April 2010 Volume 11 No. 2

FEELING THE HEAT Can Hong Kong cope with urbanization?

CARVED IN MYSTERY LAID STONE TO REST Foundation stone Madagascar’s THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG laid for the 2012 menagerie Pokfulam, Hong Kong Centennial Campus floated from Africa News in Brief

Contents Carved in stoNe Professor roland chin named Centennial Campus to be completed in 2012 Deputy vice-CHANCELLOR and provost

“Throughout the years, the University of Hong Kong has remained an institution that embodies freedom, diversity and integrity; has embraced interaction with the world; and has instilled in different generations of students a sense of mission and a willingness to accommodate new ideas, face new challenges and undertake new ventures,” he said.

“As we lay the foundation stone for a new campus, we are also cementing in place our high hopes for the future of this university.”

Cover photo: A view of King’s Park The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, said the new campus would be an neWS IN BRIEF 26 Outstanding Teaching Award One hundred years ago, on March 16, 1910, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive and HKU important building block in the University’s the Foundation Stone-laying Ceremony Chancellor Dr the Honourable Donald Tsang 1 Carved in Stone 28 Outstanding Research Student plans for expanded research, student for the University of Hong Kong was held, led the event, supported by such guests as learning, development and community 2 HKU Can Help Nation Supervisior Award an event made possible by the generous Mr Li Gang, Deputy Director of the Liaison outreach. Says State Councillor Liu Yandong 30 Outstanding Young Researcher donation of Sir H.N. Mody, who stepped Office of the Central People’s Government in “The campus, due to be completed in early Knowledge Exchange – Building an Even Award forward to finance the project when it the HKSAR, businessmen Dr Lee Shau-kee 2012, will help us address the challenges of Stronger Town and Gown Relationship 32 Outstanding Researcher Award was on the brink of being abandoned. and Dr Cheng Yu-tung, and Hong Kong’s Fittingly, on that same day in 2010, a similar former Chief Justice and the former Pro- the 21st century in research and education, 3 Professor Roland Chin Named 34 Member of the Chinese Academy of ceremony marked the University’s most Chancellor and Council Chairman of HKU, so that scholars and leaders, generation Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Sciences significant physical expansion in a century, Sir T.L. Yang. after generation, will continue to come forth. 4 Bring Your Own Vision for a Better Environment 35 Research Output Prize attended by Sir H.N. Mody’s great-great- The campus will also be a springboard Also in attendance were four previous Vice- George Soros Advocates Peace for Prosperity grandson, Professor Chris Mody. to our building of a University Town. It is teaching AND Learning Chancellors, Dr Rayson Huang, Professor therefore dedicated also to the people of 5 With a New Name, Nursing School Looks The Centennial Campus Foundation Wang Gungwu, Professor Cheng Yiu-chung, Hong Kong,” he said. Forward to Future 36 A Fine Art Lesson Stone-laying Ceremony was, like its and Professor Ian Davies. The ceremony culminated with Professor HKU Academics Snap Up Lion’s Share of the 37 Learning at the Deep End predecessor, held before distinguished Mody presenting a trowel to Dr Tsang for Croucher Awards members of Hong Kong’s business, PEOPLE government and academic elite. laying the first stone of the new campus – a replica of the trowel that his great-great- COVER STORY 38 A Jewel in the University’s Crown grandfather presented 100 years ago to 6 Our City is Heating Up 40 Blurring the Boundaries Between the then-Governor Sir Frederick Lugard. Classroom and the World researCH 14 A New Application for an Old Drug CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT 16 Madagascar’s Menagerie Floated from Africa 42 Making Friends in the Neighbourhood 18 The Many Faces of Arthur Conan Doyle BOOKS Dr Tsang addressed the audience of more honours than 800 guests and students and praised 44 Where There Are Asians, There Are 20 Honorary Degrees the values and achievements of HKU, which Rice Cookers is ranked 24th in the world in the Times TEACHING AND RESEARCH AWARDS 46 The Fall of the Pagoda Higher Education – Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings. 23 Excellence in Teaching and Research 2009 arts AND CULTURE 24 University Distinguished Teaching Award 48 Capturing the Buddha on Canvas

1 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 1 News in Brief

HKU can help Nation Professor roland chin named says State Councillor Liu Yandong Deputy vice-CHANCELLOR and provost

The Council of HKU announced in January Making the announcement, HKU Council University continues to reach out and the appointment of Professor Roland Chin Chairman Dr the Honourable Leong engage the world, Professor Roland Chin’s Tai-hong, a renowned academic leader with Che-hung said: “As the University moves distinguished academic achievements, outstanding university development and into its second century, there will be big and rich experience in administration and management experience, as Deputy Vice- challenges ahead. I believe the Vice- public service made him a most suitable Chancellor/Provost. Chancellor and Professor Chin, together candidate.” with all other members of the University He will succeed Professor Richard Wong Professor Chin is pleased to accept the Senior Management, will work as a team to Yue-chim for a five-year term as the chief appointment: “I am very honoured that the successfully fulfill the strategic goals of the aide to the Vice-Chancellor, providing Council, the Vice-Chancellor, the staff and University”. leadership to the management of the the students have entrusted me with their University. HKU Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee confidence in joining the University Senior Tsui welcomed the appointment: “As the Management to take HKU to even greater heights of excellence. I am looking forward Liu Yandong greeted by HKU students. The chair presented to Madam Liu. Liu Yandong presented HKU with Yongle Dadian to working with the students and the staff to help HKU become one of the premier world- class universities.”

He was born in Macau, grew up in Hong Madam Liu Yandong, Member of the Madam Liu described HKU as the oldest motto ‘Sapientia et Virtus’. The chair Kong, and studied electrical engineering at State Council, visited the University last university in the territory, with an immense is an exclusive gift for supporters of the the University of Missouri, Columbia. He December. HKU Chairman of Council Dr the legacy of outstanding achievements to University’s research endeavours and subsequently worked at the NASA Goddard Honourable Leong Che-hung, together with its name. She said the University, with its was on this occasion a token of thanks Space Flight Centre in Maryland for two Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, wealth of experience in grooming talent and to Madam Liu for her support to higher years before joining the Faculty of Electrical and the Dean of Medicine Professor Lee developing pioneering research, is well placed education and HKU. Madam Liu presented and Computer Engineering at the University Sum-ping, welcomed Madam Liu on her visit to support the nation’s endeavour of improving a precious set of the Yongle Dadian – a of Wisconsin, Madison from 1981 to 1995. to the University. education standards and incorporating Chinese encyclopedia dating back to the advanced international education concepts. Ming Dynasty – to the Libraries of HKU. He has served on numerous public During her visit, Madam Liu toured the Li She also expressed her wish to see closer bodies and is currently a member of the Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine Campus, and HKU has closely collaborated with Mainland cooperation in higher education between the University Grants Committee (UGC), the was briefed on the history, achievements organizations in many areas, including joint Mainland and Hong Kong, to raise the quality Steering Committee on Innovation and and development plans of the University by programmes and the operation of two State of education nationally. Technology and the Commission on the Vice-Chancellor. She also visited the Key Laboratories. The number of Mainland Strategic Development. Since 2005, he State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious As a souvenir of the visit, the University students joining HKU has also been on has been the Chairman of the Research Diseases and the Genome Research Centre. presented to Madam Liu a chair, crafted the rise in recent years and the University Shaking on it (left to right): Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, Professor Roland Chin Tai-hong and Dr the Honourable Grants Council. in the style of Ming Dynasty furniture continues admitting very high quality Leong Che-hung. and engraved with the University’s students from the Mainland.

Knowledge Exchange – Building an even Strategic Plan 2009–2014. “The University Committee, to emphasize the two-way flow The University has defined the internal Looking ahead, Professor Tam said: “There is committed to enhance KE development of knowledge between the University and structure that will support the KE strategy. is a lot of good KE work done by our Faculty stronger Town AND Gown relationship not because of the UGC’s request, but non-academic sectors of society for mutual At the management level, the Executive members. Building on that, we will further because we want to maximize the value of benefit.” Group – comprising PVC Tam, PVC enhance an institutional culture that is our research to society,” said Professor Paul Malpas, Professor John Bacon-Shone conducive to knowledge sharing through a “HKU’s KE strategy not only includes Universities are knowledge organizations. long been engaged in a wide range of Tam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research). “It is and Professor Paul Cheung – will oversee continuous process of staff engagement. technology transfer but also encompasses In the continuous pursuit of excellence in KE activities, including, inter alia applied nevertheless encouraging that the UGC has strategic developments in KE. The KE We will strive not only to strengthen all disciplines, including the arts and research, the University strives to ensure research, technology transfer, contract recognized the importance of knowledge Working Group, with Faculty representation, technology transfer, but also to foster the humanities and the social sciences. that our innovations and the new knowledge research, professional and continuing transfer by providing some funding support has also been formed to coordinate the development of high-impact KE initiatives in Knowledge Exchange is a vital part of the we create can be shared with our society. education courses, public lectures, arts to institutions.” implementation of KE initiatives. On all disciplines.” University’s activities, and in future KE will be Knowledge that is shared is the power that appreciation programmes, policy advice to the administration side, there is a small Professor John Malpas, Pro-Vice-Chancellor assessed and included as a measure of a holds the promise of a better future for our the Government, expertise sharing through Knowledge Exchange Office set up under (Infrastructure), said: “The University Faculty’s success in the budgetary process,” society. the media, and community services. PVC Tam. uses the term KE rather than Knowledge he added. Knowledge Exchange (KE) is certainly not What may be considered new is that KE Transfer, as used by the University Grants new to HKU. Our faculty members have has been made an explicit part of the HKU

2 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 3 News in Brief

Bring your own vision With a new name, HKU academics snap up lion’s for a better environment Nursing School share of the Croucher Awards looks forward to The second Hong Kong Shenzhen bi-city biennale, encouraging them to raise their project artist Kacey Wong built his own future Biennale of Architecture/Urbanism tapped expectations about their living conditions seafaring ‘apartment’ strapped to plastic Three outstanding academics of the on structural biology of metallo-proteins, in to the trend for greening by encouraging and assume the role of collaborators in their barrels. Entitled, Paddling Home it explored University were awarded the prestigious and metallomics and metalloproteomics. Hong Kongers to express their aspirations own environment. the ‘search for a better place,’ and was Senior Research Fellowship by the He is an international leading expert in for a better environment. launched into Victoria Harbour in January. Croucher Foundation on March 26, 2010 in the latter. By using chemical biology and Organizers – the Institute of Architects, recognition of their scientific achievements metallomic approaches, he has identified Launched in December, and running through the Institute of Planners and the Design Heaven On the same day Stanley Wong’s and contributions to the international several key metallo-drug binding proteins to the end of January under the banner Association – selected Marisa Yiu and Eric on Earth – a boat planted with a single tree – scientific community. and characterized selected metallo-transport of ‘City Mobilization’, the event invited Schuldenfrei, both Assistant Professors was also launched. and storage proteins in microorganisms artists, designers, students and members in the Department of Architecture, to help Professor Chan Kwong-yu and Professor In keeping with the theme of sustainability which provide a basis for mechanism-based of the public to essentially create their own curate the event. Sun Hongzhe of the Department of drug design. and public engagement, 150 children Chemistry, and Professor Shen Shunqing They threw their energies into their vision for were invited to a massive eco-farm in of the Department of Physics, all from Professor Shen Shunqing is an expert in a biennale with strong public participation. west Kowloon, designed specifically for the Faculty of Science, took three of the the field of condensed matter physics. He is “We wondered how we could get the the biennale by a team of architects. four Senior Research Fellowship Awards recognized for his research on spintronics of public involved, and we thought it might The youngsters indulged in planting and As it celebrates its 15th anniversary, the this year. The awards were presented by semiconductors, quantum magnetism and work through a partnership with younger harvesting winter vegetables. A rare occasion Department of Nursing Studies has been the Honourable John Tsang Chun-wah, orbital physics in transition metal oxides, and media, so we engaged youth magazines as to get their hands dirty in Hong Kong. Others renamed as the School of Nursing of the JP, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR novel quantum states of condensed matters. a partner and worked very closely with the were kept busy planting trees. University of Hong Kong. Government. He has proposed a theory of topological Federation of Youth,” says Yiu. Yiu said, “We set out to raise issues and Anderson insulator, spin transverse force, Established in 1995, the Department has Professor Chan Kwong-yu’s research They also invited celebrity artists and encourage engagement, to establish a resonant spin Hall effect, and a theory of grown into a large, complex academic focuses on multi-scale structured materials architects to install thought-provoking volunteering mindset and it’s been very phase separation and antiferromagnetism. unit that provides vital undergraduate and for electrochemical technologies such as exhibitions and express their own take on effective.” He has also proved the existence of postgraduate education. Since its inception, fuel cells, batteries, super-capacitors, and Hong Kong’s urban lifestyle. In one striking antiferromagnetic and off-diagonal long- the School has nurtured and trained a ozone generation. These technologies are range order in itinerant electron systems. total of 1,373 graduates – with 110 at the important for clean energy and environment. Masters and PhD level. It is becoming The bottlenecks in energy conversion can They will each receive a fellowship of about increasingly research intensive, has a strong be widened with fundamental understanding US$100,000 that will enable them to devote history and presence in community service, and optimization of various transport limited more time and effort to research work, by GEORGE SOROS ADVOcates PEACE FOR PROSPERITY and also keeps pace with the global trend processes in the materials. allowing the University to recruit replacement of strengthening the professionalization and teachers to take over their teaching and Professor Sun Hongzhe’s research interests independent scholarship of the discipline. administrative duties for one year. They will lie at the frontier of inorganic chemistry and also receive a grant of $60,000 for research Billionaire financier and philanthropist George “That, I think, is one very important reason Soros responded to queries on several Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Professor and Head biology/medicine. He has recently focused expenses. Soros called for greater understanding for China to move towards an open society. subjects including the impossibility of of the School of Nursing said, “We are between nations and a ‘doctrine of In some respects it’s not very far removed predicting the point at which market absolutely thrilled that this dream has become harmonious development’ in China, in a because there is this internal physical bubbles will burst; his controversial view on a reality and believe that this name change recent talk at HKU. process which I think is very efficient, but the global regulation of financial markets; reflects our growing status and reputation. another very important point is that China and worsening US-Sino relations which, Speaking at a packed Loke Yew Hall in It would not have been possible without our has emerged as a leading power in the he feared, would adversely affect global February he emphasized the need for a incredibly hard-working and dedicated staff, world and has become very influential, and prosperity. more open China and an improvement in and the support of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of therefore for China to continue to rise, it has US-Sino relations. Medicine and the University.” to pay increasing attention to how the rest of That openness, and greater understanding, the world views it.” Reflecting on the future plans for the School, he said could only be achieved through she added, “Since the development of a This he said was the doctrine of a process of critical thinking, a necessary clearly defined focus for our research, we harmonious development “which is well- element for future prosperity. have made considerable progress and will accepted in China.” continue to build upon this. Currently, we China, he conceded that has already The event, jointly organized by the are preparing for the introduction of the developed a very efficient critical process, Journalism and Media Studies Centre and four-year curriculum, as we believe it will but it is confined to within government. the School of Economics and Finance bring huge advantages to our students “One of the strengths of China today is that attracted over a thousand participants and will ensure that they can take a more the leadership is very self-critical and very including almost a hundred journalists, and mature approach to their studies. This will anxious about doing the right thing, but I featured a panel discussion, followed by a be imperative for preparing them for the think it’s very important to allow outside Q and A. challenges they will face as practitioners in criticism as well. the future. Planning for new programmes to meet community needs is also underway.” From left: Professor Chan Kwong-yu, Professor Sun Hongzhe and Professor Shen Shunqing.

