Greetings from the Office of Academic Links (OAL)! Once again, congratulations on being admitted to CUHK! This newsletter is to help you prepare for your upcoming stay at CUHK and Hong Kong. You will be able to learn more about the happenings and lifestyle of your second home in the forthcoming months through this newsletter.

  FACEBOOK

We have created a Facebook group – “CUHK IASP 2014-15 | Fall Term” for our community. We hope that this would allow you to get connected with everyone in the programme and exchange information in a timely manner.

 

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  ONLINE COURSE PRE-SELECTION

Please pay attention to the email which was sent to you earlier on 11 July 2014 concerning course pre-selection for 1st term of academic year 2014-15.  You are required to submit an online form between 14 and 16 July 2014 (Hong Kong Time).

 

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  EXPECTED ARRIVAL INFORMATION

To better keep track of your arrival date and time in Hong Kong, you should complete and submit the online arrival information form.

 

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  BUDDY PROGRAMME AT CUHK

The Office of Academic Links has organized the Buddy Programme to link up CUHK students who have been on exchange with the new international students.  This programme aims to provide an intercultural experiential learning environment for both groups of students.  We hope all of you will gain unique local experiences through the interaction with your assigned buddy.

 

If you wish to find a local friend to practise Cantonese or Putonghua, learn about Chinese culture, and earn extra insider information about student life in Hong Kong and CUHK, act now!  Sign up here before 11 August 2014.

 

Note: Other units at CUHK also arrange their own buddy programmes for international students.  You are welcome to join as many programmes as you wish.

 

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  CANTONESE SURVIVAL CLASS

CUHK’s Chinese Language Centre will offer a one-hour Cantonese Survival Class for new students during the orientation week.  It is designed for students who wish to pick up some Cantonese phrases that can be used in everyday situations, such as greetings, shopping, and traveling.  Seats are limited.  Sign up by sending your full name, application number and home institution to Mr. Colin Chow at colinchow@cuhk.edu.hk before 1 August 2014.

 

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  PRESENTATION: THINKING ABOUT CONTEMPORARY CHINA

The Centre for China Studies will meet with new students during the orientation week. Representative of the centre will deliver a presentation on Contemporary China in order to enhance attendants' knowledge in the topic and at the same time, to help enrich their future stay in the region. Sign up by sending your full name, application number and home institution to Mr. Colin Chow at colinchow@cuhk.edu.hk before 1 August 2014. Seats are limited.

 

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  LANGUAGE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

The Language Exchange Programme arranged by the Independent Learning Centre (ILC) at CUHK aims at providing students the opportunity to meet and practise with two to three students using both their native and target languages.  It will enable students to interact with each other in a relaxed environment while making new friends of different cultural backgrounds.  There will be weekly meetings and field trip during the term. Participants are encouraged to write four short reflective journals on the activities (about 200 - 300 words each). Online registration will be available next week.  For enquiries, please contact ILC at ilclep@cuhk.edu.hk.

 

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  HONG KONG AT A GLANCE

Geography

Hong Kong is situated on the southeastern coast of China and spread out over 1,100 square kilometers.  It is composed of Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territorries, as well as 262 outlying islands.  The famous Victoria Harbour lies between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula.  CUHK is located in the New Territories and conveniently linked other districts via the metro system in Hong Kong – Mass Transit Railway (MTR).  MTR provides the most convenient method of commuting CUHK to downtown Kowloon and to the border of Mainland China.

CUHK Campus Map

MTR Journey Planner

 

Octopus Card

The Octopus Card is a stored value smart card widely used in Hong Kong, i.e. public transport, shops and supermarkets, most of the canteens at CUHK, etc.  If you are aged 25 or below, you can apply for a Personalised Octopus Card with student status, which gives you privilege to enjoy concessionary fares on the MTR network (except for the Airport Express).  Application forms will be distributed to you when you arrive at CUHK!

 

 

Regional Flag of Hong Kong

The regional flag of Hong Kong features a white five-petal Bauhinia flower in the centre of a red field.  Bauhinia flower is discovered in Hong Kong and has been adopted as the floral emblem of the region since 1965.

