Hong Kong University Students' Union

The Hong Kong University Students' Union
Motto Unity with Independence
Institution The University of Hong Kong
Location UG1, Union Building, HKU, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Established 1912
President Fung Jing-en, Billy
(Faculty of Arts)
Session 2015
Members 14,805 (as of 2012)
Website www.hkusu.org
Hong Kong University Students' Union
Traditional Chinese 香港大學學生會
Simplified Chinese 香港大学学生会
Cantonese Jyutping hoeng1 gong2 daai6 hok6 hok6 saang1 wui6*2

The Hong Kong University Students' Union (Abbreviation: HKUSU; Traditional Chinese: 香港大學學生會) is one of the two officially recognised student organisations in the University of Hong Kong, alongside with HKU Postgraduate Students Association.

History

The Union was established in 1912 in the name of Hong Kong University Union, about two years after the foundation of the University of Hong Kong. The Union was later renamed to its current name. The Union was registered as an independent organisation in Hong Kong in 1949.[1]

General

HKUSU is currently the only official student organisation serving the undergraduate students of the University of Hong Kong. Undergraduates shall become the Union's full member automatically. Other student of the University can become a full member upon the payment of membership fee.

According to the Constitution, the aims of the Union are:

Structure

The highest authority of the Union is the General Meeting (GM) and General Polling (GP). The quorum for both the General Meeting or General Polling is currently 10% of the full members. The General Meeting is hardly ever called, mostly because it is difficult to find a venue to accommodate a large amount of members at the same time. However, General Pollings are held almost every year.

The second highest authority of the Union is the Union Council. Its functions are to represent the students of the University in such matters as affect their interests and to afford a recognized means of communication between the general body of the students and the University authorities.

An Executive Committee, elected in the way of General Polling, acts as the execution body for HKUSU.

There are currently 122 student societies affiliated to HKUSU. These students' societies and clubs can be categorised into six main groups: Campus media, Faculty and academic societies, Hall students' association, Sports clubs (forming the Sports Association, HKUSU), Cultural clubs (forming the Cultural Association, HKUSU) and Independent clubs (forming the Independent Clubs Association, HKUSU).

Union Executives

The Union Executives are the forefront members representing HKUSU. The Committee comprising 18 members formulate Union policies and carry out resolutions of the General Meeting and General Polling. As well as this, they carry out daily administrative work of the Union.

The composition are as follows:

Welfare and Internal Affairs

HKUSU student activities and service outlets include:

Outlet Name Services offered Location
The Union Office Room, poster, banner sites booking services UG1, Union Building, HKU
The Student Co-operative Store (Co-op Store) Discounted stationery and souvenirs UG1, Union Building, HKU
Computer Hardware and Accessory Store Computer Hardwares, Accessories, Software, banner and poster printing G/F, Union Building, HKU
Self-serviced Photocopying Centre Octopus Card-operated Photocopying Machines, mobile phone charging UG1, Union Building, HKU
HKUSU Photocopying Store Discounted photocopying Room 202, Chong Yuet Ming Amenities Centre
Pillar of Shame in front of The Hong Kong University Students' Union

University Affairs

The Union acts as a channel between students and the University. Some of the current projects include:

Project Theme
3-3-4 University Curriculum Reform Curriculum, General Education, Study Load of Professional Subjects (e.g. Engineering, Accounting, Law, etc.), Grading / GPA / Honours Classification System
Centennial Campus Relocation of Faculties and the Students' Union, Usage of the Main Building, etc.

External Affairs

HKUSU, as one of the students' unions of the 11 universities in Hong Kong, has been very active in current affairs and student movements.

In 1998, the General Polling of the Union adopted that the Pillar of Shame (國殤之柱) should stay in the University campus permanently. This marked the beginning of a permanent stance that the Chinese Communist Party should be held responsible for the June Fourth Massacre in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989. Later in 2009, another General Polling passed stated that the Central People's Government of China should rehabilitate the June Fourth Massacre, and be held responsible for the deaths and casualties during the incident.

The Hong Kong University Students' Union Building, which is being revamped and will be ready by September 2011

New Union Building

As part of HKU's Centennial Campus, the former Hsu Long Sing Amenities Centre, where HKUSU resides, will be permanently demolished. A new Union Building will be erected in replacement. Since the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Social Sciences will be relocated in the Centennial Campus on the west side of the campus, the Union Building will become the heart of HKU, where the majority of student activities will take place. It was finished in September 2011.

Choir

The Hong Kong University Students' Union Choir was founded in 1967 and has won a number of student awards since its foundation.[2][3][4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Students' Union & its Affiliations, University of Hong Kong Website. (n.d.). Retrieved 22 May 2008, from http://www.hku.hk/students/student_union_affiliations.html
  2. ↑ http://www.hksmsa.org.hk/download/winlist/61MWinner.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.hktreblechoir.com/wyccf/results/2011/
  4. ↑ http://www.hksmsa.org.hk/download/winlist/66MWinner.pdf

External links

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