House Rules

1. General

1. These rules are formulated for the orderly operation of the Graduate House (GH).
2. All residents and visitors are required to observe the rules.
3. The overall administration and interpretation of the rules rests with the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS).
4. CEDARS, in consultation with GH staff and students, may review and revise the rules from time to time, and as occasion may require. These rules shall be effective from the time of posting on the Official Notice Boards of the Graduate House, or notified otherwise by the Management.
5. The Management generally refers to the Graduate House Office acting upon decisions by CEDARS in consultation with the Site Manager and House staff.

2. Conduct

1. All residents and visitors should abide by the rules and regulations, policies and practices, notifications and instructions of Graduate House and provide full assistance.
2. All residents and visitors are expected to exercise reasonable and acceptable behavior within the Graduate House premises, and to refrain from undesirable action, which may disturb the well-being of others or affect the administration and smooth operation of Graduate House.
3. No residents are allowed to bring into Graduate House any alcohol or illegal drugs. Disorderly behavior as a result of consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs is also strictly forbidden within the Graduate House premises.
4. Unless prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner, a resident is not allowed to bring into Graduate House any dangerous drug as defined in the Dangerous Drug Ordinance (Cap.134).
5. No resident is allowed to bring any chemicals or substances that are hazardous to health into Graduate House.
6. No gambling in any form is allowed in Graduate House. Playing mahjong even without involving money transactions is also not allowed in Graduate House.
7. Under the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance, it is an offence to smoke anywhere within the boundary (indoors and outdoors) of the University campus and those who intrude the Ordinance will be subject to a fine of HK$1,500. Smoking is strictly prohibited within the Graduate House premises. A “zero-tolerance” policy has been implemented for many years in Graduate House against smoking…
8. No pets or livestock of any kind are allowed in Graduate House.
9. No cooking is allowed in the study bedrooms of Graduate House. Only light cooking or re-heating of cooked food is allowed in the student lounges including pantries.
10. Residents are responsible for the cleanliness and tidiness of their rooms and all public areas in Graduate House.
11. Public areas, corridors and stairs should be kept clear of furniture, trash and any other objects, so as not to obstruct passage and therefore escape routes during emergencies.
12. Residents found guilty of breaching the House Rules of Graduate House or anyone who receives substantiated complaint will be issued a written warning by the Management.
13. There are four washers and three dryers (all smart card-driven) in in the Laundry Room on the rooftop of GH. Outside the Laundry Room, there is a sunlight Drying Area for hanging and natural drying of clothes. Hanging of clothes inside study bedrooms and in other common areas of the House premises is strictly prohibited.
14. All residents and visitors are requested to observe the decency and decorum of proper attire in all public areas of the Graduate House.
15. All residents should refrain from making loud noises, especially between 11:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
16. Integrity is one of the core values that the Graduate House expects her residents to have and manifest. Residents found dishonest may receive disciplinary actions and other consequences.

3. Minimum Stay Requirement and Withdrawal Policy

1. The upcoming residential year 2025-26 will run from 1 August 2025 to 1 January 2026 (Semester 1) and 1 January 2026 to 31 May 2026 (Semester 2). Adding the Summer Semester (31 May 2026 to 1 August 2026), the offer of residence for you will include 3 semesters. You are required to commit to your stay by semester.
2. Lodging fees committed are non-refundable. You will be charged the lodging fee for the entire semester even if you withdraw before the semester is over.
3. If you wish to withdraw from the Graduate House, you are required to complete a “Withdrawal of Residence” form, which is available at the Graduate House Office or Graduate House homepage, and return it to the Graduate House Office at least 14-days prior to your designed check-out date…

4. Termination of Residency

Your stay in Graduate House will terminate upon the following events, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER:

• (i) 10:00 a.m. on 1 January 2026, or 31 May 2026, or 1 August 2026, or
• (ii) the expiry of University ID card, or
• (iii) completion of studies, or
• (iv) when your student status is officially terminated through withdrawal from/dismissal by HKU

5. Lodging fees charge by FEO

1. Lodging fees are settled on monthly basis although you commit to your stay by semester.
2. The lodging fees can be settled in one of the following methods locally: In person through bank counters, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), Payment by Phone Service (PPS), Payment via internet/ phone banking.

6. Room Occupation

1. Bedrooms are allocated to residents on a random basis. Residents are not given the priority to choose their own rooms.
2. Only the Graduate House Management is empowered to allocate bedrooms to residents. Residents must not assign, sublet, exchange or privately transfer allocated rooms.
3. No resident is allowed to use any room in Graduate House for commercial or non-residential purpose.
4. Between 11:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., students of opposite sex should refrain from entering into each other’s room, except in rooms for married couples.
5. The Management has the right to enter any bedroom in case of emergency and to check on reasonable grounds whether the House Rules are being observed.
6. The Management has the right to ask any resident, if necessary, to move to another bedroom upon 48 hours’ notice.
7. Offer of residence is subject to the condition that residents remain as full-time registered students of the University.

