New hostels bring new expectations
By Roe Chan
Courtesy of Mr. Arthur Leung Artist's concept of City University hostels.
Nearly 10,000 university students will enjoy a more diverse and colourful campus life in less than a few years' time.
Many universities, including Baptist University, the City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, are constructing new student hostels.
"Residents of student hostels always have a clearer identity that they belong to their own hostel than to a student organization. This usually enhances their sense of belonging to the university eventually," said Ms. Amy Cheng of the Dean of Students' Office at Chung Chi College, the Chinese University.
After struggling for years to build housing for students, Baptist University, the City University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University finally have their own student hostels under construction.
Mr. Jeffrey Lee, executive officer of the Student Affairs Office of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said, "Providing students with hostel life education is our main aim. It is important to their full growth and development of their independence."
The director of the Campus Planning Office at City University, Mr. Arthur Leung, agreed.
According to Mr. Leung, student hostels can facilitate the students’ personal development and form an integral part of university education.
"In order to have an opportunity to develop themselves as whole people, students must leave their homes and learn to be independent and have inter-communication with different staff and students, accepting others' opinions and thoughts, which, in return, will broaden their horizons."
A student hostel can also help cultivate students' personal identities.
Mr. Leung said, "Lack of hostels and the high accessibility of our university often drive students home immediately after lessons, instead of staying on the campus."
After the completion of the hostels, more students will stay on the campus and thus a stronger sense of belonging will develop, according to Mr. Leung.
The construction work on these three universities' student hostels commenced after receipt of 75 percent of the construction costs from the government.
The remaining costs have been contributed by other organizations like the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the universities themselves.
The hostel at Hong Kong Polytechnic University will be located in Hung Hom beside Victoria Harbour, and the one at City University of Hong Kong is being built in Cornwall Street overlooking Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbour.
Though the new hostels have good facilities and views, these are not the main concerns of most students. What they are eager to experience is the colourful and dynamic hostel life.
Jade Leung, who is studying general management at the City University of Hong Kong, expects that there will be many large-scale cultural and recreational activities organized by the hostel committee.
"I would prefer a hostel run in the style of the hostels at the University of Hong Kong," said Jade. "That is, to organize different kinds of activities and functions to residents. . . ."
Still, the development of these new student hostels has aroused anxiety in some students.
Sindy Chan, a Baptist University student, revealed that many of her schoolmates were not willing to apply for hostel places due to several reasons.
"The location of our university is highly accessible so that it is not necessary to rent a hostel space, which costs a relatively high amount of money," said she."And the hostel is actually quite far away from the campus where we usually have lessons. It is about 20 minutes' walking distance."
Because Baptist, City and Polytechnic Universities are all situated in urban areas, they all, to a certain extent, face the same problem.
To cope with this, the City University of Hong Kong plans to provide shuttle buses and construct a new crossover and an elevated walkway to link the hostel with the campus.
Mr. Leung added, "A homey atmosphere will soon be built up with the effort of residents together with the staff."
