About

The setup of the Hong Kong University Alumni Association (HKUAA) permanent clubhouse in Hong Kong, and later the establishment of the UK Chapter and overseas chapters, was the vision of Irene Man's father Dr Dexter H.C. Man in the early 1970s. Dr Man graduated in 1940 in Civil Engineering from HKU. At the time, a small number of HKU graduates had been meeting regularly at the old Edinburgh House, in a small room modelled like a British gentlemen’s club. There was no food catering and one can have a cup of tea and coffee, some drinks and a sandwich.

Edinburgh House, Gloucester Building and York House, all owned by Hongkong Land were demolished and rebuilt as the current Landmark.  When HKUAA was evicted at the time, Dr Man believed that to continue to rent premises for HKU alumni to meet socially was not a permanent solution, and he therefore went on a property hunt for a permanent place in Central. He finally found the current property at No. 2 D’Aguilar Street, and proceeded with the purchase and decoration process as well as arranged the financing. Dr Man was the patron and a major donor to the home base of the HKUAA when the clubhouse was opened in 1974. He was a strong supporter of HKU and HKUAA throughout his life.

Dr Man also had a vision that sooner or later HKU graduates will spread around the world, and therefore started the idea of setting up overseas chapters. He personally travelled to other countries and set up overseas chapters in Vancouver, Toronto, California and New York.

Dr Man’s two daughters, the eldest Irene (graduated in 1968), and Evelyn (graduated in 1971) were both HKU alumni. Irene had been on the Hong Kong HKUAA committee since 1974 and later served as President in 1991-93, helping with HKU’s 80th anniversary celebrations also.   Evelyn was President of HKUAA from 2017-21 on her return from Toronto, after serving HKUAA Ontario as President in the 1990s.

The Hong Kong University UK Chapter was established after Irene Man retired and moved to the UK. At the time, Irene knew nobody in London but heard that a group of former HKU professors, staff members, and some graduates had been meeting regularly in Chinatown, London. With a passion and the support of the previous Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rayson Huang, Irene formally formed the UK chapter and became its Founding President in November 1999.

Since then, HKUAAUK has established close ties with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, and organized joint events regularly such as the Dragon Boat Racing, HKU’s anniversary celebration, talks and luncheons. HKUAAUK has also teamed up with the alumni association of the Chinese University for some of the Dragon Boat events.

Dr Dexter Man (centre) was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from HKU in 1998. Ms Irene Man (left) was awarded an Honorary University Fellow in 1999. Dr Evelyn Man (right).

Our committee is made up of a group of passionate alumni who enjoy keeping in touch with old friends and making new ones through organising social events.