The University of Newcastle, Australia

More than 200 graduates of the University of Newcastle will tomorrow be presented with their degrees at a special ceremony to be held in Hong Kong.

The Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, Professor Trevor Waring, will confer doctorates, masters degrees, graduate certificates and diplomas, and bachelor degrees. Graduates attending the ceremony in Hong Kong come from the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Professor Tung Sang Ng will give the Occasional Address at the ceremony. Professor Ng is an expert in mobile communication technologies and is Professor and Chair of Electronic Engineering at the University of Hong Kong. In 1997, the University of Newcastle awarded him a Doctor of Engineering honoris causa.

Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barney Glover, said the graduates receiving their awards tomorrow were an important part of the University community.

"The University is continuing to develop its relationships in Asia," Professor Glover said. "In Hong Kong, the University has very successful partnerships with the Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA) and Hartford Institute.

"We currently have more than 400 students studying in Hong Kong, mainly in postgraduate business and nursing programs.

"Overseas graduation ceremonies are an exciting and vital part of the University of Newcastle's connection with its many international students. They also allow students who have studied at our Australian campuses to graduate in front of their families and friends."

Currently the University has some 5,600 international students enrolled in its programs (including Study Abroad, English language and International Foundation students), with 2,000 studying outside of Australia.

Graduates from tomorrow's ceremony will join the University's Hong Kong Alumni Chapter.

The graduation ceremony will be held at 6pm in the ballroom of the Hotel InterContinental, Kowloon, Hong Kong.