A Room Of Their Own

Over 33,000 students attend HKU on a yearly basis, but not all of them choose to live in the various residence halls scattered around campus. Those that do opt for these types of arrangements find that having their own space on-campus is worth much more than living beyond HKU’s borders. 

Lau stands in the doorway of his room in Shun Hing College.

Justin Lau, 20, is one of those students. He grew up in Wu Kai Sha and was commuting to campus during his first semester at HKU, a trip that took him over an hour each way. Then last September, he got accepted to live in Shun Hing College, one of the student residences in Kennedy Town. Since moving in, he has devoted himself to his new community by joining the event planning committee that organises activities for students. 

“This place has a lot of good memories and positive vibes for me,” he said. “I feel like if I can make a difference here, a positive difference, then I would have made my experience here a more rich and rewarding one.”

As one of the few locals amongst an international crowd, Lau often translates for his friends who can’t speak Cantonese. He has become an aid when it comes to Hong Kong culture. 

“A lot of the things I keep in my room aren’t for me, they’re for my friends,” he said, while referencing the stockpile of snacks on his desk.

An assortment of snacks, including this brand of Chinese medicine, are what Lau keeps on hand in case any of his friends are in need.

Oreos, sports drinks, chocolate wafers, and even traditional Chinese medicine are just a few of the items he keeps on hand for whenever he hangs out with friends.

“I think being here and being around people who know the same things and are exposed to the same things but come from different backgrounds really pushes me to lay down my understanding and try to see the world from their perspective,” he said.