High-table Dinner (HTD) originated from the formal dinner in UK's prestigious boarding schools with long years of history. A good illustration is captured in the movie "Harry Potter" with students, wearing gown, attending a grand formal dinner after the speech of their school master.
With the Warden being the host of the event, the HTD in the PolyU Student Halls is organised normally once a semester by the respective Hall Association at the support of tutors and Warden concerned. As a major hall function, Hall Association will leave no stones unturned to make the HTD a memorable night for all residents with creative decorations projecting an elegant and refreshing ambience. Celebrities in town are invited as the honourable keynote speaker(s) to share their success story or their views on topics of common interest.
It is our hope that students through their participation in HTD will achieve the following hall education objectives:
to feel at ease in attending formal social functions and get well versed to social and dining etiquettes, which will be beneficial for their career development;
to learn to break the ice in interacting/communicating with Table Guest(s) and other unfamiliar hall-mates as an enhancement of their communication skill;
to get some insights out of the speech or success story delivered by the keynote speaker(s);
to cherish the rare chance of having all hall-mates of a particular hall assembled for interaction while enjoying the dinner.
Given these values, the HTD is the only compulsory hall function that all residents are required to attend.