University Hall Celebrates Its 70th Anniversary With Over 4,000 Guests

HKU’s University Hall celebrated 70 years this month, opening its iconic green doors for a student-organised Open Day attended by over 4,000 people from around across Hong Kong.

Visitors queued for up to an hour along the driveway on Pokfulam Road to pay tribute to the historic hall, as local and non-local Castlers – as UHall residents are known – stepped up to ensure the event ran smoothly.

“Multicultural collaboration was the core spirit of the event itself,” said Yu Pak Hin (Bachelor of Nursing, Year 4), who ran the event. "When unexpected crowd and venue pressures popped up, you had to trust each other completely, regardless of language or background. Facing those live pressures together and solving problems side-by-side turned working relationships into genuine brotherhood."

By inviting neighbours, families, and alumni into their home, the students showcased not only a legacy of local heritage, but the University’s spirit of vibrant multicultural unity and community connection, Yu added.

Established in 1954 and housing students since 1956, UHall is one of HKU’s oldest residential halls. The building itself dates back to the 1860s, belonging first to a Scottish trader, later a French Mission, before finally being acquired by the University.

An all-male Hall, it has thousands of HKU students have called UHall home over the past 70 years.

“I think what resonated most was the rare chance to step inside a true living monument,” Yu said.

“People got to see that a historic building isn’t just a static piece of history, but a real home where modern student life actually happens. It really reflects what University Hall, HKU, and Hong Kong as a whole stand for: a place where deep local heritage, multicultural elements, and social contribution come together.”