Route 23 - Pok Fu Lam Road (Lady Ho Tung Hall)－Third Street－Water Street－Des Voeux Road West (Western Police Station)

Question 1

Route 23 - Points to Mention:

(Pok Fu Lam Road (Lady Ho Tung Hall)－Third Street－Water Street－Des Voeux Road West (Western Police Station))

This section ends at Best Western Plus Hotel

1 site + 6 related topics - 4-8 minutes

Answer 1

1. The University of Hong Kong (right)
2. Chinese University of HK and HK University of Science and Technology (optional)
3. Education system of HK: 12-year free education and the 3-3-4 education system (optional)
4. Private universities in HK (optional)
5. Geographical characteristics of road network in Hong Kong Island (optional)
6. History of HK (optional)

Question 2

The University of Hong Kong
1. Transition (1)
2. History (8)
3. Academic Reputation (1)
3. Campus Highlight (2)
4. Visitor Tips (1)

2:30 minutes

Answer 2

1. Transition: (2)
* Many of the buildings we’re passing now belong to the University of Hong Kong, locally called Hong Kong U.
* These include student housing and various faculty buildings.

2. History: (10)
* Formally established in 1911 and completed in 1912, HKU is Hong Kong’s oldest university.
* The first faculties established were the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Arts, and Faculty of Engineering.
* The first batch of 23 students graduated in 1916.
* Ten years later, the university admitted its first female student.
* Academic activities were suspended during World War II in 1937 and resumed with post-war reconstruction in 1945.
* The Faculty of Dentistry was established in 1982, based at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital—Hong Kong’s only dental teaching hospital.
* Over time, HKU added more faculties, including Architecture, Economics, Education, Law, Science, and Social Sciences.
* It now has 10 academic faculties and 20 residential halls for students’ accomodation.
* English is the as the primary language of instruction.

3. Academic Reputation: (1)
* HKU is consistently ranked as one of Asia’s top universities, especially renowned in medicine, law, business, and engineering.

Question 3

Chinese University of Hong Kong (optional)
1. Transition (1)
2. Foundation (1)
3. Location (2)
4. Academic Reputation (2)
5. Unique Features (4)

HK University of Science and Technology (optional)
1. Foundation (1)
2. Location (2)
3. Academic Reputation (2)

2:35

Answer 3

1. Transition: (1)
* Including HKU, Hong Kong has a total of eight government-funded universities. The second-oldest after HKU is:

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

2. Foundation: (1)
* CUHK was founded in 1963, as a federation of three existing colleges.

3. Location: (2)
* It is located in Shatin, in the New Territories, situated on a scenic hilltop overlooking Tolo Harbour.
* The campus is spacious and green, covering approximately 138 hectares.

4. Academic Reputation: (2)
* CUHK is renowned for its bilingual education in English and Chinese (both Cantonese and Mandarin).
* It is known for excellence in medicine, business, social sciences, and technology.

5. Unique Features: (4)
* CUHK operates under a college system, where students choose a college affiliation upon enrollment.
* Each college has its own culture, traditions, and activities.
* CUHK currently has nine constituent colleges and eight academic faculties.
* It remains the only collegiate university in Hong Kong, promoting a strong sense of community and identity.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

1. Foundation: (1)
* HKUST was founded in 1991, as a research-focused university, specializing in science, technology, business, and engineering.

2. Location: (2)
* The university is located in Clear Water Bay, Sai Kung, in the New Territories.
* It boasts a stunning seaside campus of 60 hectares, offering panoramic views of the South China Sea.

3. Academic Reputation: (2)
* HKUST is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world, particularly strong in business, science, and engineering.
* Its Business School is widely regarded as one of Asia’s top MBA programs.

Question 4

Private Universities in Hong Kong (optional)
1. Overview (4)
2. Differences from Public Universities (3)
3. Regognition (2)

1 minute

Answer 4

1. Overview: (4)
As of now, there are 13 self-financed institutions in Hong Kong, for example:
* The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong,
* The Hong Kong Metropolitan University, and …
* Tung Wah College
* This includes religious and overseas-affiliated institutions.

