In order to strengthen links with students, a Committee on Student Affairs, which replaced the previous Committee on Students with Disabilities, was formed in September 1998. The committee considers the granting of resources to support student activities and matters relating to the provision and use of facilities and services for students. All students were informed of this new channel of applying for setting up student associations and recognition, as well as organizing student activities and seeking funding.

In the first application exercise in February 1999, eight student groups applied for recognition and/or funding. Seven of them were granted recognition during an interim period, and a variety of activities are being funded, including dragon boat racing, participation in the Hong Kong Management Game, and seminars and outings. These student bodies are: the Student Football Society, the Student History Association, the Student Social Sciences Society, the Dragon Boat Club, the Environmental Studies Society, the MBA Association and the Information Technology Society.

Besides these student associations, the Student Activities Fund was also used to sponsor five OUHK students to join a delegation to Shantung and Beijing in late June and early July 1999, organized by the Chinese History and Culture Educational Foundation for Youth.