7. Short Vacation

Residents planning to leave Graduate House for longer than one week should inform the Graduate House Office for security purposes by email.

8. Visitors Policy

Residents may invite guests into Graduate House subject to the conditions of this policy:

• Daytime Guest: between 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (a resident may invite no more than 2 guests at one or more than one time during daytime visit)
• No visitor should stay at Graduate House after 11:00 p.m.
• No children under the age of 18, unless they are family members of staff, are allowed to stay as visitors at the Graduate House.

9. Furnishing and Appliances

1. Residents who have damaged any furnishing, fixtures, appliances and/or provisions at GH shall be liable to pay for the potential cost.
2. Residents should check and complete the furniture inventory sheet with care when they check in GH.
3. Residents under no circumstances are allowed to tamper with the electrical or mechanical systems or installations of GH.
4. Residents wishing to install fittings, which require drilling, or nails and screws to be driven into the wall, must obtain prior approval from the Management.
5. Residents are reminded that they should not affix any glue, scotch tape, gum-paper, wall paper or adhesive accessories to the wall, floor and/or door surfaces of their bedrooms and bathrooms.
6. When you move out, the room condition including that of the furniture, fixture and equipment inside the room shall restored to their original position and function…
7. The mattress protector, in case of dirty, damage or loss, a fixed charge of HK$100 will be deducted from the deposit.
8. Only approved electrical appliances (with low power consumption and/or safety fuse installed) are allowed to be used in GH.
9. The Management has the right to prohibit residents from bringing excessive nor bulky luggage or furniture or electrical appliances.

10. Security of Property

1. Residents must take care of their personal belongings. Neither the GH Office nor its staff will be responsible for any property damaged, lost and/or stolen within GH.
2. Residents must leave GH and remove their belongings by 10:00 a.m. on the last day of their approved residency.

11. Fire Safety

1. Residents should familiarize themselves and their visitors with the escape routes to the exit doors, the location of the fire alarm call points, the fire extinguishers nearest to their rooms, and the assembly point.
2. Residents should acquaint themselves with the fire notices and the instructions for operating fire extinguishers.
3. All residents and visitors MUST participate in the Fire Drill(s) conducted within the residential year.
4. Residents should refrain from tampering with the smoke detectors inside the bedrooms, nor should they hang clothes from fire sprinklers or associated water pipes.
5. Apart from a probable disciplinary consequence, you must pay the compensation HK$20,000 requested by the Safety Office.

12. Energy Conservation

1. All residents should make conscientious efforts in conserving energy consumption. All windows should be kept closed when using air-conditioning.
2. Residents should switch off all the lights and electrical appliances before leaving their bedrooms.

13. Laundry Smartcards

1. Smartcards are issued to residents for using laundry facilities.
2. All values of laundry smartcards are non-refundable in all circumstances.
3. Residents who lose the laundry smartcard shall report to General Office for replacement.
4. Any charges paid for smartcard replacement is non-refundable.
5. Laundry smartcard must be returned to General Office upon check-out.

14. Keys

1. The key to bedrooms, and any key issued to residents by the GH are the property of The University of Hong Kong and must NOT be transferred or lent to third party.
2. Residents are not allowed to duplicate their room and/or drawer keys.
3. All keys must be returned to the House Office by the resident of the study bedroom upon departure.
4. Failure to return a key or its replacement key will cost the resident HK$600 for replacement of door lock, and HK$440 for replacement of cabinet lock.

15. Refund of Deposit

1. No deposit will be refunded before or upon a resident checks out from GH.
2. After deduction of any incurred charges, deposit will be refunded to checked out residents about one month after their departure.
3. The Management reserves the right to deduct from the deposit for settling any charges including but not limited to penalty charges and compensation charges.

16. Miscellaneous Charges

1. A charge of HK$20.00 will be levied on the resident each time he/she borrows a room key from the House Office.
2. Except for the first copy of certification which is free, a charge of HK$20.00 will be levied on each additional letter requested by the resident thereafter.
3. The above charges, if any, will be deducted together with the electricity charges around the 10th of each month.

17. Access Control

1. The main entrance at Level P1 is the only entrance and exit point for residents of Graduate House.
2. Residents are required to log in the access control system by placing their access cards onto the “IN” reader to have their resident status verified.
3. Residents who forget to bring their Student Card for access to the house are required to fill in a “Resident Entry Permission Record” before gaining access.

18. Breach of House Rules

1. The Management shall have the authority to interpret all the House Rules and to determine any breaching of the House Rules.
2. Breach of House Rules may result in disciplinary actions, suspension or termination of residency.
3. Repeated or serious misconduct will be reported to the University authorities.
4. No refund of deposits would be made for residents under suspension or termination of residency.

19. Suggestions and Complaints

1. The Management welcomes any suggestion and is ready to listen to complaints.
2. Suggestions and complaints may first be made to the Junior Resident Tutors.
3. Day-to-day management problems and issues should be reported directly to the House Office in writing.