4 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 5 Cover Story

“Overnight it was up to six degrees warmer in the city trees it was much cooler. So, in Portland, the than in rural Ta Kwu Ling.” urban heat factor is much easier to mitigate, you just plant more trees.”

Health and heat waves Reducing city heat “In Hong Kong one of the ways we can The fact that cities are hotter than the mitigate the problem is by retrofitting countryside comes as no surprise to most buildings and changing construction but should we be concerned about this materials, adopting green roofs and vertical heating effect? According to Dr Hart yes we greening, using lighter building materials should, and there are a number of reasons so they do not absorb so much heat, why. The most important, perhaps, is human and taking into account the surrounding health. Ample evidence links hot weather environment when you build. to increased mortality, particularly in the elderly, or those suffering heart disease. “In “More efficient buildings do not release so 2003 tens of thousands of people died in much waste heat. By changing what we call the European heat wave due to those very the albedo of the surface of a building, that heat conditions,” says Dr Hart. “We have a is, the amount of radiation from the sun that OUR CITY IS warming climate to start with, and if you add is reflected back out, we can make a big a bit of extra temperature on top then there’s an added burden. General comfort levels are heating up Summers in this city are hot, sticky and another factor. Current climate projections not for the feint hearted, but Hong Kong’s suggest we are going to have more hot our air pollution is worsening topography, its overcrowding, tall buildings weather, so this adds to the burden of urban and narrow streets only add to the stress of heat.” Air pollution is another issue that can and, if UN projections are our hottest months. be severely affected by air flow throughout a correct, our population will hit In the Department of Geography, Assistant city, as tall buildings tend to trap pollutants. Professor Melissa Hart has been investigating Dr Hart’s research has highlighted a number nine million by 2050. HKU our urban climate and looking at ways to of urban heat islands in high density areas scholars from a wide range of mitigate the problems caused by the city’s like Mong Kok, Sheung Wan, Central and urban heat islands. parts of Causeway Bay. During the summer disciplines are at the forefront of 2008 her team, in collaboration with Hong Kong, she says, is unique in terms of difference. Something as simple as painting a the Hong Kong Observatory, fixed fast urban climate. “The building and population rooftop white, or using lighter colour building of tracking the changes and response temperature and humidity sensors density are unlike any other city and, from a materials can have a drastic cooling effect. to vehicles and drove them through the finding solutions to the more climatological perspective, it’s quite complicated, You can reduce the surface temperature city, measuring temperature, humidity and because you have the topography as well as on a building by 10 to 15 degrees just by pressing problems. location every five seconds. the surrounding water.” changing its surface characteristics. And, In the very act of building a city we destroy “We linked our data to GIS information on if you have cooler buildings you don’t need the natural environment, removing surface land use, and land surface characteristics, so much energy to cool them down, so you vegetation, constructing buildings, adding to see which characteristics are associated have lower heat emissions.” with the hottest parts of the city,” she roads people and cars. All these factors Dr Hart is currently working on another says. What she found was that during combine to alter the energy balance of a city. project investigating the relationship the daytime, temperatures were 1.3 to 3 between building energy consumption and We also tend to use materials that are very degrees higher in urban areas. Overnight climate change. Using computer models she good at trapping heat. “Simple things like it was up to six degrees warmer in the city can alter a building’s energy consumption concrete buildings and asphalt roads which than in rural Ta Kwu Ling. absorb more solar radiation from the sun by changing its orientation, the construction and retain this heat much longer, particularly Further research revealed that building materials, windows and insulation. height was the most important factor overnight” says Dr Hart. “If any heat tries to “But in order to do that you need to know associated with the hottest regions. “Height escape overnight, it’s trapped because we what the weather is like outside. Normally to width canyon is also important,” she says. have these tall narrow street canyons.” researchers use past meteorological data “I did a similar analysis for Portland, Oregon but our project is trying to come up with Furthermore, by removing vegetation we in the US, which is a very different city to data files under future climate scenarios, so lose its inherent cooling effect. Add to this Hong Kong both climate-wise and in urban that buildings can be designed for a future anthropogenic heat – that released by morphology and, in Portland, what it came climate not for past weather conditions. human activity, like air conditioning, traffic, down to was trees. Anywhere there were industry and people – and we have cities that are far hotter than the surrounding “You can reduce the surface temperature on a building by 10 to 15 countryside.” degrees just by changing its surface characteristics.”

April 2010 7 Cover Story

THE ECONOMIC AIRING OUT VALUE OF the problem green landscapes

“Research shows that a natural view adds value to a property.”

“People like to be close to nature, they like to hear birdsong and to experience the wildlife that parks attract. Scientific evidence shows that natural landscapes are very beneficial to human mental health and also to physical recovery in hospital patients.”

“For a city to be successful long term it needs to attract creative types, and evidence shows that creative people choose green, clean Creating open spaces at ground level, such as that in the HSBC Building, also increases a city’s ventilation rate by two to five times. environments. Unless Hong Kong makes more of an effort to improve air quality and In high density urban areas, where a natural If greening is good for our health, it’s also increase green spaces it may lose its creative Professor Li Yuguo of the Department He has constructed computer simulation at ground level, such as that in the HSBC view has already been built out, developers good for our pockets. Research shows that workforce over the long term.” of Mechanical Engineering is similarly models for ventilation and hopes to get Building, also increases a city’s ventilation a natural view – ocean, park or mountain – can add value to their properties, and attract concerned with urban heat and pollution, funding to test them in field experiments in rate by two to five times. adds value to a property beacuse home- potential buyers, by incorporating green Open, natural landscapes also help alleviate but from the perspective of dispersal. By smaller environments, such as around HKU urban heating. But, says Dr Chen, there is “These may not always be realistic but buyers place it high on their list of desires. elements, like a garden or a pond. improving the movement of air through the or Mong Kok. still a gap between the research and the you can find tricks to improve ventilation. “This sort of research is useful to developers,” city, it may be possible to reduce localized Dr Wendy Chen, a Research Assistant application in Hong Kong. Knowing the ideal ventilation rate is one Certainly you could remove some of the heat and pollution, he says. Professor in the Department of Geography, she explains, “but also to the government, thing, though. How to ventilate is another. signs hanging over the streets. Everybody has been exploring the financial advantage because we need to evaluate the quality “I know that the government is trying “Scientists, when they look at cities, don’t Smoothing the way for natural air flows can see the names on them but the wind is of ocean views in comparison with mountain of urban life. In addition to education to develop more green areas, with roof talk about ventilation or air cleaning, they could make a difference. Preliminary work blocked at street level,” he says. views and neighbourhood parks. and income, green accounting is a very gardens and vertical greening, which are talk about emissions. But historically, all the by Professor Li’s team shows air travels up important element to evaluate the quality good options in such a dense city, but the Ultimately, he thinks sorting out ventilation “We try to use some ecometric methods bad air pollution episodes are not due to a buildings and mountain slopes during the of urban life. Green places are good, not economic index is still widely applicable could help in Hong Kong’s development. to separate the value of different natural sudden increase in emissions, they are due day and down at night, bringing fresh air to just because of the views they provide, but here. Also, developers are not entirely “High-rise compact cities have the potential landscapes so we can inform residential to the reduced ability of ventilation,” he says. street level. also because of their effect on air quality. open to greening because land here is very to be the most energy efficient places. developers,” she says. “Then they can In addition they allow room for recreational very expensive.” Cities, like buildings, need regular injections Urban design could take advantage of this Hong Kong is doing well, but it could do assess the value of including a nature activities that can enhance the cohesion of of fresh air to flush out heat and pollutants. process. Alternating buildings of different better. What we learn here could apply to landscape in their residential developments.” a community. We need to encourage the Professor Li estimates Hong Kong itself is heights can create more turbulent air flow other cities in Mainland China, India and so development of more neighbourhood parks, ventilated at 500-1,500 litres per person per at the top and increase the movement of air on, where most of the future growth in the What she’s found is that homebuyers attach which are important not only to improve the second – only 20 per cent of that in Helsinki. to the lower levels. Creating open spaces world’s cities will happen.” greater value to ocean or harbour views, but that any natural landscape is desirable. quality of urban life in Hong Kong, but also offer other benefits that people can enjoy.”

8 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 9 Cover Story

GOING underground One radical solution to Hong Kong’s land problem is to rethink the way we use it. parks will have solar tracking and reflecting systems for solar control, true cross Mr Cheung Kwok-pun ventilation on three sides, the use of internal pitch glass roofs, green roofs, rain water collection, use of recycled waste water, and As Hong Kong’s love affair with the high rise “Underground cities are financially viable the cheaper option. “The construction costs electric heat pumps, all of which will bring begins to wane and population projections for West Kowloon and Kai Tak,” he says. are very inexpensive compared to inland, as about an energy-efficient community that will warn of more overcrowding, one scholar “If the government does not do it, Hong there are no rocks, cables or pipelines. You set an example for sustainable living in Hong has devised a plan for an underground city Kong will have no other way to meet its can do open excavation, making it very fast Kong.” that will see shopping malls, recreational commercial needs in the coming 40 years – and inexpensive. Our reclaimed land is part The proposal, the only generic holistic facilities and streets tucked out of sight, there is simply nowhere to put up all these of Hong Kong’s treasure. It’s a gold mine for sustainable development plan for the allowing space above for a huge network of buildings.” future generations if utilized properly.” HKSAR over the coming 50 years, was CLEANER parks linked by green corridors. “What I’m saying is to build good parks Having consulted engineers and chartered submitted to Chief Executive Donald Tsang Hong Kong’s first ‘green junk’, developed by HKU. Cheung Kwok-pun, Associate Professor in West Kowloon and Kai Tak and the quantity surveyors he has developed a and the Development Bureau, in February. sailing in the Department of Architecture, was northern part of Hong Kong, and build financial model that assumes a public- Mr Cheung says he was prompted to prompted to devise the plan by UN and the commercial centres in West Kowloon, private partnership with the underground appliances for a couple of hours each day. develop the project because “I am eager to government census reports suggesting elevated over the park similar to HSBC space provided at no cost by the government. Renewable energy A heat pump was adapted to capture hot air provide an alternative environment for Hong Hong Kong’s population will reach nine Building in the Central. There is no more He estimates that an underground pumped out by air-conditioners for heating Kong people and for future generations. applied. million by 2050. “There appears to be no room on Hong Kong island for Grade A development incorporating 150 hectares water. Energy efficient appliances and At the moment we have no answer to plan for dealing with this,” he says. “The office buildings.” under West Kowloon, extending from Lai lighting were also installed. population growth. We talk about urban issue is space, we don’t have enough of it. Chi Kok to the new arts hub would cost His plan allows for open spaces above greening but no-one is doing it in a thought- Biodiesel was also added to the ship’s fuel The government has proposed new towns, about $350 billion, to be developed in where golf ranges, schools and luxury ful and holistic manner.” to reduce polluting emissions, as one of like Kwu Tung in the New Territories, to be phases over the next 30 to 40 years with Hong Kong’s air pollution is usually blamed hotels can be incorporated into a clean and three research projects associated with the extended to take up some of the population, financial recovery periods of five years, “People are becoming more environmentally on vehicles and power stations, but marine green environment. “This addresses the air junk. The other two looked at improving but that will not be enough to address the with an annual rental income of $68 aware, they are putting more emphasis on vessels can pollute the air, too. Hong Kong’s pollution problem,” he says. “An increased scrubbers to remove pollutants from the problem.” billion generated from the underground quality of life and air quality, but Hong Kong first ‘green junk’, developed by HKU population in Hong Kong does not necessarily engine emissions, and improving the design commercial areas alone. is going to lose out if the government does engineering academics, reduces some of the His solution is the Pearl for the World mean the proportional increase in roads.” of micro wind turbines. All told, the project not change its attitude to greening.” impacts and serves as a showcase to others. project, spawned under the auspices Additional revenue generated from the land cost an affordable $1.2 million including “We can reduce the number of vehicles of HKU’s Initiative on Clean Energy and above will be higher thanks to its green and He calls on the government to start ‘greening’ The boat was commissioned by Aviva, installations and research costs. by using electric transportation above and Environment – a focal point for multi- and open landscape. A marine park for sailing the economy by reshaping and refocusing a multinational insurance company that underground. People can drive to the green “The major benefit of this project is the inter-disciplinary research on clean energy and water sports, along the harbour front will policies, investments and spending towards wanted to promote environmental protection belt, park their car and join an electrical promotion of renewable energy,” Dr Michael and environment. The project aims to be included as an added attraction. a more sustainable future. here. They called on Professor Dennis Leung loop which will take them to the rail stations. Leung said. “With a boat, people can utilize reclaimed land for an underground and Dr Michael Leung of the Department of Several traffic hubs and electric bus and And in answer to critics who insist “There are three necessary factors for see physically how renewable energy can development similar to those common Mechanical Engineering, who already had rail systems will link up with existing rail and underground cities soak up more energy successful sustainability, the first is be applied. I know other companies are throughout Japan, North America and experience working with a private firm to MTR systems.” for lighting and ventilation Mr Cheung environmental, the second is societal and interested in a green boat after this project.” Europe. It will incorporate underground develop micro wind turbines. says, “Thanks to the micro-light-emitting- the third is economic. If we don’t have a commercial outlets, a traffic network and The launch last year was covered widely Too good to be true? diodes, developed by Mr Anthony Choi in holistic, sustainable plan for Hong Kong’s The two academics fitted out the 60-foot- parking facilities on reclaimed land along the in local media and also attracted attention It may sound too good to be true, but our Department of Electrical and Electronic future how are we going to deal with the long boat with solar photovoltaics and micro harbour covering over 500 hectares in West from Aviva’s overseas offices. Mr Cheung insists that the plan is both Engineering, there will be very little difference burgeoning population and all the problems wind turbines that could run the boat’s Kowloon, Kai Tak, Quarry Bay, Central and technically and financially feasible. He singles between lighting above or under ground. that entails?” Wan Chai. out reclaimed land specifically because it is Furthermore, residential units within the

