HKJU is an informal organization established in 2000 and is growing steadily. Now we have 9 alumni members including Hong Kong Baptist University (BU), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU), Chu Hai University (CHU), Lingnan University (LNU), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PU), Hong Kong Shue Yan University (SYU), University of Hong Kong (HKU) and newly joined in 2017, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (UST).
The main purpose is to promote friendship, fraternity and communication among alumni in Ontario. This is the biggest post-secondary alumni organization outside Hong Kong. Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Canada is a substantial patron and we really thank for their continuous support in the past years.
BU is the host University in 2017. To commemorate Canada’s 150th Anniversary and the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. HKJU had organized a series of activities throughout the year. Among those, a tree planting day in June and the attempt to break the Guinness World Record in October were the highlight of all.
Tree Planting Day, Henry White Park, Markham June 24
This was held on a lovely sunny Saturday day in Henry White Park, Markham. Close to 100 people from all universities alumni came to enjoy this outing with their friends and relatives.
HKUAAO is represented by our president, Wilson Chan, past president, Dennis Au-Yeung, Romeo Au, Verdi Yau and Maggie Poon together with their new born.
There were a total of 10 trees planted in this occasion, 9 smaller trees (Aspen, Bur Oak, Dogwood and Sycamore) for each university alumni and a 10 feet Silver Maple for HKJU. Everyone onsite were eager to roll up their sleeves to do the hard and actually enjoying the process. May be one day when you stroll along Henry White Park, please take the effort to find all these trees (there is a plaque for easy identification).
Kudos to Verdi and Maggie to make such an effort to show up with the new born (less than a week).
Attempt to Break Guinness World Record (GWR) in Pan Am Centre, Markham, Oct 15
Sunday, Oct 15, 2017 was a big day as HKJU alumni attempted to break the “Most participants bouncing table tennis balls using table tennis rackets in a single venue”.
The record is 250 people to bounce the table tennis ball continuously for 10 seconds. To many people, it seems easy to bounce the ball for 10 seconds on your own. However, it looks easier than done. With people all around you doing the same action and a record is on the line, we all know the pressure is on. In view of this, HKJU had organized two practice sessions in late September and each had about 200 people attended. This laid the foundation of the success on the ‘Big Day’.
Over 350 HKJU alumni, friends and relatives came to face the challenge. HKUAAO has the biggest contingent among all with 70 people led by our president Wilson Chan, vice presidents Augustine Chan, past president Dennis Au-Yeung’s blessing from Hong Kong. We all had high spirits and well prepared.
Under the 3 witnesses, MPP Michael Chan, Kathy Chan of HKETO and Herbert Moon, Publisher – Today Commercial News observation, HKJU succeeded to break the Guinness World Record with 343 people. The record has yet to be rectify by the GWR but all of us are proud of the performance.
After the GWR breaking effort, HKJU organized fun games like basketball shooting, QQ-ball relay, multi-format relay and ping pong marathon for all of us to relax and enjoy. Everyone involved had a lot of fun, laugh and tears all through the games. To conclude the day, there was a gala-dinner and filled with good food, drinks, excellent performance by alumni. We all left with a high note and anxiously looking forward to 2018 HKJU events.
On behalf of HKUAAO, I would like to thank all those who showed strong support to the events. Without you folks, I don’t think we can go this far to become a Guinness World Record holder. Hope to see you all soon.
