Dear Alumni
My becoming editor of this Newsletter is history repeating itself in a technological age. I served my articles eons ago with the SE English firm of Thomas Eggar & Son. I wrote, edited and produced the firm newsletter, pretentiously called, by me, Vox Eggariana. It was “printed” on what was called a Roneo machine: the stencilled newsletter was wrapped around a cylinder which revolved whilst forcing ink though the stencil onto the printed page: this could not be done without the operator, me, becoming covered with ink. Miraculously, I still have a photo from those times:
Of course. Everybody smoked in those days and I had more hair.
Things have moved along and I’ve lost a lot of hair.
We sent out our email survey over a year ago in October 2017 to over 4,000 of you. We received only 126 replies which make me think that our alumni database is not as comprehensive as it could be and that many of the particulars we have for alumni are not correct.
Can I therefore make this plea to those of you who do receive and read this newsletter? PLEASE reach out to former classmates with whom you are still in touch to check that they are receiving our emails and IF NOT to update their email address using the online form so that we can update our database.
I’d also like to try to make contact with overseas alumni and to make sure they are being kept in touch. If any of you know of any such overseas alumni could you please forward this newsletter to them and ask them to update their status with us via the online form?
Following the survey our first major Alumni event took place on 30 January and was a cocktail reception at the Garden Lounge of the Hong Kong Club. 124 of you attended along with about 60 other guests being those who had contributed to the faculty and its students over the years in varied significant ways, and members of faculty. The Chief Justice attended and gave a most eloquent address. The Dean and an alumna from the first LLB, Karen Lam, also spoke. Photos of the event are available here. It was a very good evening, but would have been even better if more of you had been there. Perhaps the fact it was a Tuesday and the cold weather dissuaded a few of you. I’ve therefore booked a Friday night for next year’s event, 25 January at the HK Club, but I still can’t fix the weather! Invitations have recently gone out to you.
On 12 May we held a reception in GLC for departing LLM students. This was the first of its kind but will become an annual event. 65 LLM graduates-to-be and therefore future alumni attended and it was a very jolly occasion. Photos of the event are available here.
On 21 September we hosted a CUHK Law Alumni Mid-Autumn Dinner at the Shanghai Garden in Hutchison House. 122 alumni attended and 17 members of Faculty and it was a most enjoyable evening for all concerned. We had alumni from all years and all programmes and it was very pleasing that about halfway through many of those attending got to their feet and the 12 tables socialized.
I’m now planning the 2007 LLM Year Dinner for 22 February 2019 at Jasmine Place though I may combine it with the 2008 LLMs if I don’t get sufficient numbers of 2007s.
For the 2007 LLM Year Dinner the cost will probably be around $500-600 per head and the Faculty will split that equally with the attendees. So, how many 2007 LLM graduates can make it? Please confirm your interest using the online form. I’m aiming at around 30 guests including 3 or 4 Faculty members of us.
Lastly, we want to involve alumni in the future directions for alumni affairs, events and other happenings. So I have gone ahead and formed a preliminary advisory committee comprising from 6 very enthusiastic alumni; Candy Au (LLB 2011 & PCLL 2012), Karen Lam (LLB 2010 & PCLL 2011), Eva Hong (JD 2017 & PCLL 2018), Foster Yim (JD 2009 & PCLL 2010), Sam Cheung (LLB 2016 & PCLL 2017) and Suzanne Tsui (JD 2009 & PCLL 2013). When alumni affairs are more fully up and running I will organize a more democratic selection of committee members. For the time being, however, Dicky and I will meet with these 6 to take soundings on events and alumni matters generally.
Thanks and best wishes
Richard MORRIS
Associate Dean for Alumni and Professional Affairs