On 17 January, the College organised the “Chung Chi College 75th Anniversary Carnival cum Kick-off Ceremony”. Under the pleasant weather, around 4,000 students, staff, alumni of Chung Chi and CUHK, together with their families and friends, gathered at the Lingnan Stadium, celebrating Chung Chi’s milestone of its 75th anniversary and creating a historical record for singing the College Anthem.

Drumbeat Marked the Start

The Ceremony commenced at 2 pm and began with the drum performance by the St. Paul’s College Chinese Drum Band. St. Paul’s College and Chung Chi College have shared a longstanding bond ever since both institutions used Bishop’s House in Central as their classrooms in their early years, and Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, to which St. Paul’s College belongs, continues to support the educational mission of Chung Chi. The drumbeats played by the vigorous students from St. Paul’s College echoed the shared history and solidarity between the two institutions, and created an energetic atmosphere for the Carnival.

Eight distinguished guests officiated at the Ceremony, including Mr. Tang Ping Keung, Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China; Mr. Sun Yuk Han Chris, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR; Professor Chai Yat Chiu John, Chairman of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Council; Dr. Chan Tak Lam Norman, Vice-Chairman of the CUHK Council and Chairman of the Chung Chi College (CCC) Board of Trustees; Professor Lo Yuk Ming Dennis, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; Professor Ko Wing Hung, Associate Vice-President and University Dean of Students of CUHK, and Chairman of the CCC 75th Anniversary Celebration Organising Committee; Professor Kwan Mei Po, Head of CCC; and Mr. Ngai King Kwok Anthony, Chairman of CCC Alumni Association and of the Carnival Committee of the CCC 75th Anniversary Celebration Organising Committee.

Teachers and students from Muse College of CUHK (Shenzhen), a sister college of Chung Chi, were invited to participate in the Ceremony, while students from La Salle College also served as stall volunteers, demonstrating the close-knit relationship among Chung Chi and the different parties.

During the sharing session, Dr. Chan explained that the theme of the 75th anniversary, “Chung Chi Spirit. Joyful Journey”, is designed to encourage all teachers, students and alumni to explore Chung Chi. In addition to the Carnival, a series of celebratory events will soon be held, including thematic talks, talent contests, sports competitions, a cruise tour, and an anniversary gala, all of which welcome all Chung Chi-ers to join.

Professor Kwan expressed her gratitude for the support of Professor Chai and Professor Lo, the devotion of Mr. Tang and Mr. Sun to Chung Chi, and the dedication of Professor Ko, Mr. Ngai and the various organising committees for the activities. She also appreciated the St. Paul’s College Chinese Drum Band, and all the departments, students, staff, alumni and service teams who participated in the Carnival, which vividly demonstrated the genuine spirit of the Chung Chi Family.

Chung Chi Family with CUHK’s Unity

Professor Chai, who had participated in his second Chung Chi Carnival, remarked that revisiting Chung Chi has moved him as there were more stalls set up by different departments and units, reflecting the unity of CUHK’s members. Professor Lo noted that Chung Chi has been the place of many of his “firsts”. He recalled that he was affiliated to Chung Chi when first joined CUHK, and that his first student activity as the designated Vice-Chancellor and President was to serve as the speaker at Chung Chi’s assembly.

The two Secretaries were Chung Chi alumni. Mr. Tang graduated from the Department of Social Work in 1987, while Mr. Sun graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration in 1994. Mr. Tang shared that every visit to Chung Chi feels like returning home, bringing back his memories on campus. Mr. Sun recalled how the former College Head, Dr. Philip Shen, inspired him in pursuit of knowledge and of love, leaving a profound impact on his life.

After sharing, the officiating guests beat drums in unison with the Chinese Drum Band. Following the drumbeats rose, the whole stadium chanted together, “Chung Chi College, a family so dear, in CUHK’s embrace, we hold it near”, symbolising that the generations of Chung Chi-ers and CUHKers will support the College’s education, research, and students’ all-round development.

2,000 People Created Anthem Singing Record

The College then conducted a session to create an anthem singing record. Besides the over 2,000 attendees on-site, Chung Chi alumni who lived overseas also participated online. The collective singing marked a historical record as the largest group performance of the song.

To commemorate this record, renowned artist Dr. Kan Kit Keung and his elder brother, distinguished Hong Kong designer Professor Kan Tai Keung, were invited to design the 75th anniversary limited edition celebration T-shirt. The T-shirt that bore Dr. Kan’s handwritten calligraphy of the College anthem became the remembrance for those who participated in the record creation.

The College later held a tug-of-war match, which is a traditional event in the College’s “Fu Cup” competition. The two teams were led by Mr. Tang and Mr. Ngai respectively. Mr. Tang led his team to victory in all three rounds and was awarded the “Best Captain”.

Chung Chi Spirit Joyful Journey

The spotlight then returned to a variety of performances, including cheerleading from Cougar, dancing from La Creciente, freestyle skills from the CUHK DCUC Rope Skipping team, and vocal performances from students. Latin dancing athlete Mr. Arie Lam delivered his brilliant skills and gained enthusiastic applause.

The activities offstage were also fruitful. There were around 80 booths of food stalls, a creative market and fun games open from noon. Departments and units also set up booths, including TourHeart+, CUHK Jockey Club Centre for Osteoporosis Care and Control, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Chinese Medicine, and The Nethersole School of Nursing, all of which were promoting health messages and providing health assessments. At the College booth, the new batch of souvenirs was on sale, including a series of retro uniforms and apparel, and the “Shing Shing” plushie.

The College inserted new elements into the Carnival. The “Sportsland” area provided experience sessions of rowing, cycling, golf, and pickleball. Pet-friendly arrangements were also prepared, facilitating pet owners to attend the Carnival with their beloved pets. All these enhanced the diversification and perkiness of the Carnival.

Opening New Chapters with United Will

Chung Chi College 75th Anniversary Carnival cum Kick-off Ceremony concluded in a joyful atmosphere. It showcased the intergenerational vitality of Chung Chi-ers, as well as the versatility of teachers, students, and alumni. Each of these served as a footnote to Chung Chi’s achievements in its history of nurturing talent. Guided by the theme “Chung Chi Spirit. Joyful Journey”, the College will work together with generations of Chung Chi-ers to open new chapters in the future.

Student Reporter Cheuk Wing Ki Isabelle