 

 

 

Visual Identity of Hong Kong

The Hong Kong visual identity is a powerful and energetic dragon.  It is a modern design which communicates Hong Kong’s link to an historical and cultural icon.

 

The body of the dragon includes both the Chinese characters for “Hong Kong” (香港) and the letters “H” and “K”.

 

The tagline, “Asia’s World City”, communicates Hong Kong’s role as  regional business hub, a natural gateway to new economic opportunities in Mainland China and the rest of Asia and as an international centre for arts and culture.

 

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  STUDENT VISA

All non-local students admitted to CUHK must apply for a student visa through the Office of Academic Links before coming to Hong Kong.  Once we receive complete documentation from you, we will forward it to the Hong Kong Immigration Department.  The normal processing time is about 4 to 6 weeks.  Our colleague will contact you by email to confirm a delivery address and telephone number as soon as the student visa is ready.  We will send the student visa to you by FedEx.  The student visa should be affixed onto a blank page in your passport or travel document (for students from Mainland China).  You must show it to the immigration officer upon your arrival in Hong Kong so as to activate student status in Hong Kong.  A "Journey completed" stamp will be placed on your visa label. A landing slip, which indicates the student status due date will be given to you before leaving the immigration hall, should be attached in your passport.

 

 

 

 

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  MAINLAND CHINA TOURIST VISA

If you plan to travel to Mainland China during your study period in Hong Kong, you are recommended to apply for a China tourist visa in your home country (except for holders of Singapore and Japan passports).  This is different from the Hong Kong student visa.  It is possible to apply for a China tourist visa in Hong Kong but it is unlikely that multiple entry visas will be issued in Hong Kong for first-time applicants.

 

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  ORIENTATION

An orientation for newly admitted IASP students will be held from 25 to 30 August 2014 (suggested arrival dates: 25 and 26 August 2014) and followed by a Hong Kong City Tour on 6 September 2014.  It covers information on the curriculum, student life at CUHK, Chinese culture, Hong Kong society, and services provided by various units at CUHK and staff members of the Office of Academic Links.  The orientation is also an excellent occasion to know other international students.  A tentative schedule is available here.

During the orientation period, IASP students will be accommodated in the orientation dormitories located at various Colleges.  For postgraduate students assigned to Postgraduate Hall (Block 1) as permanent hostel, you will begin your stay at Postgraduate Hall (Block 1) upon your arrival at CUHK campus.

 

For students who will live off-campus, please contact Ms. Heidi O at heidio@cuhk.edu.hk on whether you will stay on-campus during the orientation period.

 

Chinese cuisine will be served at the welcoming dinner on Friday, 29 August 2014.  If you are a vegetarian, please inform us via email: colinchow@cuhk.edu.hk and we will try to arrange vegetarian dishes for you.

 

 

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  COLLEGE AND PERMANENT HOSTEL ASSIGNMENT

The final list of college and permanent hostel assignment will be announced through this newsletter due to be sent in mid-August 2014.

 

 

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  MEDICAL SERVICE AT CUHK AND MEDICAL CHECK UP

The University Health Service at CUHK provides free primary health care facilities and clinical services to all students. Basic medication is free. You should also arrange at your own cost, accidental and medical insurance during the period in Hong Kong. If you plan on travelling around Asia, the insurance policy should cover these regions as well.

 

You may also consider undertaking a medical check up and getting necessary vaccination prior to your trip. Although these are not compulsory, students are advised of monitoring their health condition at all times. You should also bring along medical report and doctor's letter for any prescription medication.

 

 

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  CUHK MOBILE APP

 

You will find the CUHK Mobile app handy as it tells you the time of the next shuttle and locates classrooms within seconds.  It is compatible with both iPhone and Android mobile devices.  You may download it from the iPhone App Store or Google Play Store by searching CUHK Mobile.

 

 

 

 

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  QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Student Advisor at OAL:

 

For students from the Americas – Mr. Daniel Chan dtchan@cuhk.edu.hk
For students from Asia and Oceania – Ms. Jasmine Wong jasminewym@cuhk.edu.hk
For students from Europe and South Africa – Mr. Tommy Leung tommyleung@cuhk.edu.hk

 

 

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