10 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 11 Cover Story

Making progress

The University has been addressing energy and sustainability measures OUR GOAL: on campus for well over a decade. surface of a roof covered with the plant could Here are some examples of our be 18 degrees Celsius cooler than a barren a sustainable achievements: roof surface. He is also testing other species • Energy efficiency practices reduced BUILDING at green roof and green wall research stations per capita electricity consumption that he has set up on the roofs of the library over the past 10 years, saving and Runme Shaw buildings. an urban jungle campus more than 70,000 tonnes of carbon Professor Jim has applied some of his dioxide (as of 2008), despite More greenery in the city could reduce the findings in the field, for instance at the Tai Po HKU has been a leader in adopting measures increases in activities and staff and railway station, the rooftop of a CLP Power to reduce our impact on the environment. student numbers. effects of heat and pollution. substation where he planted a woodland • HKU was the first Hong Kong and an upcoming project to green sewage university to appoint a Sustainability treatment tanks in Sha Tin. And he will soon Officer (2008) and to publish a apply them at HKU. Sustainability Report (from 2002) “Educational institutions can play a leading role in adopting greener The Estates Office has agreed to let him and Sustainability Goals and Policy Greening can be an effective and visually Green roofs coverage can reduce surface measures and sending clear messages about what we can all do to pleasing antidote to urban heating, as temperatures generally by up to 20 degrees establish green walls on the Knowles Building (in 2005). Professor Jim Chi-yung of Department of Celsius and protect the building fabric, and the Main Library, using climbers because achieve greater sustainability.” • Existing buildings are being Geography has shown. especially the waterproofing membrane, from they are much cheaper than mounting soil retrofitted to make them more HKU is the ‘green lung’ in a densely- further measures to reduce consumption the effects of solar heat and wet/dry, heating/ vertically. He wants to see how high they will energy efficient. Professor Jim has been conducting extensive populated urban neighbourhood and it cooling changes. The environmental impacts grow, something that has not been tested of resources and make existing buildings research on green roofs and, more recently, is acutely aware of its own impacts and • Recycling has been brought can be even greater depending on the before. more energy efficient. green walls in Hong Kong. His focus is on vulnerability in the face of environmental to desk-sides and expanded species chosen. These efforts augment our academic efforts identifying key plants that can withstand “It’s important that my research will be able to problems. As Hong Kong’s leading around campus. to find solutions and raise awareness. The Hong Kong’s high summer heat while offering Professor Jim’s research has shown the provide some clear guidelines with a scientific university, it is also conscious of its • A consultant has been appointed to environment is one of HKU’s five Strategic insulation effects. perennial peanut plant has great potential basis for people to choose and nurture potential to be part of the solution. collect data on energy, water and for thermal insulation because it has a dense species for greening building facades and Research Themes, and susbtainability “Green walls and roofs shield buildings from “Our position is that even given the waste consumption, which will form network of stems that act like an air blanket. walls and roofs in this climate,” he said. features in course offered by many of our solar heat gain and therefore the indoor constraints in which we work in Hong the basis of targets for reduction. Temperatures on a hot summer day at the faculties. Moreover, students are also heat transmitted from outside is significantly Kong, where there is a lack of renewable setting an example to others. • The new Centennial Campus has reduced,” he said. energy sources and the recycling culture is been designed with many features The group Climate Chance, for example, not very strong, we will try and demonstrate to reduce environmental impacts sent a six-member delegation to UN our concept of sustainability. We will do and showcase green technologies, Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this not just through our curriculum, not such as solar and wind energy in December with the message that climate just through our research, not just through generators, maximized use of change is part of the bigger problem our philosophy, but also through our own natural light, green roofs and walls, related to development. The group aims practice,” Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor heat exchange pumps to capture to get people to think more critically about John Malpas, said. hot air from air-conditioners, how problems arise, and is also developing grey-water recycling, food-waste The University has been addressing networks among Hong Kong secondary compactors, and lifts that generate sustainability issues for well over a decade schools and universities to promote greener power on their descent. and managed to reduce its per capita lifestyles. A live Skype talk with polar energy consumption even as student and explorer and environmentalist Robert Swan • Monitors are planned to be staff numbers and activities increased (see was organized by the group in March, and set up around campus to show panel). It is also making the new Centennial they also plan an Eco-house exhibition at energy consumption in each zone Campus a showcase for environmental HKU in the autumn to showcase green or building. and sustainability features, and identifying technology. • HKU played a central organizing role the new Hong Kong Campus Sustainability Consortium, which held its first meeting in January. HKU is also drafting a Hong Kong declaration on sustainable higher education for local universities to sign.

12 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 13 Research

The threat of a new influenza pandemic This would also overcome the drawback has emerged as one of the leading health inherent in antiviral drugs. As Type A flu concerns of the 21st century. But while viruses mutate continually antivirals have to A NEW APPLICATION pharmaceutical companies race to develop be updated to keep apace with circulating a successful vaccine, scholars at HKU are virus strains. Additionally, novel antivirals employing a distinctly Chinese approach to can take years of trial and error in the for an old drug the problem. laboratory before they come to market – not the most satisfying scenario in the event of The cross-disciplinary team, led by Chair A drug commonly used to treat a pandemic. Existing anti-flu drugs work Professor Lau Yu-lung, Doris Zimmern mainly by targeting specific viral proteins, Professor in Community Child Health, and osteoporosis is showing potential in the thereby blocking the replication and spread Dr Tu Wenwei of the Department of of the virus. fight against flu. Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Chair Professor Malik Peiris, Tam Wah-ching Fortuitously, a drug in common use for Professor in Medical Science, is researching the treatment of osteoporosis is known ways to enhance the body’s own immune to enhance the function and number of response to influenza. gamma delta T-cells in the body and should, in theory, be able to boost the body’s own Rather than attacking the virus directly, as immune response to flu through destroying most conventional drugs like Tamiflu do, the flu-infected cells, thereby limiting the viral their research is focusing on boosting the production. Professor Lau Yu-lung body’s innate immune system to effectively kill the virus. “There are two levels of Phosphoantigens have been successfully “If the treatment is successful in the mouse immunity,” explains Professor Lau. “The used for decades to treat osteoporosis and model the third step will be designing a first level we call innate immunity, which have the potential to offer a ready-made and clinical study – that is if our hypothesis is means you’re born with it, the second level cost-effective solution to viral infections. accepted by the medical community, and if is specific immunity, which means you have it is considered to be of some use.” In a paper published in the Journal of to learn from experiencing the infection and Infectious Diseases, Professor Lau and his But what of the side effects? Reports that mounting a specific immune response. team showed that the application works in Tamiflu can cause nausea, insomnia and “We thought that if we could somehow vitro. Early tests in mouse models are also even psychiatric disorders in young people boost a patient’s innate immunity, then we showing promise. has left some patients understandably jittery might turn a nasty illness into a less severe about its potential benefits. “By activating the patient’s own immune one, we might turn a patient who could die system, the gamma delta T-cells destroy the “In terms of the side effects of phosphoan- from influenza into a patient who just has a cells infected by the virus and in doing so tigens, I think it’s a question of the risk-to- mild infection and makes a full recovery. That they are destroying the factory that produces benefit ratio. All medicines have some risk is the whole premise of our research.” the virus. So there will be no issue of the but the beauty of using an old drug for a One of the many arms of innate immunity virus becoming resistant to the drug and the new use is that people are comfortable that is the gamma delta T-cell. These cells exist drug will not lose its potency because what it has been tested, although for a different naturally in the blood and are known to fight it’s doing is trying to actually stop the virus indication, at length, in great detail for short viruses, like seasonal flu and its more deadly from being produced. and long term toxicity. If it has been used cousins H1N1, H9N2 and H5N1. for a long time in a large number of humans “In a way, this is a uniquely Chinese then you are even able to document the “So we thought that if we could somehow approach – we are trying to boost the very rare kind of side effects. These are the boost the level and function of gamma delta immune system rather than act directly qualities that have encouraged us to go on T-cells to a more active level then we might against it. and do these experiments.” be able to fight the influenza virus better,” says Professor Lau.

14 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 15 Research

Madagascar is home to a ‘bizarre’ repository were taking the plate tectonic model which Professor Ali. “What is very unlikely on a of creatures, many found nowhere else on is very very robust, and shuffling it around short time scale becomes, on a geological Earth. But how they arrived on the island willy nilly. But there are some very tight rules, timescale, more and more probable.” About has baffled scientists for centuries. Now, and I kept thinking these guys were wrong 20 million years ago the arrivals stopped. new research by Jason Ali, Associate but, because no geologists were reviewing Crucially, at the same time the flow between Professor in HKU’s Department of Earth their papers, they were getting away with it. Africa and Madagascar was disrupted Sciences, and Matthew Huber of the Earth “Each of the four groups of animals – by the move northwards of Madagascar and Atmospheric Sciences Department at tenrecs (insect-eating mammals), lemurs, which punched through into the ocean Purdue University, seems to confirm the carnivorans and rodents – arrived in four circulation system, altering the currents. theory that they rafted there. single events between 60 and 20 million This means the flow between the two By modelling ancient ocean currents they years ago,” he says. Not in a continuous continents gradually weakened, closing off discovered that favourable conditions for flow as one might expect across a bridge. the ‘sweepstakes process’. rafting off the coast of Africa, and across the But the rafting hypothesis has also thrown “The key thing is the stopping,” says Mozambique Channel, coincided with the up problems; the present-day currents and Professor Ali. “It’s not just the act of arrival of mammals on Madagascar. prevailing winds between Madagascar and creatures arriving during this period, but that The study, published in Nature, shows that Africa flow south and southwest, away from you switch off the process [of arrival]. That’s ocean currents periodically flowing between the island, so creatures or debris washed an extra piece of information that you can Africa and Madagascar, 60 to 20 million off Africa’s coast would be swept south, use in the puzzle.” years ago, would have made the trip not not east. “Madagascar is home to a bizarre series only possible, but likely too, given that the A background in oceanography made of animals, its reptiles are practically totally currents were unusually fast. him think the currents may have changed endemic, its amphibians are 99 per cent The rafting hypothesis is not new. It over millennia. So he contacted Huber, a endemic, and the terrestrial animals are was first mooted in 1915, but it was the paleoclimatologist who reconstructs the certainly 100 per cent. They are all really palaeontologist and evolution theorist, Earth’s ancient ocean currents using a weird shapes. Once they arrive this whole George Simpson, who expanded the theory supercomputer, and asked him to model experiment with life takes off, and you end in a 1940 paper. conditions 40 million years ago. Huber was up with this incredible variety and sometimes able to show that Simpson’s ‘sweepstakes’ in strange forms.” “Simpson explored the theory of land theory could have worked; the currents at bridges,” says Professor Ali. “And came up The island’s unique biodiversity has made it the time were favourable for a crossing that with a set of rules. When he applied them a living laboratory for evolutionary scientists would have taken 25–30 days, short enough to Madagascar he noted that the creatures but the puzzle has always been, how did to get small animals, with low metabolic that got across were very unusual, because they get there? rates, across the Mozambique Channel. He they’re of a particular body type – small, also showed that the area was a hotspot for “This study is important,” says Professor with a low metabolic rate, and often with powerful cyclones capable of washing trees, Ali, “because it shows the process of an ability to go into a type of torpor. You i.e. potential rafts, into the oceans. colonization. We’ve answered a question can basically turn them off. So things like that biologists have pondered for a very rodents and small primates could probably “What he found in a 100 year pattern is long time.” have got across.” extreme events, with fairly fast flows,” says MADAGASCAR’S Simpson introduced the ‘sweepstake process’ to explain the island’s unique menagerie biodiversity. If the animals had travelled to Madagascar along a land bridge, he said, large mammals such as elephants and giraffes would also have made the journey. floated And, as a geologist, Professor Ali agrees that the land bridge theory is “simply untenable.”

