deeds."[71][72] Despite the fact that the party branches were formed by Chinese judges who studied at CityU, Professor Lin Feng (associate dean of CityU's law school) who liaised with the college in organizing the courses, said the lecture "had caught the faculty by surprise". Pro-Beijing legislator Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, an associate law professor at CityU, refused to comment, claiming that she was not aware of the arrangement.[72] Spokesperson for CityU said it maintains political neutrality and that no activities involving politics should be held on campus.[71]
Intervention of students' academic autonomy[edit]
In October 2019, Professor Tan who was teaching a digital marketing course sent an email to the students, which warned the students not to deliver any political messages in class presentations or they will be given zero marks. The e-mail caused dissatisfaction among students.[73] Pro-democracy group Frontline Technology Workers pointed out that the presentations were relevant to the course although it was touching the social taboo.[74] They also highlighted academic journal articles which discussed the relationship between politics and marketing.[75][76][77] Students' Union questioned university's promise on academic autonomy.[78]
New campus security measures[edit]
In November 2019, CityU barred all students from entering the campus and the student hostel area as some of the facilities had been damaged by the protestors during the Siege of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. On 30 November, CityU reopened the campus but staff and students were required to present their identity cards to gain entry.[79] By December, hoarding panels had been built around the whole campus and turnstiles had been installed at all entrances. CityU issued a press release, stating that the vast majority of members of the Senate and the Court of CityU supported the security measures and the installation of an electronic access system.[80] The Student Union stressed that it opposed and had voted in the Court's meeting against the installation of turnstiles. The Student Union quoted an earlier questionnaire survey conducted by CityU Staff Association, stating that most of the respondents agreed that "university campuses should be opened to the public." The Student Union has repeatedly expressed objections to the university's policy of prohibiting public access to the campus and urged the university to consult teachers and students on the issue.[80]