2. Differences from Public Universities: (3)
* These institutions receive no government funding, so programs are self-financed and tuition fees are generally higher.
* Their focus is often on vocational training, applied learning, and niche programs catering to specific professional fields.
* They operate on a smaller scale and are typically more teaching-oriented than research-intensive.

Question 5

Education System of HK:
12-year free education and 3-3-4 education system (optional)
1. Transition (1)
2. 12 year Free Education (5)
3. 3-3-4 Education System (5)

2 minutes

Answer 5

1. Transition: (1)
* But before students reach university, it all starts with Hong Kong’s strong school system.

2. 12-Year Free Education: (5)
* Hong Kong offers 12 years of free education in public schools, covering 6 years of primary, 3 years of junior secondary, and 3 years of senior secondary education.
* This ensures that every child has access to a complete basic education without placing a financial burden on families.
* The curriculum includes a wide range of standard subjects designed to build foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills.
* University education is not covered under this free scheme—students must apply and pay tuition for higher education.
* For those not pursuing university, the government supports vocational education through the Vocational Training Council (VTC), particularly for students finishing Form 3 (Junior Secondary).

3. 3-3-4 Education System: (5)
* Introduced in 2000, the 3-3-4 system was designed to align with international models (such as those in the U.S. and China) and to facilitate global academic mobility.
* Students complete 3 years of junior secondary, 3 years of senior secondary, and then 4 years of university.
* This structure provides a well-balanced pathway that supports both academic growth and future career development.
* Students follow a curriculum that includes core subjects, electives, and Other Learning Experiences (OLE) for holistic education.
* At the end of secondary school, students take the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) exam, which determines their university eligibility, both locally and internationally.

Question 6

Geographical Characteristics of Road Networks on Hong Kong Island (optional)
1. Transition (1)
2. Challenges to Hong Kong’s road network (4)
3. Government Efforts (2)

1:10 minutes

Answer 6

1. Transition: (1)
* Now, let’s talk about how Hong Kong Island’s hills, slopes, and tight spaces shape the way roads are built and how people get around.

2. Challenges to Hong Kong’s Road Network: (4)
There are a number of challenges for Hong Kong’s road network:
* Hong Kong has one of the highest road usage rates globally, meaning available roads are nearly always in use.
* Of the total 2,224 kilometers of roads, about 450 kilometers (20%) are on Hong Kong Island—where traffic flow is especially heavy.
* Road networks often navigate the island’s uneven terrain and dense urban development, requiring tunnels, bridges, and winding roads.
* This often results in traffic congestion and delays, making road engineering and planning a continuous challenge.

3. Government Efforts: (2)
* The government works to reduce traffic by improving bus routes, introducing automated pedestrian walkways, and promoting public transportation.
* Key infrastructures like the Island Eastern Corridor and Western Harbour Tunnel help divert and manage high traffic volumes efficiently.

Question 7

A Brief History of Hong Kong
1. Transition (1)
2. Historical Timeline (2)

1:35 minutes

Answer 7

1. Transition: (1)
* We’re now driving past Water Street, one of the earliest areas settled by Chinese communities on Hong Kong Island.

2. Historical Timeline: (6)
* Not far from here lies Possession Street, where on January 26, 1841, British Admiral ** Sir Edward Belcher raised the first Union Jack**, marking the symbolic start of British rule in Hong Kong.
* This act followed the unratified Treaty of Chuanbi, but it wasn’t until the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, which ended the First Opium War, that the Qing Dynasty officially ceded Hong Kong Island to Britain.

Over the next decades, Britain expanded its control:
* In 1860, Kowloon south of Boundary Street and Stonecutters Island were ceded under the Treaty of Beijing.
* In 1898, the New Territories were leased for 99 years, setting the stage for modern Hong Kong’s geographic makeup.
* During the 1980s, negotiations between China and Britain led to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, signed in 1984, laying out the terms for Hong Kong’s return to China under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
* On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was officially handed back to China, marking the end of over 150 years of colonial rule.