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Help Victims of Sichuan Quake

An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale hit the Sichuan province on 12 May, causing widespread damage and tremendous loss of lives. It was the most devastating tremor hitting China in the past three decades. The official death toll has risen to close to 20,000. As houses in the worst-hit areas have been reduced to rubble, many victims were left homeless in deprivation of food, water and medicine. As you are reading this e-mail, the lives of many men, women and children in the affected areas hang by a thread.

To the victims of great calamity, the CUHK community has always been united in its deep sympathy and fast actions. Besides expressing our sympathy to the survivors and hoping that the missing will be found soon, we must lend a helping hand to those in dire distress.

As resources of our country are mobilized in a race against time to save lives, I call upon all of you to act now and bring relief to the thousands suffering from this natural disaster.

Please make your donations through our earthquake relief fund account: 293-005005-022 at Hang Seng Bank on or before 28 May. * The total amount raised will be forwarded to the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong for relief purposes.

Finally, the University has got in touch with each of the more than 70 mainland undergraduate students from Sichuan and Chongqing found them all safe. We are in the process of confirming the safety of some other postgraduate students from Sichuan. We are also working with the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, the Immigration Department and the family concerned to locate a missing mainland student who has travelled to the area. The University will keep a close eye on the situation and offer assistance when needed.

Lawrence J. Lau
President and Vice-Chancellor

Airport Community Contributes to Relief Effort for
Sichuan Earthquake Victims

(HONG KONG, 15 May 2008) — Airport Authority Hong Kong puts in place a number of donation initiatives to help the tens of thousands of people injured and left homeless by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Sichuan Province on 12 May 2008.

The Airport Authority has received enthusiastic response from over 180 airport retailers for the call to help the victims. From 16 to 18 May 2008, airport shops will donate part of their sales proceeds to Hong Kong Red Cross for rescue and relief works.

In addition, the Airport Authority staff can contribute to the relief effort and the Airport Authority will match all staff donations, dollar-for-dollar, from its charity fund.

Stanley Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, offered his care to the earthquake victims and their families and thanked the airport community for its enthusiastic support of the relief effort. He said, “Every dollar we donate will help the survivors of this terrible disaster rebuild their lives. I am confident that passengers and our staff and business partners will give generously.”

Biggest Gucci Airport Store Opened at Hong Kong International Airport

Gucci has opened a new store at west departure hall at HKIA. With a total area of 2, 915 sqm, the new store is Gucci’s biggest airport store in the world.

It is reported that 45% of departure passengers board the plane at west hall. The west hall also handled half of the passenger flow in the restricted area.

HKIA Welcomes the Beijing Olympic Flame

(HONG KONG, 30 April 2008) — The aircraft carrying the Beijing Olympic Flame arrives at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) at 1353 hrs today. As the official airport for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events, HKIA designated an aircraft parking space to facilitate the welcome reception of the Olympic Flame.

To support the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in Hong Kong, Airport Authority frontline staff and airport ambassadors will dress in red or wear the Olympic slogan stickers on Friday, 2 May 2008. Other staff members are also encouraged to follow.

Stanley Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, said, “HKIA is proud to contribute to the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Equestrian Events. We have made a range of special hospitality and passenger flow arrangements to ensure a warm welcome for everyone coming to Hong Kong for the Games.”

Thousands of Olympic and Paralympic delegates, athletes and spectators will visit Hong Kong this summer. The Airport Authority is working closely with the Home Affairs Bureau, the Equestrian Company and the Hong Kong Tourism Board to provide a memorable experience for these guests and other travellers using HKIA during the Games.

To welcome our honourable guests, we will help the Equestrian Company to set up hospitality desks and an accreditation centre on the arrivals level of Terminal 1. An electronic link will ensure the Equestrian Company has access to the latest flight information.

Special immigration and customs channels will be provided for Olympic and Paralympic delegates. Designated car park spaces, as well as transport rendezvous points and helpdesks, will also be available.

Promotions and other activities have been planned to heighten the Olympic spirit at HKIA. These include a decoration campaign, where welcome banners, icons and images of Fuwa, the official mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, will be installed throughout the airport.

To add to the atmosphere, an HKIA interactive sports arena, complete with equestrian displays and a giant Fuwa photo backdrop, will be installed at the airport. Travellers will be able to watch live broadcasts of Olympic events and an Olympic-themed sales promotion will be conducted with VISA, the Worldwide Olympic Sponsor, in July and August.

The rose

Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower, and you, its only seed

Its the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance
Its the dream afraid of waking, that never takes the chance
Its the one who wont be taken, the one who cant seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying, that never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember that in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed, that with the suns love in the spring becomes the rose.