Dear HKBU Foundation Members, Colleagues, Students and Alumni,

A new round of the University Grants Committee’s Matching Grant Scheme will start on 1 June this year. For this round, a total of 12 degree-awarding institutions will be eligible, and naturally they will be devoting all their efforts to securing their maximum share of the $1 billion in grants offered by the HKSAR Government. Under the Scheme, each institution has a guaranteed minimum matching grant of $45 million, which will be disbursed on a dollar-for-dollar basis, beyond which $1 will be granted for every $2 in donations, up to a ceiling of $220 million. If any institution is unable to reach the guaranteed minimum by 28 February 2011, the unused matching grants will be opened up for applications by other institutions on a first-come, first-served basis.

The University has been honoured since the Scheme was first launched in 2003 to receive enormous and continuing support from the community, including from funds, philanthropic organisations, community leaders, colleagues and alumni. Thanks to the concerted efforts of all members of the University community, HKBU secured a total of $730 million in the first four rounds of the Scheme, with $454 million in donations and $276 million in matching funds.

However, for the next round we face a more challenging situation. Firstly, the number of participating institutions has increased, hence it can be expected that competition among them in their efforts to raise funds will be even more intense. Secondly, from now until 2013, the University is in a critical stage where it is expanding rapidly and implementing a number of development initiatives that require abundant financial resources. These projects include the extensive campus expansion and renovation plans, designed to address the demands of the new academic curriculum, to promote an enhanced international environment on campus and to further raise the quality of the teaching and learning environment.

Only part of the funds required for these exciting developments has been made available by the Government. In this respect, the securing of private donations will be crucial. I would like to encourage you all to continue to assist our fundraising efforts so that we can gain the maximum benefit from the Fifth Matching Grant Scheme. You can provide support in the following ways:

1. By proposing good causes that are worthy of donor support
2. By expanding the University’s fundraising network
3. By encouraging your friends and relatives to become donors or to make additional donations

In addition, you are of course most welcome to make donations yourselves. Indeed, every effort in raising funds will be invaluable in enabling the University to realise its cherished goals in nurturing the all-round talents of the next and future generations.

If you have any fundraising initiatives or proposals that you wish to share with us, please feel free to contact Professor Frank H. Fu, Associate Vice-President and Secretary-General of the HKBU Foundation, at extn. 7002, or Mrs. Lily Chan, Director of University Advancement, at extn. 7878.

Thank you all in advance for your support and assistance. Let us work together to ensure the success and advancement of the University.

Yours sincerely,

C F Ng
President & Vice-Chancellor