First in Two Years: The Long-awaited SHC High Table Dinner
by: Ronny Chan and Chloe Chin

The 36th and 37th Shun Hing College High Table Dinners were consecutively held on 22 and 23 October 2021 at the College Hall. This is the first time the dinners were held face-to-face since 2019.

Professor Peng Gong was invited to speak for the first dinner while Dr. Norman Sze delivered his speech virtually from Shanghai during the second one. Professor Gong is currently the Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Development at HKU. He is also Chair Professor of both Geography and Earth Sciences. Dr. Norman Sze is the current Vice Chair of Deloitte China. He advises Chinese government officials, senior executives, and international businesses.

Professor Ying Chan, Master of the College, began both banquets by reiterating the importance of high table dinners. “At Shun Hing College, high table dinners are family gatherings” for residents and tutors to “celebrate friendships and to reaffirm our basic values at the college: be kind, be inclusive, be open, and keep learning”, she said. She expressed her delight to see old and new faces at the College and wished all residents a successful academic year ahead.

During the Friday dinner, Professor Peng Gong delivered a speech on climate change based on his research. He explained its adverse effects on the hydrosphere, biosphere, and human population. He also highlighted other pressing problems like air pollution, drought, decrease in biodiversity, and the emergence of communicable diseases. To tackle these acute environmental issues, Professor Gong stressed the importance of sacrificing some individual and monetary benefits to enhance the health of the planet.


During the second dinner, Dr. Norman Sze talked about the importance of unconditional positive leadership. This form of leadership, he reiterated, requires “innovation, collaboration, technological adaptation, resilience, and agility.” Responding to a question from a resident about what it takes to adapt to a changing world, Dr. Sze reiterated the importance of knowledge, flexibility, and self-cultivation.

Professor Samson Tse, HKU Dean of Student Affairs, also delivered a short message during the Saturday dinner. He encouraged students to consult his office for any of their concerns.

After the dinner, Helen, a PCLL candidate, commented, “I am so happy to be back and experience my first high table dinner in a long time.” Minji, a final-year Psychology and Human Resource Management undergraduate student from South Korea, and Chen Ziyue, an MPhil student from the School of Chinese, praised the amazing food. “We enjoyed chatting with floor mates and meeting new faces”, they added. They also reckoned that the dinner was a wonderful occasion to foster intellectual exchanges among residents.

To end both dinners, a photo-taking booth was set up at the 4/F Podium to capture memories of the long-awaited banquets.


Chan Nok Yin Ronny is a second-year student majoring in English Language and Linguistics and Comparative Literature. They love writing about fragments, silhouettes and phantoms of their city. Their interests mainly lie in Hong Kong literature and queer theory.
Chin Cheuk Yue Chloe is a third-year English and Comparative Literature double major. She enjoys reading and cafe-hopping with friends. Nothing excites her more than learning stories about people and cultures around the world.