-The Central Facilities is supported by School of Biological Sciences for provision of equipment, technical and/or software support in teaching and research.

-Users must keep the premises tidy and take great care when using the equipments.

-Users have to report any abnormality or damage of equipments as soon as possible.

-Office hours with technical staff on request: Monday to Friday 09:00 - 13:00 hrs & 14:00 - 17:45 hrs.

-Office hours without technical staff on request: Monday to Friday 13:00 - 14:00 hrs. & 17:45 - 09:00 hrs. (next morning); Saturday, Sunday, University Holidays & Public Holidays.

-New users are required to be assessed by respective Primary Technician-in-charge of the instrument to ensure the instrument is operated in accordance with our standard operation procedures.

-Once the new users have been assessed as qualified users, he/she will be provided with an account for booking of the concerned instrument via our web booking system.

-No instruments should be left unattended during a confirmed booking.

-Booking of instrument in advance can be made via the web booking system at the following URL
http://www.biosch.hku.hk/equbook

-All qualified users must register before they can use the web booking system.

-Qualified users must provide information of their PI/supervisor during registration.

-Bookings will be counted on PI/supervisor basis

-Advanced booking

a) Analytical instruments: booking can be made in advance via the web booking system up to 1 month in advance; and

b) Plant growth chambers: booking can be made via the web booking system up to 3 months in advance.

-Sample information regarding the nature, expected concentration and amount to be used must be provided with the booking.  No hazardous material is allowed to be analyzed in the Central Facilities.

-Cancellation of bookings must be made via the respective Primary or Secondary Technician-in-charge at least 1 working day in advance of the scheduled booking.

-Qualified users must inform respective Primary or Secondary Technician-in-charge of the instrument during office hours for overrun of experiment beyond the booking time. Overrun will only be allowed if there is no overlapped booking.

- School of Biological Sciences reserves the right to refuse any booking at our discretion.

-If any user does not oblige to the rules set, he/she may be barred from using Central Facilities for up to 3 months.

-Hourly rate charges will apply based on the time reserved and/or time used, whichever is longer.  Please refer to charge rate for equipment (updated in February2024)

-Same hourly rate charges will apply for no-show/ failure to cancel booking/late-arrival.

-Same hourly rate charges will apply for overrun of experiment beyond the booking time. Overrun will only be allowed if there is no overlapped booking.

-Penalty will be incurred for any damage of instruments due to misuse.

-Commercial application will be charged at a higher rate as determined from time to time by the School of Biological Sciences.

-Qualified users are responsible for storage and back-up of their own data.

-Please make sure your USB device does not contain computer virus when transferring data from the computers directly connected to the equipments.

-Data files stored in the computers directly connected to the equipment will be removed on regular basis after notifying relevant qualified users.

-Access to the Central Facilities is controlled by smart card system. Qualified users will be granted with access right after registration. Users should present their own access cards entering into facility room.

-The Central Facilities is under 24 hour CCTV camera surveillance.

-Food and drinks are not allowed in the Central Facilities.

-Please follow the guidelines in the supplier's user operation manuals and HKU safety regulations.

-Lab coat must be worn at all time. Appropriate safety measures, if necessary, should be taken accordingly.

-No gloves should come into direct contact with computer accessories and with areas accessible to the other personnel, including door handles.