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, laying the first stone of the new campus – a PEOPLE government and academic elite. 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 46 The Fall of the Pagoda Higher Education – Quacquarelli Symonds TEACHING AND RESEARCH AWARDS 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.