Bulletin Number Five 1983

International Conference on Ancient Chinese Scripts An International Conference on Ancient Chinese Scripts, jo in tly organized by the Department o f Chinese Language and literature and the Ng Tor-tai Chinese Language Research Centre, the Institute o f Chinese Studies, was held from 5th to 8th September on Campus. Over seventy scholars from Mainland China, Taiwan, the United States, and Hong Kong participated in the Conference and the chairmen were Professor T.K. Cheng and Professor D.C. Lau o f the University. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ma Lin officiated at the opening ceremony, which was attended by over a hundred people. In his opening address, Dr. Ma said that the significance o f the Conference lay not only in the promotion o f research in ancient Chinese scripts but also in the promotion o f understanding o f the civilization behind it. The Conference was held in six sessions, chaired respectively by Professor Chou Fa-kao, Mr. Lee Yim, Professor Zhu Dexi, Mr. Ma Kwok-kuen, Professor Jao Tsung-i and Professor Kao Chung-hua (KaoMing). Thirty-eight papers were presented, covering studies on bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, inscriptions and writing from the fourth to the second century B.C., lexicographic literature related to Shuowen Jiezi and inscriptions found on relics recently unearthed. Essays on Ancient Chinese Scripts, Vol. I ， comprising twenty-two o f the papers, was distributed on the first day o f the Conference. The other sixteen papers w ill appear in Volume I I . In his concluding address, Professor T.K. Cheng remarked, 'Since academic research is generally re­ cognized as a common tool and scholars all over the world have engaged in Chinese palaeographic studies, The Chinese University is happy to play its part and collaborate w ith these scholars.' Symposium on Sensory Receptor Mechanisms An International Symposium on Sensory Receptor Mechanisms, jo in tly organized by W.C. Hamann o f the Faculty o f Medicine and A. Iggo ， FRS, o f the University o f Edinburgh, was held from 10th to 11th September at this University. The Symposium dealt mainly w ith the question: What is the mode o f action o f receptors in the body mediating the senses o f pain, touch, hearing and temperature sensation? In his opening address, the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ma Lin underlined the relevance o f this area o f research. He pointed out that the central nervous system can only process information sampled by peripheral receptors. Any clinical approach in the understanding o f the pathology o f the peripheral sensory system can only be empirical unless the basic mechanisms underlying the activation o f sensory receptors and their nerve fibres are known. The Symposium was attended by forty-three active participants from Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mainland China, Sweden and the United States. Thirty-one papers were presented. One important reason for the success o f the Symposium was the fact that it was a multi- disciplinary meeting. Among the participants, there were anatomists, physiologists as well as clinical neurologists. A mixture o f this kind presents diversity o f views, which is so important for interesting discussion. Some highlights o f the Symposium were the presentation by A. Flock (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm) about the coding properties in the inner ear, by A. Iggo about tactile receptor mechanisms and by L. Kruger (UC ， Los Angeles) about pain receptors. The proceedings o f the Symposium are being published as a book. Originally, the Symposium was planned to last for three days. However, during the night from the 8th to the 9th o f September, typhoon Ellen was ravaging Hong Kong. Some o f the participants were diverted to Taipei twice before arriving in Hong Kong. Typhoon Ellen gave additional excitement to the Symposium, and a spirit o f adventure prevailed during the Conference Dinner on 9th September. The organization o f the Symposium was greatly facilitated by support and help from w ithin and without. The Dean o f the Medical Faculty, Professor G.H. Choa and the Planning Officer ， Mr. A.E. Starling were very encouraging. Miss Dory Yang and other members o f the Department o f Physiology showed initiative and team spirit. Generous support from outside came from Bayer China Ltd., Carl Zeiss F.E. Co. Ltd., Jang & Loch Medical & Scientific Co. Ltd., Schmidt & Co. (H.K.) Ltd. and Wyeth International Ltd. — W.C.H. 16 NEWS