In his previous research, on modelling past from africa tectonic plate movements, in particular the India-Asia collision, Professor Ali kept One of the greatest running across the land bridge hypothesis used by biologists to explain how creatures unresolved mysteries of from one continent arrived on another. “They Professor Jason Ali natural history has been finally laid to rest.

16 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 17 Research

As Sherlock Holmes stalks the big screen very much from the middle of it. He is middle “He was widely admired and loved but as he once more, we are reminded of the brilliant brow, middle class, a respectable, bourgeois began to write more about spiritualism and detective’s enduring popularity. Since his figure,” explains Professor Kerr. “I am looking fairies, he became much more a figure of first outing, in Beeton’s Christmas Annual in at a number of cultural themes, science is fun. He was incredibly reckless in the things 1887, the super sleuth has been regularly one, sports is another, and also spiritualism.” that he said, the most famous instance adapted for stage and screen and is listed, being when he went on record as believing During his lifetime Conan Doyle was as in the Guinness Book of Records, as the in the authenticity of photographs of fairies enthusiastic a sportsman as he was a writer. world’s ‘most portrayed movie character’, manufactured by two bored teenage girls.” He played cricket for the MCC (Marylebone with 75 actors playing the part in over Cricket Club), football, as goalie, for The “Cottingley Fairies” are a series of five 211 films. Portsmouth Football Club, of which he was photographs, taken by two young cousins But if Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Dr a founder, he was a gifted amateur boxer, depicting themselves in various activities Watson, continue to capture the imagination a cyclist, golfer and hot air balloonist. He with supposed fairies. Conan Doyle was then so too does their creator, Sir Arthur also helped to popularize recreational skiing subjected to derision when he wrote an Conan Doyle. Biographies of the doctor- which, says Professor Kerr, was “in a way article, published in The Strand magazine in turned-author run into their dozens. Now, his one of the most influential things he did.” 1920, entitled, ‘Fairies photographed – an life and works are undergoing a fresh, and epoch making event’. “He was very physically fit, and this is more scholarly, examination by Professor an important theme in his work because “But, if you take this seriously for a moment Douglas Kerr, in the School of English. sport, of course, is very ideological, it can it shows that all his life Conan Doyle set his He’s researching a book on Conan Doyle in express ideas of national character and face against materialism,” Professor Kerr relation to the culture of his day, and “how of masculinity and feminity, it’s related to says. “In late Victorian Britain there was his writing interprets and makes that culture, the physical but also to the moral health a great masculine worship of money and of nations and communities. It also has to possessions, and I think this stuff about do with questions of fairness and justice, fairies and spiritualism shows a rather which matter a lot in the Sherlock Holmes desperate need to believe there was more tales. Holmes is a kind of artist, but also to the national life than just lucre, power a sportsman – a boxer – who shows a and success.” sporting sense of fair play.” Conan Doyle still matters, Professor Kerr A ferocious letter writer and commentator argues, “because he wrote things people on political, social, judicial issues, Conan wanted to read, and we’re still interested in Doyle created, says Professor Kerr, “a him and in Sherlock Holmes, in particular. sense of what certain things mean, what There is no other modern fictional character nation, justice, enjoyment mean. So in all that has such a vigorous hold on the of these ways he is very much a central imagination. There’s something about that representative figure. myth of Holmes and Watson which is very powerful.” “Conan Doyle’s popularity made him a national writer. When you think of Britishness In February, Professor Kerr delivered THE MANY FACES OF of a certain time he’s your man, and he a talk on ‘Arthur Conan Doyle and the played up to that in a way. He did think Consumption Cure’, detailing the moment of himself as representative of a national at which he turned away from the medical arthur conan doyle character but he played a part in forming profession and began writing in earnest. that idea of Britishness too.” This, and another talk delivered last August on The Lost World will form chapters in his The prolific writer’s impact on British culture and However, towards the end of his life his upcoming book. identity is providing rich pickings for one HKU scholar. growing interest in spiritualism lost him much of the respect he had earned. Arthur Conan Doyle

Basil Rathbane plays Sherlock Holmes in ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ produced by Twentieth Century Fox in 1939.

18 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 19 Honours

THE UNIVERSITY’S The University’s Chancellor, Dr the Honourable Donald Tsang Yam-kuen premier tribute (centre), conferred honorary degrees upon five outstanding individuals at the 182nd The University’s honorary degree is the highest accolade it can bestow Congregation in March 2010. on an individual, and is awarded in recognition of distinguished

service and commitment to the University, the community, and to Professor Lawrence Chan Chin-bong metabolism. In the same year he was also recognized as Asian Physician of the Year by academia. It is also awarded to those who have made valuable Professor Lawrence Chan Chin-bong is one Indiana University. intellectual, social and cultural contributions to society. of the most distinguished alumni of HKU’s Medical Faculty. He is currently Professor Professor Chan is Director of the National of Medicine, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Institutes of Health (NIH)-Diabetes and and Biochemistry, as well as Betty Rutherford Endocrinology Research Centre (DERC) Chair for Diabetes Research at Baylor College and Chief of the Division of Diabetes, Professor Roger Tsien Yonchien Professor Tsien is steeped in the values of of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Endocrinology and Metabolism in the scholarly learning. His father was part of the At the 181st Congregation on December 8, Department of Medicine. ‘scholar-gentry’ class in Hangzhou and his He has received numerous North American 2009, Dr the Honourable David Li Kwok-po, uncles were professors at the Massachusetts awards for his groundbreaking contributions He has remained loyal to his alma mater, Pro-Chancellor of the University, conferred Institute of Technology. Professor Tsien, who to the areas of lipoprotein/lipid/carbohydrate returning repeatedly to deliver plenary lectures, an honorary degree upon Nobel Laureate in is also the 34th generational grandson of King metabolism and diabetes, and for his and contributing to joint research projects and Chemistry Professor Roger Tsien Yonchien in Qian Liu of Wuyue in China, attended Harvard long dedication to research in the field of mentoring our postgraduate students. recognition of his contributions to the fields of and Cambridge. endocrinology. Chief among these is the cell biology and neurobiology. In recognition of his contributions to medicine Edwin B. Astwood Award, presented in 2007, He was named co-recipient of the 2008 Nobel and academia, Professor Lawrence Chan Professor Tsien sees universities as offering and regarded as one of the most prestigious Prize in Chemistry for his work in developing Chin-bong was conferred the degree of students a similarly safe and stimulating awards in the field of endocrinology and green fluorescent protein, which enables Doctor of Science honoris causa. environment to experiment and discover. scientists to identify where proteins are “Universities provide a sheltering arena where produced and monitor how they move within students can try out different courses, areas the body. Professor Tsien is based at the Mr Lawrence Fung Siu-por graduating with a Bachelor of Social Sciences of study, and career options, so that everyone University of California, San Diego, and has degree in 1972, he gained a Master of Arts in Mr Lawrence Fung Siu-por is an exceptional can find out where his or her true interests expanded his colour palette to include blue, Economics from the University of Manchester. business leader and social advocate who has and talents lie,” he said. yellow, orange and red. devoted himself to enhancing the interests of In 2006, he and his wife established the both Hong Kong and Mainland China. Azalea (1972) Endowment Fund to provide funding for HKU designated projects that In 1988, he launched the Hong Kong benefit the local community. He was a founding Economic Times (HKET), one of the city’s member of the HKU Graduates Association leading business dailies. He is currently Education Foundation and is an Honorary the Chairman and Founder of Hong Kong Patron of the HKU Foundation. In 2003 he Economic Times Holdings Limited which, was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star. under his leadership, has diversified to include printed media, a financial news In recognition of his contributions to academia agency, information and solutions, recruitment and Hong Kong, Mr Lawrence Fung Siu-por advertising and training. was conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa. Mr Fung is a HKU alumnus and former President of the Students’ Union. After

20 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 21 Honours

The Venerable Master Hsing Yun Master Yun has become known for his ‘Humanistic Buddhism’ philosophy, which The Venerable Master Hsing Yun is a world- focuses on facing current worldly issues, and renowned religious leader, author, educator, he is credited with reforming Buddhism by humanitarian and philanthropist. Born in 1927 opening monasteries, universities and schools into a poor family in rural Jiangsu Province, his worldwide, and engaging in dialogue with father left home when he was still young and other Buddhist sects and religious orders. never returned. During his early years Master Yun was influenced by his pious mother and HKU has also benefitted from Master Hsing grandmother and first entered a monastery at Yun’s outreach philosophy. In 2003 he the age of 12. attended the opening ceremony of the Centre of Buddhist Studies Library, and has regularly The University of Hong Kong’s outstanding He went on to found the Fo Guang Shan returned to deliver lectures and public talks. teachers and researchers were honoured at an Buddhist order and the affiliated Buddha’s Light International Association, one of the In recognition of his contributions to humanitarian Award Presentation Ceremony on January 28, world’s largest Buddhist organizations. and philanthropic causes the Venerable Master 2010 in the Rayson Huang Theatre. Hsing Yun was conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa. Awards were presented to 22 individuals in recognition of excellence in teaching and Dr Serena Yang Hsueh-chi Many HKU endeavours have benefitted research. A further 10 prizes were given for from Dr Yang’s support. These include Dr Serena Yang Hsueh-chi is a shining student scholarships, and the Oxford-HKU outstanding research output. example of learning as a lifelong adventure. Psychology student exchange programme. Chinese by ancestry, she grew up in Japan Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor and President, welcomed and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from The Serena Yang Library and Prizes were the full-house audience to this ninth annual award ceremony, which Kwansei Gakuin University, in Japan, in 1955. established in honour of her contributions he said provides the opportunity to “give due recognition to these to the Department of Surgery. She helped At the age of sixty-two, she joined HKU as a establish the Global Lounge, in 2005, and accomplished individuals” and “to thank them for their significant visiting student and developed a passionate has supported the Faculty of Social Sciences’ contribution to HKU and beyond”. interest in the history of psychoanalysis in Social Exposure Programme. Japan. Since then she has written several “Their exemplary performance is an inspiration for all members of papers on the subject, and presented her She is currently an Honorary Senior our University community,” Professor Tsui said. work internationally. She also helped establish Research Associate of the Department of During the ceremony, video clips and citations gave the audience Psychology and was a founding member of the Yang Hsueh Chi Staff Research Fund an insight into the winners’ accomplishments and approaches to in 1996 and the Yang Hsueh Chi Education the HKU Foundation. teaching and research. Their motivation, dedication and inspiration Fund in 2003 for research in the Department In recognition of her contributions to academia to others were apparent from these presentations. of Psychology. and Hong Kong, Dr Serena Yang Hsueh-chi In his speech as guest of honour, Dr the Honourable David Li Kwok- was conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa. po, the University’s Pro-Chancellor, added his congratulations to the winners and thanked them for their exceptional work.

Professor Richard Yu Yue-hong He also continued to teach at HKU’s “They have excelled through devotion to teaching and research, Department of Medicine as Honorary through forging new directions and overcoming boundaries, through Professor Richard Yu Yue-hong comes from Clinical Lecturer and is currently an their academic excellence, curiosity and creativity, and through their a family of illustrious alumni of this University. Honorary Professor in the Department. He contributions to improving the lives of others,” Dr Li said. He graduated with an MBBS degree in 1958, holds the same position at the Department after which he completed his clinical training Dr Li also took the opportunity to celebrate Professor Lap-Chee of Medicine and Therapeutics at the at Queen Mary Hospital and gained his PhD Tsui’s election to the Chinese Academy of Sciences as a foreign Chinese University and is also an Honorary from the University College Hospital, London, member in November 2009 in recognition of his scientific Consultant Physician at the Ruttonjee and where he was awarded a PhD in 1966. achievements and his important contributions to promoting the Princess Margaret Hospitals. On his return to HKU, he completed his MD development of science and technology in China. At present he holds the illustrious position degree and entered private practice, of Chairman of the Higher Physician In closing, Dr Li said that it is through the efforts and achievements specializing in nephrology, where he made Training Committee. of all members of the University that HKU “is now widely recognized enormous improvements to patient care and as the leading centre of academic achievement in Asia”. medical treatment. One of his greatest In recognition of his contributions to medicine contributions has been in public service to the and the community, Professor Richard Yu An overview of the award winners is given here. More photos from medical profession. He was a founding member Yue-hong was conferred the degree of Doctor the event and the video presentations can be seen at www.hku.hk/ of the Hong Kong College of Physicians. of Social Sciences honoris causa. award/.

