Greetings from the Office of Academic Links (OAL)! Once again, congratulations on being admitted to The Chinese University of Hong Kong (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 2015-16 | Spring 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 on 9 November 2015 concerning course pre-selection for 2nd term of academic year 2015-16.  You are required to submit an online form between 11 and 13 November 2015 (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 December 2015.

 

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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  SURVIVAL CANTONESE CLASS

CUHK’s Yale-China Chinese Language Centre will offer a one-hour Survival Cantonese 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 21 December 2015.

 

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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 form for the academic year 2015-16 can be obtained from any MTR station.

 

 

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 5 to 7 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 to 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 7 to 9 January 2016 (suggested arrival dates: 5 or 6 January 2016). The welcoming dinner and Hong Kong City Tour will be held on 8 and 9 January 2016 respectively.  The orientation 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.  It is also an excellent occasion to know other international students.  A tentative schedule is available here.

Students assigned to on-campus dormitories should settle your bags there before visiting the Office of Academic Links (1/F, Yasumoto International Academic Park) for registration. If you are expected to reach the campus after office hours, please visit us on the next working day. (Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8:45 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.).

 

Chinese cuisine will be served at the welcoming dinner on Friday, 8 January 2016.  If you are on vegetarian or other special diet, please inform us via email: colinchow@cuhk.edu.hk and we will try to arrange suitable 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-December 2015.

 

 

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  MEDICAL SERVICE AT CUHK AND MEDICAL CHECK UP

The University Health Service at CUHK provides 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. Monitoring your health condition at all times should be your top priority. 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. Alex Chau alexchaukw@cuhk.edu.hk
For students from Asia and Oceania – Ms. Jasmine Wong jasminewym@cuhk.edu.hk
For students from Europe and South Africa – Ms. Wynne Leung wynneleung@cuhk.edu.hk

 

 

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