-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 Sept 2022)

-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.

-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.