22 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 23 Teaching And Research Awards UNIVERSITY DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD Teaching And Research Awards And Research Teaching For almost a decade the University has saluted excellence in teaching. This year we launched the University Distinguished Teaching Award for teachers who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to excellence in pedagogy.

personal growth. One day on a field trip where he taught at the University of of belonging in the classroom, and shows discussion in tutorials. Rick considers to Italy Professor Chan asked him how he Wisconsin-Eau Clair and dreamt of being that the teacher cares about the student himself a reflective practitioner, and as could repay him, and the supervisor replied, able to help his home city produce its own and his or her learning progress. They feel such is tireless in his exploration of ways to “Just treat your own students in the future Earth Sciences specialists rather than respected and valued.” improve his teaching. the way I have treated you.” relying on outside consultants. He found it Rick’s deep knowledge of his subject In collaboration with his colleagues, both immensely satisfying to be involved in the The advice was taken to heart. Professor matter is clear from his research articles, his inside and outside the Faculty, he has Department from its early days, and he has Chan regards his relationship with students recently published book, Tort Law in Hong conducted two complementary research ploughed his enthusiasm into educational as a learning and working partnership, Kong, and the forthcoming publication projects, one on ‘How Law Teachers development elsewhere in the University. an approach that has earned their Employment Law and Practice in Hong Teach’ and another on ‘How Law Students Professor Chan Lung-sang deep respect. In 2004 he was awarded Professor Chan was involved in re- Mr Richard Anthony Glofcheski Kong. Learn’, and has published and presented the University Teaching Fellowship in designing the Science Faculty’s admission the findings in Faculty seminars and He is of the view that a teacher should be recognition of his teaching excellence. policy and restructuring its curriculum to international conferences. well-versed in his subject matter and that His students said he was “inspiring”, foster a holistic learning experience for Professor Chan Lung-sang Mr Richard Anthony Glofcheski his lessons should be well prepared. To this He is firmly of the view that students “humorous” and that he “encourages undergraduate students. Moreover, he is Department of Earth Sciences Department of Law end, he designs well thought-out activities maximize their learning opportunities us to think critically”. They still seek his a member of the Steering Committee of that engage his students in deep and only when they take full responsibility for advice many years after they graduate and, the University’s four-year Undergraduate Professor Chan’s PhD supervisor would Rick Glofcheski, Associate Professor of active learning and creates a classroom that learning. Outcomes-based learning, echoing his own experiences as a student, Curriculum Reform. This has involved him in be proud. His former student has become Law in the Law Faculty, is a familiar face culture that he describes as ‘participatory one of the major initiatives of the new they regard Professor Chan as family. “I’m overseeing the planning and implementation an inspiring, highly-regarded teacher at at this annual Teaching Awards Ceremony. democracy and equality among four-year Undergraduate Curriculum invited to a lot of weddings!” he said. of the new curriculum, and facilitating inter- HKU, instilling in his students a passion for In 2004 he scooped a University Teaching intellectuals’. It is this practice that enables Reform, helps students achieve this goal Faculty and inter-disciplinary collaboration. learning, especially experiential learning, His personal warmth has been matched Fellowship and in 2008 he received the him to inject ‘Law’, often considered a dry by informing them from the outset of the He has also taken a leadership role in the and taking that passion into the community by high standards and a commitment to Outstanding Teaching Award. He is an subject matter, with the interest necessary learning outcomes of a course, the learning Scientific and Technological Literacy Area of to share with secondary school teachers evolving and improving the curriculum, both equally familiar face around campus, having to engage all students. activities that will achieve these outcomes, Inquiry in the Common Core Curriculum. and students. And he has done all this by at the Faculty and University-wide level. taught at HKU for twenty years. and the way they are to be assessed. In 2001 Rick became a founding member following the supervisor’s advice. Professor Chan’s teaching excellence, Professor Chan arrived at the University He is described by his students as one of the department’s Teaching and Learning Since the inception of outcomes-based his commitment to the whole-person Professor Chan completed his PhD at the in 1995, when the Department of Earth of the most sought-after teachers in the Quality Committee, and ensured coherence learning at University level, Rick has been development of his students, and his University of California, Berkeley, where Sciences had just been set up as the Faculty, and is regarded as a teacher, in the first-year LLB curriculum in his deeply involved in investigating how it can dedication and impact on the University’s his supervisor treated students as family only department of its kind in Hong Kong mentor, counsellor, and friend – someone capacity as First Year Course Coordinator be implemented in his own teaching. He core mission of teaching and learning, mark and encouraged both their learning and (which it still is). He came from the US, committed to encouraging them to perform (2001–08). has also promoted this approach in his him out as a teacher of rare exception. to the best of their abilities. Regardless of Faculty by hosting seminars to share his His enthusiasm for teaching often spills the size of his class he makes an effort to experience and research findings. know each student by name, believing that beyond the classroom as he mentors tutors this gives them “an identity and a sense in the Faculty, providing them with clear guidance on how to bring about high quality

24 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 25 Teaching And Research Awards OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD Teaching And Research Awards And Research Teaching

This Award, launched in 2008, recognizes teachers who have impressed their students and colleagues with their commitment to excellence in the teaching and learning process. Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee Professor David Lung Ping-yee Dr Yiu Siu-ming

Mr Jason Carlow Dr Chris Chan Wai-hong Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee Professor David Lung Ping-yee Dr Yiu Siu-ming Department of Architecture School of Business Department of Nursing Studies Department of Architecture Department of Computer Science

Fostering students’ critical thinking, curiosity Mutual respect lies at the heart of Dr Chan’s Professor Chan has a clear vision of her role Professor David Lung Ping-yee is a Professor Dr Yiu Siu-ming, an Associate Professor and ability to address ill-defined problems approach to teaching: respect between as a teacher. She is there to facilitate learning, in the Department of Architecture where he in the Department of Computer Science, are core goals for Jason Carlow. He believes teacher and students, and among the encourage lifelong learning and prepare says learning how to teach and learning how has garnered respect from many of his this can be achieved by engaging in open students themselves. That respect starts with nurses for the future. to be innovative in teaching is a continual students who describe him as a “lecturer conversation and careful questioning with the teacher setting an example. process. who cares a lot about the learning process.” “I believe learners are not an empty vase and students, encouraging them to take risks As a PhD graduate from the Department “I believe respect begets respect, profession- my goal is to facilitate the students’ learning One of his former students Chan Leung-choi, and accept challenges to their opinions, and in which he now teaches he says he was alism begets professionalism, and a smile is rather than just dispensing knowledge and (MArch 1988), now Managing Director of recognizing the strongest ideas in their work. inspired by his own teachers to excel in his reciprocated with a smile,” he said. information,” she said. Aedas, recalls “David sometimes received role as lecturer. He is devoted to motivating “Architectural problems are often open- Mr Jason Carlow ‘criticism’ from students who were still fond of MBA student James Huff said Dr Chan “With the advancement of medical and students, teaching them how to self-educate ended and have no exact solution or ‘correct’ rigid and sterile pedagogy like handouts, slide “embodied the kind of management information technology, knowledge expansion and deal with issues within and beyond the answer,” he said. “A student should not be show by overhead projector etc. However for professional that we were trying to become and globalization, the scope and science of classroom. He also takes an active role in afraid to make mistakes, for in mistakes there those students who were willing to learn out by enrolling in the MBA programme. Although nurses’ practice is changing and expanding in curriculum design exploring different teaching are opportunities. I try to encourage students of the box, he was popular. He did not teach he was very busy, he was the one teacher response to the rapid changes. Nurses must methodologies such as problem-based to find mistakes with potential and then architecture by sketch paper, instead he used that learned all of our names. He was be equipped with knowledge and skills … and learning and outcome-based learning. capitalize upon them in the development of a a piece of music by Vivaldi, a piece of painting extremely clear on what he expected, but be motivated to learn the philosophy of project.” by Picasso, for example, to explain the One of his former students Chim Tat-wing, kept communication channels open. And science. The nursing curriculum is thus abstract architectural concept about theme (PhD 2008), says, “While he is presenting MArch student Christine Ng Pui-yee has students respected him for his commitment to designed to strike a careful balance to nurture and variation, structure and rhythm, order and course materials, he keeps on monitoring experienced Mr Carlow’s teaching approach excellence.” students with scientific minds, caring hearts, mutation.” students’ progress. Once he finds any student first-hand, and found him to be keen for and skilful hands.” Dr Chan sees himself as a motivate and is lagging behind, he slows down the pace students to learn from each other and from Professor Lung explains his philosophy in stimulator, who gets students to think but Professor Chan, who is Head of Department, or even repeats the previously presented other cultures. He arranged a joint design a 2000-year-old quote from Xueji: “One does not overtake their discussions. “[Class] has introduced new teaching techniques – materials with the addition of daily-life and studio with Columbia University in New York discovers one’s deficiencies through learning; discussions were rarely between Dr Chan for example, clinical PBL to improve nurses’ easy-to-understand examples.” and took students there and to Shanghai, one finds out one’s difficulties through and the students, but among students critical thinking and problem solving in clinical turning the cities themselves into their Dr Chris Chan Wai-hong teaching. In recognizing deficiencies, one Another, Cheung Tang-lung, [BEng(CompSc) themselves. Very often, these discussions settings – and sets an example with her caring classroom. is able to reflect on oneself; in overcoming 2007] adds, “Dr Yiu is an energetic lecturer allowed students to voice their opinions and attitude to students. difficulties, one is able to develop oneself. with a delightful sense of humour. He is willing “The thing about these trips that impressed challenge one another,” BBA(IBGM) student “She acts like a beacon whenever her Therefore, it is said that teaching and learning to put himself into the students’ shoes and is me most was during our free time, he brought Sabrina Jensen said. students feel lost, she takes care of the are mutually enhancing.” good at teaching from their perspectives. He us to visit precious places and introduced their Dr Chan also welcomes students to challenge feelings of her students and she provides seems to know exactly the difficulties students historical background to us. We visited many He adds, “My role as a teacher is not only him and believes their criticisms can help him encouragement and support to let us achieve face, and is always helpful.” important buildings. His passion for teaching to disseminate knowledge, but to set an to improve: “My ultimate aim is to creatively our goals. I am deeply impressed by her spirit shows in all aspects,” she said. exemplary role model for students, to shape and re-shape thinking and change of never giving up,” PhD candidate David encourage them to be civic minded and ready minds. But I must first re-shape mine.” Wong Chung-ngok said. to make contributions to society.”

26 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 27 Teaching And Research Awards OUTSTANDING RESEARCH STUDENT SUPERVISOR AWARD

Teaching And Research Awards And Research Teaching This annual Award is granted in recognition of supervisors of postgraduate students whose guidance has been particularly helpful. Winners are awarded a monetary prize of $25,000 to further their own research and a Type B research postgraduate studentship.

Professor Cecilia Chan Lai-wan Professor Lam Tak-wah Professor Victor Li On-kwok Dr Sham Mai-har Si Yuan Professor in Health and Social Department of Computer Science Department of Electrical and Electronic Department of Biochemistry Work, Department of Social Work and Engineering Professor Lam joined the Department of Dr Sham has deep passion for Social Administration Computer Science of the University of Hong Professor Li regards research student training microphotography and the aesthetic Professor Chan is a registered social worker, Kong in 1988. From 2001 to 2006 he was an as an apprenticeship, where students learn appreciation of scientific images, a passion known as a pioneer of innovative social Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering by working with a teacher how to identify and she shares with her research students. The services for disadvantaged populations and and has received the Department’s teaching formulate a research problem and develop experimental and data collection work they people in need and an international expert excellence award several times, as well as the innovative solutions. In Professor Li’s case, the undertake is painstaking, but it is rewarded Faculty’s best teacher award. students are learning from a master. with the joy of seeing images that reflect the on integrative body-mind-spirit social work Professor Cecilia Chan Lai-wan Professor Victor Li On-kwok practice. truth and beauty of the biological world. His research is on the design and analysis Professor Li has received many awards over She uses a SMART model (Strength-focused, of algorithms for different applications. Apart his distinguished career, such as the Croucher Dr Sham’s passion has carried her through Meaning-based Approach to Resilience from proving mathematical theorems, he is Foundation Senior Research Fellowship and years of study in Hong Kong and London and and Transformation) in her work on the also interested in building practical software. the Bronze Bauhinia Star from the Hong almost 20 years of teaching and research at empowerment of traumatized individuals The indexing software produced by his team Kong Government, and is Associate Dean HKU, where she is an Associate Professor such as cancer patients, women of divorce, has recently been adopted by the Beijing (Research) of Engineering and Chair Professor in the Department of Biochemistry. Her bereaved persons, couples with infertility, Genome Institute as a core tool of genome of Information Engineering. He has developed area of interest is molecular genetics and suicide survivors and disaster victims. re-sequencing. innovative techniques for the management developmental genetics, and she has pursued and performance evaluation of communication several research paths in this field. Her approach of integrating Chinese Assistant Professor in the Department, Chan networks and multimedia systems. philosophies and Chinese medicine concepts Ho-leung says, “He is a top researcher in this These include investigating the molecular into holistic behavioural health has been area so he’s very good at finding problems That expertise has provided students with mechanisms in mammalian development and vigorously studied by randomized control and explaining this area to us.” opportunities to work at a very high level. human congenital disorders, where her work Professor Li gives his students high priority, focuses on the roles of transcription factors trials with psychosocial-physiological markers. His PhD student, Hon Wing-kai, adds, “I even when there are conflicts in his schedule, including Hoxb and Sox10. Dr Sham is also Her promotion of Eastern spirituality of believe he is the most hardworking person in Professor Lam Tak-wah Dr Sham Mai-har and he involves them in his work. With working on neural stem cells and neural crest forgiveness, appreciation and gratitude are our Department.” fundamental to building a harmonious society. students, he has invented technologies for stem cells and looking into their therapeutic Professor Lam explains that his challenge packet-switched networks, video-on-demand applications in human diseases. Of her students she says: “If they can all shine is “How to motivate the students and, in systems and resource allocation problems and become superstars I will be very happy particular, how to set up a goal for their that have received or are being evaluated to retire.” research and how to build up their confidence.” for patents. Honorary Clinical Associate, Alicia Pon Kwai- ling said: “She has left a huge imprint in my life. I have become a better person, a better student and definitely a better teacher.”

