The story of the University can be traced back to the founding of the Government Trade School in 1937. Situated in Wood Road, Wanchai, the School was the first publicly funded, post-secondary technical institution in Hong Kong. Under Principal Mr G. White, it ran classes in building, mechanical engineering and marine wireless operating.

After World War II, the School became the Hong Kong Technical College in 1947, offering both full-time and part-time courses. Nine years later, backed by a $1 million donation from the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, the Government provided a similar sum and a site in Kowloon and began construction of a new building for the College. The year 1957 saw the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, open the new premises of the College in Hung Hom.

In 1965 Dr Sze-yuen Chung (now Sir Sze-yuen Chung), in a speech to the Legislative Council, said that the time has come to consider establishing a polytechnic-type institution in Hong Kong. A Polytechnic Planning Committee was later set up in May 1969 under the chairmanship of the late Dr Tang Ping-yuen.

Following the Government's acceptance of the Committee's Final Report, the Hong Kong Polytechnic Ordinance came into force on 24 March 1972, and the first Board of Directors of the Polytechnic (renamed “Polytechnic Council” in 1978) was formed under the chairmanship of Dr Chung. At the invitation of the Board, the Governor Sir Murray MacLehose agreed to be the first President of the Polytechnic. Mr Charles Old was appointed the Polytechnic's first Director.

Nurturing Professional Talents

The Hong Kong Polytechnic was formally established on 1 August 1972, taking over the campus and staff of the Hong Kong Technical College. Its mandate was to provide application-oriented education in meeting the community's need for professional manpower. In the academic year 1971/72, before its work was handed over to the Polytechnic, the Technical College had just over 1,700 full-time day, 740 part-time day release and 9,340 part-time evening students in eight teaching departments.

With most of the College's courses at technician and craft levels already transferred to the Morrison Hill Technical Institute established in 1969, the new Polytechnic started off focusing on achieving teaching standards appropriate to a Polytechnic. Since then, the Polytechnic has undergone extensive development and rapid expansion. The Institution launched its first five degree programmes in 1983, and introduced its first MPhil and PhD programmes in 1986 and 1989 respectively.


Having gained approval from the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee for self-accreditation of degree programmes, the Institution assumed full university status on 25 November 1994, changing its name to “ The Hong Kong Polytechnic University ”.

Meeting Challenges Ahead

Indeed, PolyU has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a technical institute to its present standing as the leading application-oriented university in Hong Kong, producing graduates that are most preferred by employers. A vast pool of 250,000 young men and women have graduated from this Institution since its inception. With a strategic emphasis on research and innovations of an applied nature, PolyU scholars work hard to contribute to the well-being of the community.

Looking ahead, the University will continue to accord top priority to students' all-round development while doing our best to contribute to furthering the development of the local and international community.

As the University celebrate our 70th Anniversary and count our blessings over the years, we also look ahead to new opportunities and challenges arising. Our grateful thanks go to all PolyU members and friends for their great support, and we look forward to forging further ahead in the future.

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