Being one of the most active societies in HKU, PPAA's mission is to advance the public interest through changing political apathy into awareness, motivating people to critically rethink about what they can do as citizens in local and international systems of governance, and training high caliber leaders who are concerned with serving society uncompromisingly. Founded in 1973 as Hong Kong's first student-led society focused on the study of global and public affairs, Politics and Public Administration Association SSS HKUSU (PPAA, 政治及公共行政學會) has emerged into one of the most successful of its kind in the region. Today, having strong links with the community and serving as the official student representative body of the HKU Department of Politics and Public Administration, PPAA promotes the free exchange of diverse ideas regarding compelling issues ranging from transnational terrorism and nuclear proliferation to entrenched poverty, Cross-Strait relations, political reforms in Hong Kong and China, and many more. Every year, PPAA organizes a huge variety of current public affairs forums, panels, exhibitions, debates, and social activities for its Members, HKU students and alumni, and the general public.