28 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 29 Teaching And Research Awards

OUTSTANDING YOUNG Dr Judy Yam Wai-ping Department of Pathology

RESEARCHER AWARD Diligence and determination are the key drivers in Dr Yam’s scientific pursuit, which she has directed towards investigating liver cancer. Her aim is to contribute to better clinical management of the disease and provide Teaching And Research Awards And Research Teaching insights into the development of new therapies. Exceptional research potential in young scholars aged below 40 is Dr Yam’s research focuses on the functions recognized by this award, which brings with it $150,000 per year and signalling pathways of focal adhesion for two years to further research and a research postgraduate molecules, which are closely associated with studentship. liver cancer. Their deregulation contributes Dr Gavin James Smith Dr Judy Yam Wai-ping to the acquired aggressiveness of cancer cells. Her work has answered fundamental questions about the subcellular localization, intracellular translocation and binding activity of these molecules, and have unveiled the molecular basis of liver cancer progression.

Dr Yam deeply appreciates the support of her mentors and research team members. She obtained her BSc from the University of Washington and her MS and PhD from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology.

Dr Giorgio Biancorosso Dr Lui Wing-yee Dr Nikolaos Mamoulis Mr Simon Young Ngai-man Dr Kenneth Wong Kin-yip Dr Kenneth Wong Kin-yip Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Dr Giorgio Biancorosso Dr Lui Wing-yee Dr Nikolaos Mamoulis Dr Gavin James Smith Mr Simon Young Ngai-man Dr Wong is both an outstanding researcher School of Humanities (Music) School of Biological Sciences Department of Computer Science Department of Microbiology Department of Law and teacher. He has developed a photonic signal processor that advances fibre optical Dr Biancorosso is an Assistant Professor in Dr Lui is a HKU graduate who won numerous Dr Mamoulis joined the Department of Dr Smith’s initial training was in ecology and In the sixth grade, Mr Young first experienced communication technologies and promotes Music in the School of Humanities where he awards and scholarships – including the Sir Computer Science in 2001, and focuses evolution at the University of Melbourne, and a ‘eureka’ moment of discovery through research in other fields, such as biophotonics teaches courses in Music History, Opera, and Edward Youde Fellowship and the University his research on the effective management he gained his PhD from HKU in 2003 and research. He was working on a class project and mining of complex data types, including and green energy systems. He is author Film Studies. He come to Hong Kong as a Women Scholarship – during her pre-doctoral went on to complete his postdoctoral training to see what people threw away over lunchtime spatial, spatio-temporal, object-relational, and co-author of more than 150 journal and Visiting Assistant Professor in 2004–05, and training. in virology at the State Key Laboratory of and found uneaten sandwiches, unopened multimedia, text and semi-structured data. conference papers and in 2003 received considers it a great stroke of luck that his Emerging Infectious Diseases and Department soft drinks, and even money. Today, he sees Currently an Assistant Professor in the School the Optical Society of America New Focus visiting appointment has become permanent. He has developed efficient data structures of Microbiology at HKU. his research into criminal and constitutional of Biological Sciences she believes that Student Award. and search algorithms for large-scale practical law and human rights as the pursuit of the His work addresses the relationship between perseverance with a positive mindset makes He studies the ecology and evolution applications, including the assignment of coin at the bottom of the litter bin. Alongside these research achievements, music and the moving image in cinema from everything a possibility and is grateful for the service facilities to users, location-allocation, of emerging infectious viruses and uses he has received excellent evaluations of his a variety of perspectives: psychological, opportunities that HKU has given her since and navigation in transportation maps. computational methods to determine genetic Mr Young’s research has impacted on public teaching performance and was recipient of philosophical, and critical. He has published her undergraduate studies. factors involved in the spread and adaptation policy making in Hong Kong through his His work is driven by the joy of problem the Best Teacher Award in 2005–06. His a number of articles and anthology chapters of influenza virus in different hosts. work with the Law Reform Commission, Her research interests are in cell adhesion solving and bringing new results to life. He commitment to teaching includes participating on such topics as film sound, music and the his submissions on security measures and and male reproductive biology and focus on believes that life’s ever-evolving complexity His work has been published in top in service trips to Mainland China, and in psychology of expectation, and the role of political reform, and his ongoing research on understanding the precise mechanism of cell guarantees that there will always be new international journals such as Nature and 2010 he joined the Empower the Teachers pop in Wong Kar-wai’s cinema. torture claimants. He set up the Basic Law junction restructuring pertinent to germ cell challenges ahead to keep him busy. PNAS, and he has made major contributions Programme organized by the Massachusetts Drafting History Online and his publications He is an adviser for major university presses movement and development. Abnormality to influenza research by introducing cutting- Institute of Technology. Dr Mamoulis has published over 100 articles are cited by judges in Canada, Hong Kong and has lectured at Columbia University, in junction restructuring could result in male in prestigious journals and has chaired five edge methodologies in bioinformatics and and Australia. Dr Wong received his MS and PhD degrees Stanford, NUS, and UC Berkeley. This year, infertility. international conferences and workshops molecular evolution analysis. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford he will be Visiting Professor in Musicology at and served on more than 80 programme Results obtained from her studies not only His research is highly collaborative and this University. He also worked in HP Laboratories the National Taiwan University (Taipei) and is committees. He is an editorial board member Mr Young is Associate Professor of Law and provide new insights for the development of award is dedicated to the many people who as a Research Engineer in 1998–99 and as currently completing a book entitled Musical of Springer’s Geoinformatica journal. Director of the Faculty’s Centre for Comparative non-hormonal male contraceptives, but also have helped along the way. In 2007 he was an independent consultant for Sumitomo Aesthetics Through Cinema for Oxford and Public Law. He is a graduate of the improve our understanding of unexplained He appreciates the great support from the awarded a prestigious seven-year Career Innovation Core USA in 2004, and is currently University Press. University of Toronto law school and obtained male infertility. University and would like to credit to his graduate Assistant Professor in the Department of Development Award by the US National Institute his LLM from the University of Cambridge. students for their energetic efforts in research. of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID/NIH). Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

30 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 31 Teaching And Research Awards OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER AWARD Teaching And Research Awards And Research Teaching

This annual award honours scholars who produce high impact research of international merit. The recipients receive a $250,000 monetary award to further their research.

Professor Frank Dikötter Professor Wang Jian Professor Wong Sze-chun Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai School of Humanities (History) Department of Physics Department of Civil Engineering Department of Social Work and Social Administration Professor Dikötter was Professor of the Mod- Professor Wang is currently working in Professor Wong is a firm believer in ern History of China at the School of Oriental the field of nano-scale physics and nano- multidisciplinary work. He has collaborated The core focus of Professor Yip’s career has and African Studies, University of London, technology, a cutting-edge research area with colleagues from electrical engineering, been how to use sophisticated quantitative before he joined the University of Hong Kong being pursued by major laboratories around mathematics, geography, urban planning, methods to better understand human health as Chair Professor of Humanities in 2006. the world. economics and medicine, and his research is and illness. He does not consider statistics to primarily concerned with the multidisciplinary be a remote science but rather, a means of He believes that history is a craft, and that His key contribution to the field is on the subject of transportation. finding ways to make a difference in people’s Professor Frank Dikötter immersion in primary sources is not only one quantum transport theory and modelling in Professor Wong Sze-chun lives and in the health of the community. of the joys of historical research, but also nanostructures. He says, “We are the first His interests include optimization of traffic essential in understanding the complexity in the world to combine two very different signal settings, continuum modelling for traffic Professor Yip has applied that conviction to of the past and resisting some of the fields– material science and so-called equilibrium problems, traffic flow theory, traffic the challenge of developing an integrative simplifications of the present. “History is not quantum transport theory.” management and control, transportation science for solving population health the private preserve of a few specialists,” he planning and network modelling, and road problems from birth to death. He has On the theoretical side, he has successfully says. “It belongs to everybody.” Furthermore, safety. He has published widely in refereed developed innovative statistical methods in developed necessary formalisms to predict he insists, “History does not have to be journals and currently is editor-in-chief surveillance and monitoring, and provided AC as well as nonlinear DC transport boring, it can be written in a lively fashion.” or associate editor of several high profile a better understanding of suicide and its properties using the scattering matrix theory, international journals, and an editorial prevention. This understanding is an essential Professor Dikötter has pioneered the use of the response theory, and the non-equilibrium board member of 10 others. Over the past step for developing novel approaches to archival sources, introduced new research Green’s function theory. decade, he has been awarded, as principal health promotion. areas and developed fresh approaches to These theoretical developments are closely investigator, nine GRF grants from the Hong social history that have changed the ways in Professor Yip has been awarded the Silver linked with numerical investigations of atomic Kong Research Council. which historians view modern China. Innovation Award by the Asian Wall Street and molecular devices. Professor Wong received his BSc(Eng) and Journal and is a distinguished alumnus of Professor Wang Jian He is currently completing a book for He says, “Most of the time I am always MPhil degrees from HKU, and his PhD from La Trobe University. He is Director of HKU’s Bloomsbury on Mao’s Great Famine, using Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai thinking about my project. I like Physics and I University College London which he obtained Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide recently opened party archives to link what have a very good environment here. You don’t with a Croucher Foundation Scholarship. He Research and Prevention and Vice-president happened in the corridors of power with the have distractions or pressures here so you received an Outstanding Young Researcher of the International Association of Suicide everyday experiences of ordinary people, don’t have any difficulties.” Award from HKU in 2000 and an NSFC Young Prevention. He also serves as a consultant giving voice to the disenfranchised. He Researcher Award from the National Natural and advisor to the World Health Organization, believes his work has benefitted greatly from His research has resulted in a new method Science Foundation of China in 2007. He is Family Planning Association, and Central HKU’s supportive research environment. which has become the de facto standard currently Deputy Head of the Department of technique for modelling the quantum transport Policy Unit of the Hong Kong SAR. Civil Engineering at HKU and Director of the of nano-devices. Institute of Transport Studies. His contributions to this area have won him the Achievement in Asia Award of the Overseas Chinese Physics Association and a Croucher Senior Fellowship.

32 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 33 Teaching And Research Awards MEMBER OF THE CHINESE RESEARCH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OUTPUT PRIZE

Teaching And Research Awards And Research Teaching Business And Economics Law

Individual research output A study on customer relationship development The first comprehensive legal analysis of the by an author or team is in services shows customer-firm affection can Security Council’s coercive disarmament and honoured through this be an emotion-laden conduit for developing arms control measures involving weapons customer loyalty. The results have implications of mass destruction challenges a variety of prize. Each Faculty is for managers and were published in the study, widely held beliefs about disarmament and allowed one prize and ‘Strengthening Customer Loyalty through arms control law, and UN law. ‘Dionysian Intimacy and Passion: Roles of Customer-Firm Disarmament: Security Council WMD The Chinese Academy of the winning entries each Affection and Customer-Staff Relationships Coercive Disarmament Measures and Their Sciences (CAS) is a leading receive $120,000. in Services’, in the Journal of Marketing Legal Implications’, by Dr James David Research, by a team led by Professor Bennett Fry, was published in Michigan Journal of academic institution, and a Professor Lap-Chee Tsui Yim Chi-kin. International Law. comprehensive research Vice-Chancellor Dentistry Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine and development centre Architecture A team led by Dr Chaminda Seneviratne has An international team has illustrated a new Professor Tsui is an internationally acclaimed in the natural sciences Health and safety in Hong Kong’s apartment described a novel molecular mechanism mechanism causing gene methylation that scientist who, in 1989, identified the defective buildings vary considerably, mostly due to that is likely to mediate the higher antifungal may contribute to various types of human and high-tech innovation. gene that triggers cystic fibrosis. This management systems rather than building resistance in Candida biofilms. This work will genetic diseases. The results are expected represented a major breakthrough in human Only those who have design. This finding was reported in a joint benefit future researchers working on the to have a tremendous impact. They also genetics and he has gone on to make in- study by the Department of Real Estate emergence of microbial drug resistance and, reported a revolutionary finding that changes contributed enormously depth contributions to the human genome and Construction and the Department of in particular, antifungal resistance. ‘Candida the way genetic diagnosis on hereditary to China’s scientific study, particularly in the characterization Professor Lap-Chee Tsui Architecture, led by Dr Daniel Ho Chi-wing. ‘A Albicans Biofilm Formation is Associated disease is performed. ‘Heritable Somatic of chromosome 7, and the identification of progress are elected to the Survey of the Health and Safety Conditions with Increased Anti-oxidative Capacities’ was Methylation and Inactivation of MSH2 in additional disease genes. Academy. of Apartment Buildings in Hong Kong’ was published in Proteomics. Families with Lynch Syndrome due to Deletion An alumnus of the Chinese University of Hong published in Building and Environment. of the 3’ Exons of TACSTD1’ by a team Education Kong, Professor Tsui was geneticist-in-chief including Dr Chan Tsun-leung, Professor Yuen Arts and head of the Genetics and Genomic ‘Energy Expenditure and Cardiovascular Siu-tsan and Professor Leung Suet-yi, was Biology Programme of the Research Institute The ways in which the East has been Responses to Seated and Active Gaming published in Nature Genetics. at the Hospital for Sick Children, and held imagined and remembered in British literature in Children’ has received substantial media the HE Sellers Chair in Cystic Fibrosis and is the subject of Eastern Figures: Orient and attention and is likely to bring about a shift Science was University Professor at the University of Empire in British Writing by Professor Douglas in the way that academics and the general In this work, Professor Fung and Dr Hu set out Toronto before returning to his home city as Kerr. The book raises issues of identity and public view the relationship between to provide a practical guide to the analysis of the University of Hong Kong’s Vice-Chancellor, representation, power and knowledge, and entertainment technology and exercise DNA evidence. It is the only book emphasizing in 2002. how to portray other people. It offers original science. The study by Ms Robin Mellecker the computational aspects of forensic ideas and approaches of interest to specialists and Dr Alison McManus was published in DNA. This is valuable for forensic chemists Professor Tsui has been elected as a in literary studies, Asian studies and history. the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent as they need to evaluate the strength of Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy Medicine. DNA evidence numerically. Statistical DNA of Sciences in recognition of his scientific Forensics: Theory, Methods and Computation achievement and important contributions to Engineering by Professor Fung Wing-kam, and Dr Hu promoting the development of science and Interdisciplinary research between scholars Yueqing was published by John Wiley & Sons. technology in China. in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Social Sciences During a long and illustrious career he has has resulted in the solution to a real problem won numerous prestigious awards. in the fields of tissue engineering and cell/ A new approach to teaching children about drug delivery. ‘A Microplate Compression health risks resulted in ‘Folkbiology Meets Method for Elastic Modulus Measurement of Microbiology: A Study of Conceptual and Soft and Viscoelastic Collagen Microspheres’ Behavioral Change’, written by Professor Terry by Dr Barbara Chan Pui, Mr Li Chun-hei, Mr Au Kit-fong, Dr Carol Chan Kwai-kuen, Mr Au Yeung Kwan-lok, Professor Sze Kam-yim, Chan Tsz-kit, Dr Mike Cheung Wai-leung, Mr and Professor Alfonso Ngan Hing-wan was Johnson Ho Yiu-shun, and Dr Grace Ip Wai- published in Annals of Biomedical Engineering. man, published in Cognitive Psychology.

