Rain fails to put a damper on CUHK's rescheduled graduation

Eunice Lam

Some 5,000 Chinese University graduates finally had their graduation ceremony yesterday amid showers after it was rescheduled from last Thursday due to Typhoon Toraji.

One graduate said he initially felt disappointed when CUHK canceled the ceremony instead of rescheduling it, but was grateful more relatives were able to witness his graduation on a Sunday.

On Wednesday night the university announced the ceremony had been canceled due to a T8 hoisting for Toraji.

But the cancelation sparked discontent among the graduates, blaming the university for a lack of contingency plan. CUHK later rescheduled the congregation and six college graduation ceremonies to yesterday.

Another graduate surnamed He said she returned to Hong Kong from the mainland to attend the ceremony yesterday morning at the University Mall. "Fortunately [the ceremony] was rescheduled. I felt quite disappointed when it was first canceled. I got the cancellation message as soon as I got off the airplane that night and I was upset about it," He said.

But one graduate felt the rescheduling was too hasty as he had originally planned a family trip to Japan right after the Thursday ceremony, taking some HK$10,000 to change his flight and accommodation reservations.

At the congregation, outgoing CUHK president Rocky Tuan Sung-chi - who is leaving the university in January - explained that the rescheduling was to ensure participants' safety.

Tuan said: "This sudden change has reminded us that life is unpredictable and that challenges and obstacles are inevitable."

"No matter your future, you will soon realize that life will not become easier as you become older," he said.

He added that overcoming each obstacle requires not only physical strength, but also mental and emotional energy and the determination to pursue one's dreams.

Meanwhile, the Observatory said it will issue Standby Signal No 1 between 6am and 9am today as super typhoon Man-yi enters within 800 kilometers of Hong Kong early today, gradually edging closer to the coast of southern China.

Temperatures are expected to fall progressively this week to 18 degrees Celsius or below.

"Man-Yi is expected to weaken gradually. However, with Man-yi further edging closer to the coast of Guangdong, and under the combined effect with the northeast monsoon, it will be windy over the coast of Guangdong on Tuesday," the observatory said.

It added that whether a higher tropical cyclone warning signal will be issued tonight to early tomorrow will depend on the distance between Man-yi and the Pearl River Estuary, its change in intensity and changes in local wind conditions.

There will also be a spring tide in the next couple of days and the sea level will be particularly high during the high tide overnight, the observatory said.

Under the combined effect of the northeast monsoon and Man-yi, sea level will generally be about a further 0.3 meters above the spring tide tonight and tomorrow.

"Minor flooding may occur in individual low-lying areas. Members of the public, please take appropriate precautions," it said.

Cloudy weather with a few rain patches is expected in the coming week, with temperatures fluctuating from 18 to 26 degrees Celsius.