William and Kate to visit Oxford University

<![CDATA[The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to visit Oxford on Monday, 8th of September, where they will formally open The Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre building.

The Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre is a new building, owned by St Hugh’s College of the University of Oxford. Made with the aim to bring together academics who share common interests related to China, the structure boasts 63 en-suite student bedrooms, a 100 seat lecture theatre, dining area and a range of conference and seminar facilities. It also has a library, dedicated to permanently house books from the Bodleian Library’s China Collection.
The University of Oxford is Europe’s foremost centre for the study of China, and the politics, economics, history and literature of the nation. The Centre was first launched in May 2008, and has since succeeded in coordinating research activities, with nearly 50 permanent academics working on all areas of study of China, and strengthening the University’s relationship with China.
The new centre, which cost £21 million to build, has been named after Mr. Dickson Poon CBE, the philanthropist from Hong Kong who very generously donated £10 million towards the cost of the project.
During their visit, William and Kate will meet with members of the College staff, students, friends of the College, donors and academics, as well as the designers and building contractors who worked on the construction of the building. They will be shown the building, before carrying out a traditional Chinese ribbon cutting ceremony in the courtyard. The ceremony differs in that the ribbon is cut in several places, allowing for more than one or two people to partake in the ceremony itself.
Their Royal Highnesses will be joined by Dame Elish Angiolini, Principal of St Hugh’s College, The Lord Patten of Barnes CH, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Mr Dickson Poon himself.
Photo credit: Government House NZ/Woolfe/Crown]]>