34 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 35 Teaching and Learning

A FINE ART LEARNING AT THE lesson deep end Students have curated an exhibition Journalism students of rare books in a first-time are getting hands-on collaboration between the Faculty training in the rough-and- of Arts, the University Museum and tumble world of American the HKU libraries. broadcast journalism.

European depictions of China in 18th and The Journalism and Media Studies Centre “You have to be very sensitive to the needs ABC News has already aired a student story 19th century books may seem an esoteric (JMSC) has linked up with ABC News, of of an American audience,” she said. “It’s a about Hong Kong bankers who do business source of real-life experiences, but for eight the American Broadcasting Corporation, to different society and a different context. In during the day and box with each other Fine Arts students they represented an provide content generated by students for the back of your mind, you have to think, at night. uncommon opportunity to gain new skills broadcast in the US. this is not even remotely Asia. and insights. “My hat goes off to the kids who are doing The initiative is part of the ABC News on “When we’re looking for interview subjects, it. They are basically using all their breaks The students used illustrations from the Campus programme and HKU is the first it’s better if they speak English; the audience to work on stories – Chinese New Year, books as the basis for an exhibition they university outside the US to be invited to join. isn’t going to relate very well to Chinese- reading week, semester breaks. I think curated at the University Museum over speaking subjects. The stories we pitch also what motivates them is the opportunity to the winter, where they did everything from “This programme gives students a “The goal was to give the students an “The book was about the criminal justice have to relate to the audience. Recently we be part of, and to be seen to be part of, a selecting the featured prints, deciding professional, real-life experience in dealing opportunity to handle actual works of art and system in China but there were only had a story on the bird’s nest stadium in professional organization,” Mr Laurie said. the order they would appear in and with one of the largest television news gain experience in curatorial work and research pictures, nothing else. It showed China Beijing. The bird’s nest is iconic so people writing captions and entries for a bilingual companies in the world,” the Director of Liyi also finds it adds to her understanding and writing. The work for this assignment as more violent than just, and tried to can relate to that. We have to find subjects catalogue, to helping to place the books in the JMSC’s Broadcasting Programme, Jim of a free media. She has found ABC’s would be typical in the museum world.” sensationalize the whole thing. China comes they are familiar with.” Laurie, said. Mr Laurie worked for 21 years cases and adjusting the lighting. across as inferior and barbaric, and its openness to proposals refreshing compared The students were trained how to handle as a correspondent with ABC News. Twelve HKU undergraduate and graduate to the boundaries that would be laid down “This was not just about our studies but justice system is also presented like a kind the books, including washing their hands students are producing content and they in her native Singapore. One of the reasons about having to learn to interact with people of entertainment. At first I was amazed by “They have to pitch their stories in a way before class, never opening the books flat, were selected for their diverse backgrounds she came to Hong Kong and HKU was to who don’t know anything about art. From this but as I read more, I felt that China any professional journalist would,” he said, never touching the illustrations with bare and potential. The students come from see how a freer media operates and what this, we learned what the public would want was being used as an object for others to and produce it to ABC’s rigorous standards. hands because of sweat and grease, using Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, the the limits to free speech might be at both to know,” Rachel Suen Ka-lee said. impose their power on.” “They also get to see that people in the US only pencils around the books and ensuring US, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK ends of the spectrum. don’t look at the world as we do out here.” The exhibition was a collaboration arranged the humidity and lighting were set at the Her colleague, Nicole Fung Nok-kan, said and they have a wide range of experiences. “Freedom is good but not all good, control by Dr Gregory Thomas of the School of right levels. the illustrations they worked with also Chen Liyi has had a taste of that in her For example, some have worked with media made her more aware of stereotyping. “It is bad but not all bad. You can flip it around. Humanities (Fine Arts) with Iris Chan and More importantly, they also got a deeper first few weeks with the programme. She’s organizations, such as CNN, one student has made me think of how I perceive other That’s why I came here, to see all that. As a Edith Chan in the library’s Special Collections understanding of historical European a third-year Journalism and Economics was formerly a professional footballer and cultures. When I see an image, I won’t foreigner, I can stand back and take a look,” department and Yeung Chun-tong, the depictions of China as a place of strange student and one of two co-ordinators in another was a competitive swimmer and trust it 100 per cent. I will think about what she said. Director of the University Museum and Art landscapes and costumes, and sometimes charge of staying in regular contact with diver at university level. Gallery. underlies it.” ABC News’ New York office on students’ The ABC News programme is funded in part barbaric practices. Mr Laurie and his colleagues Rob McBride, story proposals. Dr Thomas said this was an unusual by a Teaching Development Grant. Mr Laurie “Art history has always been based on a Winnie Tsang Hoi-yan said: “I worked with Ng Ka-ho and Roy Ching are providing exercise given the difficulty in identifying said they also sought other co-production heavy dose of hands-on experience and an illustration about punishment [in which the students with guidance and technical artwork that students could handle and of agreements with other international media engagement with real objects,” Dr Thomas a man is having his foot cut off]. I already support to help their pitches succeed. While tying in with the museum’s schedule. But organizations. said. “One thing we don’t have much of in knew about the 10 worst punishments of the bird’s nest story is still in development, he hoped there could be more curating Hong Kong that improves the study of art the Qing dynasty, but I never knew they opportunities in future with the advent of the history is examples of western art. But we were portrayed as something as childish as new four-year curriculum and new exhibition do have a very rich collection of antique in that book. books in the library. space at the Centennial Campus.

36 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 37 People

While the world’s university presses struggle The Press, he says, is becoming more He views investment in China as a long-term under financial restraints, the HKU Press is representative of what Hong Kong, as a city, strategy. “Unlike many of the commercial enjoying a veritable renaissance thanks, in has been for many years, “which is a vital presses we are in there to identify the five to large part, to strong University backing and a conduit for western interactions with China, ten leading disciplines and programmes where grand vision for the future. and Chinese interactions with the west.” we can help facilitate influential scholarly dialogues in many directions.” Publisher Michael Duckworth says HKU Press Colin Day, the Press’ previous publisher, has just enjoyed its best year ever with 63 new helped establish it as a regional pan-Asian And he is extremely bullish on the Press’ titles in 2009, steadily increasing sales, and the cultural studies and history centre. Duckworth influence. “It carries the name of HKU farther, strategic creation of new staff positions. believes in continuing that trend and exploring in more disciplines, in more countries, than more provocative areas. A new series called any other single unit of the University. And, “We were a bit late getting into the electronic ‘Queer Asia’ is one such major effort, which more than that, we are not just an academic books arena,” he confesses. “But in a sense will be featured at the Shanghai Literary enterprise, in the commercial marketplace we have learned from everyone else’s trial and Festival this month. So too, has the ‘Trans- we are aggressively competing for intellectual error, and now we have the momentum and Asia Screen Cultures’ series “which explores shelf space and conversation space. We are commitment to make very good decisions and an emerging pan-Asian cultural space in one of the most competitive and influential move very quickly.” film, media and television- the way in which units of the University.” In fact, he says, “The This is due partly to HKU Libraries position, Korean TV dramas are influencing Chinese Press ought to be recognized as truly a crown ahead of the curve in terms of digital consumers, for example.” jewel of the University.” publishing. “They’re a terrific partner for us in “We are able to publish what we think are For the first time ever, and for two years many different ways, and connected well with meaningful, internationally credible works on running, the Press has enjoyed sales of China,” says Duckworth. taboo subjects, like Taiwan and Tibet. We more than $5 million. This fiscal year ending “Because our basic costs are covered through benefit greatly from having this creative space June 30, it is expected to reach sales of rising sales and University support and in Hong Kong where such things are possible.” more than $6 million - an unprecedented because our incredibly efficient staff is keeping figure. “So we are moving in the right “So, the Press is a kind of safe zone for us well ahead of budget we can afford to be direction, and making important gains in Taiwan, Mainland, North American and visionary strategically, both with electronic terms of visibility,” he says. “But we still have European academics to bring together publishing and with other experimentations a ways to go to become widely recognized important dialogue dealing with not just that many peer presses cannot afford at this as a world-class imprint.” China, but Asia and east-west relations time. We have just released our first iPhone which is really distinctive.” app, for instance, an audio version of our bilingual Handbook of Practical Medical “We do have a claim to say that we are the Terms. If leading Mainland scholars want to most influential scholarly publisher in Asia, get their books published in English, we ought publishing in English. The University’s strong to be the primary place to do that … and and steady support is a key factor in what create a market for them in Taiwan and Hong the Press has achieved in the last decade. Kong, and around the world in concert with The University continues to be the beacon of copublishers and distribution partners in North academic excellence in Hong Kong and in A JEWEL IN THE America and Europe.” Asia, and we benefit greatly from that.” university’s crown HKU Press is expanding its reach and increasing its influence. The Press’ Publisher Michael Duckworth reveals its strategy for success.

38 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 39 People

Albert Chau came to his position as Dean when I took this position, was quite similar, of Student Affairs by a circuitous route, via that the total experience is important.” He engineering and psychology, but he is as has put his ideas into action in recent years passionate about student development by working closely with faculties in designing beyond the classroom as he was about professional preparation programmes, teaching and research. working out service learning initiatives, and promoting global citizenship. After graduating in Industrial Engineering Dr Chau had a change of heart and switched “Now I am helping to support faculties with to Psychology, teaching in the Department their experiential learning projects. Blurring at HKU until 2005. During that same period the boundaries is another way of talking he was kept busy as Associate Dean of about better integration between student the Faculty of Social Sciences, Director life outside the classroom and the formal of General Education and warden of curriculum.” University Hall. And exchanges have become increasingly His believes was an unusual choice for his popular. “Students really appreciate these current position as he had no background sorts of projects, they find them really in student affairs. “All my predecessors inspiring,” he says. “What we are trying to do were experienced administrators in this is return the ownership to students as much area, I was not,” he says “but I believe that as possible, this is a major trend in higher the traditional student affairs sector should education in general. Learning is now less be more integrated with the academic dependent on the traditional instructional programme, it should be part of the learning method and more on going through different went to Henan, in China, to work with child the point at which he adopted his first dog. life. So I wanted to blur the functional experiences.” victims of Aids and HIV, and they came back He now has two dogs and seven rescued boundary between the two. and set up an NGO to continue the work.” cats. Amazingly, all the animals live in “We see an increased independence harmony. “It’s because the dogs know they “Today we are talking about curriculum in students who are exposed to other However, more still needs to be achieved. are secondary to the cats,” he laughs. reform – extending it to four years – and cultures and situations, they show more “In terms of cross cultural exchange we the curriculum is conceived as a total initiative, some of them have formed their have not realized our full potential yet and He’s now setting his sights on developing experience for students. My thinking, back own NGO’s.” He cites Humanity in Focus the integration between local and non-local more support for postgraduates, offering as an example. “Initially the founders students is another area that needs work. cultural adjustment for those coming in from joined a programme run by the General We can help by getting local and overseas the outside, and career adjustment for those Dr Chau’s favourite pastime is to play Education Unit, and after spending time to work on projects together – a lot of going into private industry. with his dogs and cats. in Cambodia they decided to launch their intellectual and cultural stimulation comes “It’s a very exciting time to be in higher own programme. I was so delighted, out of this.” education – sometimes too exciting,” he and the following year when I offered the “Halls are another way of getting students laughs. “We have the new curriculum, new same project they were running their own to mix, one third of the places are reserved campus and the centennial celebrations so BLURRING THE BOUNDARIES programme which was open to all the now for non-local students, and local there are a lot of big projects underway.” tertiary institutions in Hong Kong. This made students embrace this opportunity to mix, But despite the challenges ahead he says, me very happy.” between the classroom which is very positive.” “It’s a very stimulating job, I Iearn new things “We also sent some students on an every day and receive a lot of very pleasant On the subject of hall life he cites his decade internship in fair trade and they came back surprises from students.” as warden of University Hall as one of the and set up their own fair trade NGO. Others and the world happiest periods of his working life. It’s also Activities beyond the classroom are a major part of student life. The Dean of Student Affairs Dr Albert Chau Wai-lap discusses the challenges and rewards of a new way of learning.

40 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 41 Campus Development

need to deal with community members proactively,” said Henry Ho, who is overseeing community relations on the University’s campus development.

