The Institute's annual ball was held on 4^th October at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.  We were privileged to have Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government as our Guest of Honour.   

At 7:45 p.m. sharp, the procession, led by Hon. President Dr. Dominic Wong and our Guest of Honour and made up of senior officials of the Institute, Fellows, and graduates of the Institute's various diploma programs marched into the function hall.  The grand annual function was officially opened by Chairman Prof. Dr. Maurice Teo’s welcome speech, then followed by Hon. President Dr. Dominic's welcome address. 

As a tradition of your Institute, Guests of Honour addressing us at our Annual Ball function are conferred Hon. Fellowship, and Mr. Cheung was no exception.  Vested with the authority of the Institute, symbolized in the sword of the Institute, Hon. President Dr. Dominic Wong presented Mr. Cheung the Certificate of Fellowship.

To more formally recognize people who have made major contributions to the Institute, a honour medal scheme was instituted this year.  Naturally the first Gold Medal went to our Hon. President Dr. Dominic Wong, who has helped found the Institute, served as the Institute's helmsman and spiritual leader since then, and responsible for successfully inviting the Guests of Honour to our Annual Ball functions all these years.  The first Silver Medal went to Fellow Johnny Chu, the Institute's Legal Adviser, who has been serving on this role since the IIM's founding.

Having acknowledged the respectable contributors, then came the diploma award presentation.  In descending order, current year graduates of the Institute's Advanced Post-graduate Diploma, Post-graduate Diploma and Diploma in Business Administration were called to the stage to receive the diploma certificates and took photos with the presenters.

Immediately following the more 'serious' rituals the celebrating party began.  While dinner was served, table-prizes were drawn, and on the stage there was a live performance of "zheng  古箏" .  This was followed by a very special mysterious performance.  To the surprise of most attendants, the performer was Cecilia Wong, wife of our Hon. President!  Audience was impressed by her talent in singing (most knew that Cecilia was good at dancing).  The nostalgic folk songs that she chose reminded most people of the fine memories of the good golden days.  

At the intermission, Council and Executive Committee members went up to the stage to present a toast and to convey their gratitude and good wishes to all the participants. 

At the intermission, Council and Executive Committee members went up to the stage to present a toast and to convey their gratitude and good wishes to all the participants.

The balance of the evening was packed with entertaining programs, including live music by the band, singing performance by guests and the on-site professional singer, raffle draw…and of course dancing.  Participants also seized the opportunity to mix and touch base with each other.  Some of the graduates chose to take group photos to catch glimpses of the memorable moments of their graduation, such as the one shown below.  The grand annual function was round off with everybody fully enjoying and exhausted (after long dancing exercises) after mid-night.