About 1,000 members and friends of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) gathered at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to join the Institution's 75th Anniversary Gala Dinner on 13 November 2012. The Chief Executive Mr CY Leung, who is also an alumnus of the University, was the Guest of Honour.

The gala dinner was graced by the presence of two former Council Chairmen in different era, namely Dr Allen Lee Peng-fei and Dr Victor Lo. They joined the Chief Executive Mr CY Leung; incumbent PolyU Council Chairman Ms Marjorie Yang; Court Chairman Professor Roy Chung; Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations President Ir Professor Johnny Fan; and PolyU President Professor Timothy W. Tong on stage for the cake-cutting and toasting ceremony.

On this joyous occasion, PolyU also paid tribute to eight donors for their staunch support for the University through the establishment of eight Endowed Professorships in various academic disciplines. The Professorships and their contributors are: Endowed Professorship in Applied Chemistry contributed by Mr Patrick S.C. Poon, PolyU Council Member and Treasurer; Endowed Professorship in Fashion and Textiles contributed by a donor who chose to remain anonymous; Endowed Professorship in Asian Ergonomics contributed by Mr Eric C. Yim; Endowed Professorship in Health and Longevity contributed by Professor Angel Lau; Endowed Professorship in Elderly Vision Health contributed by Dr Edwin Leong Siu-hung; Endowed Professorship in Optometry contributed by Emeritus Professor George Woo and his brother Dr Victor Woo Chi-pang; Endowed Professorship in Culture and Art contributed by Miss Cally Kwong Mei-wan; and an Endowed Professorship contributed by The Kimberley Hotel.

During the dinner, distinguished alumni of different eras also shared the joy of studying at the Institution. Speakers included nonagenarian Dr Ng Wing-hong, an alumnus among the first cohort of graduates sent forth by the then Government Trade School; Ir Tsui Tack-kong, a graduate of the Hong Kong Technical College in the 1950s; and PolyU Council Member Mrs Yvonne Law, who is an accounting graduate of The Hong Kong Polytechnic.

The dinner came to a climax when famous violinist Ms Jue Yao and Council Chairman Ms Marjorie Yang joined the PolyU Staff Choir to perform on stage. This memorable event subsequently ended in unison with the song "We are the World."