“Our ultimate aim is to build partnerships. It’s one thing to have a meeting where people show up, voice their opinions, then leave. It’s another thing to try to work closely with them. We want to work with community leaders, the schools and the neighbourhood, and we’ve had a good start. We’re making more and more friends.”

About 30 organizations have signed up to be Friends of the Centennial Campus. Membership is open to anyone in Hong Kong, although most members have come from the Central and Western District. Some MAKING FRIENDS IN of the members were actively engaged in earlier consultations on the new campus, From left: Mr Jack So, Chairman of the HKU Campus Development and Planning Committee, Dr the Honourable Leong where construction work has now got One of the central planning principles Che-hung, Chairman of HKU Council, Mr Ma Lee-tak, Director of Water Supplies, and Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, Vice- underway. Mr Ho said the University would Chancellor of HKU officiated at the ceremony. the neighbourhood behind HKU’s campus development is that continue to engage with people on its it is done through an open and respected building projects and on wider issues of process. Numerous consultations have The community is invited to form closer ties interest to the community. been held with local residents, district freshwater tanks have also been built and with the University. councillors and organizations. Now, we are “Sharing knowledge is important. We not New reservoirs of new campus their rooftops will become landscaped moving to the next level with a programme only want to make friends to support our Construction work started on the new gardens with more than 100 trees. to develop local partnerships and more projects, we also want to share knowledge Centennial Campus in September 2009, closely integrate HKU with the community. that can benefit the local community. The after work to re-provision the existing The project took two and a half years to community is especially concerned about reservoirs at the site was completed. complete at a cost of $500 million and the The Friends of Centennial Campus the environment and heritage issues, and reservoirs were officially handed over to the programme was launched last year to Two saltwater reservoirs have been built in the Friends of the Centennial Campus Water Supplies Department last year. invite individuals and organizations to have a cavern, the first time this has been done programme acts like a bridge with them,” a closer connection with HKU. They may in Hong Kong, to minimize the disturbance The Centennial Campus will be ready by he said. participate in selected seminars, concerts to vegetation and the neighbourhood. Two 2012 in time for implementation of the new and other HKU activities, join guided tours The programme has been supported by the four-year undergraduate curriculum. on campus, join talks on the environment Head of the University Libraries, Dr Anthony and heritage, and receive updates on the Ferguson, who provided the library passes, development of the campus. All of this is and the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Albert for free. Organizations may also enjoy free Chau, who is allowing a quota of individuals access to HKU Libraries and a 50 per cent from the community to attend selected discount on lending services. General Education courses.

“We’re different from other universities in Hong Kong because we’re in the middle of a very densely populated area and we

42 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 43 Books

black-and-white television, a washer and “This was an alien concept for the Japanese a refrigerator. You never heard people talk engineers,” Dr Nakano said. “In Japan about owning a rice cooker as being part they use an aluminium lid and never open GLOBALIZATION AND of that.” it during the cooking process. But they thought, okay, if that’s what Chinese people And so Dr Nakano began a deeper want, we will do it. the rice cooker investigation. She conducted more than 40 interviews with users, distributors and “It worked very well. People didn’t know The humble rice cooker, invented makers of rice cookers in Hong Kong and about rice cookers in those days, but by Japan, uncovering a story of globalization making the cooking process visible from in Japan, has become a staple in and innovation in which Hong Kong played the top, they felt assured. This was helpful a major role. She published earlier results in in gaining acceptance for the rice cooker in Asian communities around the Chinese and Japanese with Dr Dixon Wong, other parts of the world.” Head of School of Modern Languages and world via Hong Kong’s free port “Most importantly, National/Panasonic Cultures and Honorary Professor Kirsten learned how to localize their product working and innovations, a new HKU Refsing, and has now released her findings with William Mong. They learned that you in English in the book Where There Are have to listen to other people and not impose publication reports. Asians, There Are Rice Cookers: How the Japanese idea of perfect rice.” “National” Went Global via Hong Kong. The free port of Hong Kong helped to Rice cookers were invented in Japan in spread the rice cooker to the rest of Asia 1955 and caught the eye of Hong Kong- When Yoshiko Nakano, Associate Dean of the and to Asian communities around the world. based William Mong, CEO of Shun Hing. Faculty of Arts, came to Hong Kong in 1997 Following success in Hong Kong, National/ He liked the convenience of a plug-in pot having grown up in Japan and spent a decade Panasonic introduced innovations to meet and, as he soon discovered, it was well in the US, she was struck by one thing: the other markets’ needs, such as producing suited to local living conditions where many proliferation of things Japanese and, especially, crispy rice at the bottom of the pot as this is one product that didn’t follow the people lived in cramped spaces and had to the deep affection people held here for their preferred in Iran and adding cake- and pattern of the typical Japanese product,” share kitchens. made-in-Japan rice cookers. noodle-making functions for Thailand. Mong Dr Nakano said. Mong realized that people had to be also later persuaded the company to make “I started asking people informally to tell me “It was distributed through ethnic lines, it convinced of the rice cooker’s worth, rice cookers that produce more steam, to their memories of things Japanese and what was sold in grocery stores not appliance though, especially since Japanese products replicate the old clay pots used for they liked, and rice cookers kept coming shops in the West, and a lot of Asian people at the time had a poor reputation and cooking rice. up,” she said. contributed to its localization. Where there post-war anti-Japanese sentiment was “The way the Japanese often describe how are Asians, there are rice cookers. It’s still “People who grew up in the 1960s said still strong. So he persuaded one maker, made-in-Japan products got globalized is pretty much happening along ethnic lines.” when they got their rice cooker, it was such National (now Panasonic), to add a window that the salarymen were dedicated, they a thrill. They saw the steam coming out of on the lid. People would be able to see the worked hard, took the product overseas, Where There Are Asians, There Are Rice it and they felt they weren’t poor any more. rice cooking and also know when to add ran up against all these competitors and Cookers: How “National” Went Global via That came as a shock to me because at that Chinese sausage to the rice, which had to finally were able to sell their product to Hong Kong is published by Hong Kong time in Japan, if you had ‘three treasures’ happen just before the rice was cooked. the Americans and the Europeans. But University Press. you were part of the middle class – a

44 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 45 Books

The Fall of the Pagoda, a semi-autobio- graphical work about a young girl, Lute, growing up amongst her extended family in Shanghai, was launched by HKU Press in April, 47 years after it was first penned.

Written in English, it is the first of a two- part series and a precursor to Chang’s semi-autobiographical novel Little Reunion, published in 2009. The second novel in the series, The Book of Change, will be launched by HKU Press in September of this year, the month that marks Chang’s 90th birthday and the 15th anniversary of her death.

At the launch, co-hosted by HKU Press and the University’s Project for Public Culture of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre (JMSC), Publisher, Mr Michael Duckworth said, “This day would not be Roland Soong possible without the extraordinary dedicated stewardship of Dr Roland Soong (photo on left page). I think we are all agreed that this is a triumphant moment for the Press and a special thanks goes to our friends at two reasons. First, I determined from her and Long River to HKU, while Perry Lam, the JMSC, Ying Chan, Valentina Ma and correspondence with my parents that she Editorial Director of Muse magazine, shared Matthew Leung, who have all done terrific really wanted to publish these two books his views on her literary writing. work to make this day possible.” in her lifetime, she wanted them to be the “Eileen Chang,” he said, “has a quote The manuscripts of both novels were launching pad of an English-based writing for everything, every single moment of discovered by Dr Soong, executor of Eileen career in America. However, no publisher happiness or despair. Now if Shakespeare Chang’s estate, in a box of her papers at took her on. In her letters she never said invented the human for the western his parent’s Hong Kong home. Speaking these novels were ‘bad’ she never said she reader, then Eileen Chang discovered the of the discovery, Dr Soong said, “Eileen didn’t want them published.” HKU PRESS PUBLISHES consciousness for the modern Chinese Chang frequently asked my father to screen “She may have been told that there was no reader.” her work and offer feedback. Although NEWLY-DISCOVERED MANUSCRIPT market for them but that is not to say that she was confident in her literary ability she “She is now recognized as one of the an American public at that time, or today, was frequently unsure as to whether her greatest modern Chinese writers and The would not like them if they were published, by eileen chang work would cause offence, or raise political Fall of the Pagoda serves as a reminder or that a Chinese audience would not like problems, so my father read her work. of what an incomparable writer she is in them today.” Chinese. Those of us who can read Eileen The English-language novel by the Chinese “When she passed away, in 1995, my “HKU Press has given her the opportunity Chang in her own language should be parents became trustees of her estate and literary sensation throws fresh light on her early to have these books published for the first eternally grateful. She has no peer as a short the executor of her will sent us a box of her time. This has been her known wish since story writer, or an essayist, in Chinese. Now, papers. We just put them away. Then when years in Shanghai. 1963, and I am sure she would be pleased if with this chance to see Eileen Chang in a I moved back to Hong Kong from the United she were here today with us.” new light, to see her writing in English, we States I began to go through the papers. may have a better comparative point of view “The second reason is that the Fall of “The box contained many letters between of her legacy and importance.” the Pagoda is not just a rehash of Eileen her and friends and my family, and I also Chang’s Chinese writings. This book will At the launch, at HKU’s Main Library, the found two 400-page manuscripts.” provide new insight into her personal life. first Eileen Chang Memorial Scholarship After much work the first of those two Eileen Chang has often said that the best recipient, Xue Jun-yan of the Faculty of Arts manuscripts has been brought to public material for a writer comes from her personal thanked Dr Soong for establishing the $1 attention for the first time. Written in 1963 it life because this is what she knows best, million Fund, for Mainland and Taiwanese represents Eileen Chang’s attempt to break therefore she came back repeatedly to write students of the Arts and Humanities, in into the American literary market. about her childhood.” Chang’s memory.

Speaking of the reason for publishing the Dr Soong, also donated a photocopy of The Fall of the Pagoda is published by Hong manuscripts Dr Soong said, “There are the manuscript of The Fall of the Pagoda Kong University Press.

46 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 47 Arts and Culture

Curator of the University Museum and Art Gallery, Yeung Chun-tong says public museums in Hong Kong seldom exhibit CAPTURING THE the work of Taiwan artists and so, “This BUDDHA exhibition will provide a chance to help understand contemporary art in Taiwan. In September last year our Museum on canvas displayed the paintings of another famous Taiwan artist, Liu Guo Song, and it is our wish to introduce more Taiwan artists to A series of works by a Hong Kong.”

Taiwanese artist attempts He adds that Buddhist themes in art to bring the Buddha are currently very popular in Hong Kong and there is particular interest in Shi’s closer to mankind. ink drawings of Guan Yin (Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara).

“I am sure visitors would like to see how a Chinese artist illustrates the life of Buddha The Taiwanese painter Shi Song is famed dozen paintings set in a natural environment Sakyamuni in oil, a western medium,” he for his ethereal portrayals of the Buddha. with trees, as trees played such a dominant says. Working in several mediums, including oils, role in the Buddha’s life. From March 24 to May 9, 2010 the Museum ink and prints Shi has captured a solid fan In an attempt to humanize the Buddha and and Art Gallery will display three groups of base with his Buddhist inspired collection. bring him closer to his earth-bound brothers Shi’s Buddhist-themed works produced Now his work is to be displayed in Hong Shi took the unusual step of illuminating over the past twenty years. The collection Kong for the first time. Born in Shanghai in his subject with sunlight, thus departing includes his first series of line drawings of 1947, Shi moved to Taipei at the age of two from the conventional representation of the the Bodhisattva Guan Yin, oil paintings of and went on to study art at the prestigious Buddha as being lit from within. the life of the Buddha Sakyamuni, still lifes, Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-arts, woodcut prints and Chinese calligraphy Many of Shi’s paintings are meticulously in Paris. taken from the Buddhist scriptures. The University of Hong Kong Bulletin executed in a photorealistic style and are On returning to Taipei he continued to paint striking for the sense of harmony and peace The exhibition is jointly presented by the www.hku.hk/publications/bulletin.html while working as an editor but, when his that they exude. His remarkable ability to Museum and HKU’s Centre of Buddhist mother fell ill in the mid-1980s, he sought capture natural light has seen him compared Studies. solace in a series of ink line drawings of to Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. Published by the University of Hong Kong Guan Yin, the compassionate bodhisattva in Buddhism. The Bulletin is the University magazine that features our latest activities, events and plans. It aims to keep the local and international community, informed of new breakthroughs in a wide range of disciplines Thus began his love affair with capturing initiated by members of the University. the Buddha on canvas. Not long after he Editorial Team started the first series Shi’s mother passed Editor: Henry Wai, Registrar away, and he continued with the drawings Chief Editor: Katherine Ma, Director of Communications Managing Editor: Shirley Yeung, Publications Manager in the hope of acquiring insight into his Writers: Kelvin Au, Kathy Griffin, Allison Jones grief and gaining a deeper understanding Design and production: The Graphis Company Ltd. of life’s transience. Photographers: Randy Cheung Photography, Eric Lee & Co. Contribution and Feedback His interest in Buddhism led to meditation With special thanks to staff and students who kindly contributed their time and their photographs to and further reading of the Buddhist the Bulletin. We welcome contributions of content for publication. Items should include the author’s scriptures. Then, in 1995, inspired by those name and University contact details. Please direct contributions, comments or suggestions to the scriptures he embarked on a retelling of Communications and Public Affairs Office at [email protected] for consideration. the Buddha’s life in oils which resulted in a Care for the Environment While our publication is printed on environmentally friendly paper, we urge you to share your copy with friends and colleagues, and help reduce our carbon footprint. Alternatively, you may choose to unsubscribe at [email protected], and read the Bulletin online at www.hku.hk/publications/bulletin.html.

48 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin April 2010 49