Hard times, donor fatigue slow fund-raisers' efforts to make university a residential experience

City University (CityU) and Polytechnic University (PolyU) are struggling to find funds for their maiden hostel projects, amid public apathy and rising competition for private donations from other institutions.

PolyU may have to seek bank loans to finance its planned 22-storey hostel to house 3,000 students, if donations remain hard to come by.

The project, estimated to cost HK$928 million back in 1998, should be completed in April 2002. The University Grants Committee (UGC) is shouldering 75 per cent of the cost, while the Hong Kong Jockey Club supports half of the rest.

Fund-raising efforts have met a lack of interest among donors, who tend to specify how their money should be used. 'For example, Li Ka-shing donated $1 billion to us last year, but he asked that the money be spent on the School of Professional Education and Executive Development because it is not funded by the UGC,' said Professor Tang Pak-lai, director of student affairs at PolyU. The financial crisis has also affected fund-raising, he added. The university plans to charge each student around $1,200 a month, part of which may be used for loan repayment to a bank.

The CityU project involves four phases, and is estimated to cost around $1.1 billion, of which 75 per cent is sponsored by the UGC. However, raising funds for the remaining 25 per cent had not been easy, said Diana Ying Lung Choi-chu, associate vice president of institute advancement.

'Other universities are also appealing for funds at the same time, to the same group of rich philanthropists. Also, people often think that universities are supported by the Government and do not need help. This is our first large-scale fund raising campaign. It is an education process to let people know we do need their assistance,' said Ms Ying.