United College recently held a simple yet dignified Kick-off Ceremony for the 70^th Anniversary on campus on 4 March 2026. Under the theme “United in Virtue We Rise to New Heights,” the event officially raised the curtain on a series of celebrations marking the 70th Anniversary of the College’s founding. Teachers, students, alumni, and friends gathered to celebrate this meaningful milestone.

Delivering his speech, Professor Dennis Y M Lo, Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, stated that for 70 years, United College has upheld the spirit of its motto, “Ming De Xin Min,” and has continuously nurtured countless outstanding talents for society in a rapidly changing era. He then led the attending teachers and students to look back at the glorious 70 years of United College and to look forward to its long-term development. Subsequently, Ms Lina H Y Yan, Chairman of United College Board of Trustees, and Professor Stephen H S Wong, Head of United College, delivered speeches respectively.

During the ceremony, seven officiating guests slowly poured colourful sand into a specially made kick-off installation. As the coloured sand filled the installation, it symbolised the spirit of unity and teamwork, like grains of sand building a tower, and marked the official start of a series of exciting events celebrating the 70th Anniversary of United College.

(From left) Officiating guests, Mr John K H Lee, President of United College Alumni Association; Mr Simon K C Lee, Chairman of United College 70th Anniversary Steering Committee; Ms Lina H Y Yan, Chairman of United College Board of Trustees; Professor Dennis Y M Lo, Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Professor Stephen H S Wong, Head of United College; Professor Fung Kwok Pui, Chairman of Endowment Fund Committee of United College; and Mr Kelvin W C Yung, Student Representative, slowly poured colourful sand into a specially made kick-off installation.

Teachers, students, alumni, and friends gathered to celebrate this meaningful milestone.

Right after the kick-off ceremony, Professor Dennis Y M Lo, Ms Lina H Y Yan, and Professor Stephen H S Wong proceeded to the Wu Chung Library to officiate the opening of the 2025–2026 Hop Wai Artist-in-Residence Exhibition. This year’s Hop Wai Artist-in-Residence is Professor Ross W F Yau, and his exhibition is titled “Variations in an Unadorned Space.” Guided by the concept of “Unadorned” (Su), the exhibition reflects the Eastern philosophical pursuit of “embracing simplicity and returning to the pristine,” which resonates deeply with the “plain and natural” charm of ink art, creating an aesthetic environment untouched by excessive embellishment. Professor Ross W F Yau then led the guests on a guided tour through the poetic exhibition space, allowing them to traverse between the wandering perspectives of the flat plane and the interventions of the three-dimensional field, experiencing inner clarity within the pristine serenity.

(From left) Officiating guests, Professor Lee Hung Kay, Associate Head of United College and Convenor of the Working Group on the Hop Wai Artist-in-Residence Programme; Professor Stephen H S Wong, Head of United College; Ms Lina H Y Yan, Chairman of United College Board of Trustees; Professor Dennis Y M Lo, Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Mr Simon K C Lee, Chairman of United College 70th Anniversary Steering Committee; and Professor Ross W F Yau, Hop Wai Artist-in-Residence 2025–2026.

The exhibition tour was guided by Hop Wai Artist-in-Residence Professor Ross W F Yau, allowing everyone to experience the “plain and natural” charm of ink art together.

After the successful conclusion of the ceremony and the exhibition’s opening, guests, teachers, and students moved to a lawn tea reception outside the Wu Chung Library. Everyone enjoyed exquisite refreshments in the lush green setting, mingling and extending the joy of the anniversary celebration.