Bulletin Spring 1989

of the complex issues involved be continued, and it appeals to all parties concerned to get together with a view to renewing the common search for a genuine long-term solution. Vice-Chancellor Received Prestigious Awards The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles K. Kao, received two important awards in March - the 1989 Faraday Medal awarded by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (lEE) in the UK and the International Prize for New Materials by the American Physical Society. The Faraday Medal was presented to Professor Kao on 16th March in London in recognition of his continuing outstanding work on optical communication, including early work in establishing the feasibility of optical fibre communication systems and defining the parameters involved. The prestigious medal was set up by the lEE in 1922 to recognize notable scientific and industrial achievement in electrical engineering or conspicuous service rendered to the advancement of electrical science. It is awarded annually without restriction to nationality, country of residence, or membership of the Institution. Professor Kao is the first recipient of Chinese origin to receive this medal. On 22nd March, Professor Kao received together with Dr. J.B. MacChesney of ATT Bell Labs and Dr. R.D. Maurer of Coming Glass Works, the International Prize for New Materials, which was awarded for their contributions to the materials research and development that resulted in practical low loss optical fibres, one of the cornerstones of optical communications technology. The three scientists were also the joint recipients of the Morey Award given by the American Ceramic Society in 1976 for their contributions to glass sciences. Professor Kao is famed for his pioneering work on optical fibres. His subsequent research has helped reshape the whole of the world's telecommunications network, and optical fibres now dominate all new telecommunications cable installation. Incidentally Hong Kong boasts the highest density of such cables beneath its ground and many are waiting anxiously for the result of the recent bid for cable television to come out and for an additional network to be installed for the purpose. It will make Hong Kong the most advanced communication city of the world. Sir Run Run and Professor Ma Lin Honoured Sir Run Run Shaw and Professor Ma Lin were awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA. The ceremony for the conferment of honorary degree was conducted by Dr. John H. Marburger, President of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, on 12th January immediately following the opening ceremony of the Lady Shaw Building of this University. New AIDS Drug Discovered Dr. Hin-wing Yeung, senior lecturer of the Department of Biochemistry and director of the Chinese Medicinal Material Research Centre, has discovered a new AIDS drug, GLQ223 in cooperation with Dr. Michael McGrath of the University of California, San Francisco, and Dr. Jeffrey Lifson and Dr. Kou-mou Hwang of the Genelabs Incorporated, USA. In laboratory studies, this new drug demonstrated selective inhibition of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen expression and inhibited HIV replication in both T-lymphocytes and macrophage cells. It effectively blocked infection of both immune cell types in laboratory cultures, unlike the more limited effect of other potential anti-HIV drugs and AZT, the only approved drug for treatment of HIV infection. This compound has not yet been tested in patients. However, Genelabs has filed an investigation new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration and it is expected that phase one clinical trials will begin in early 1989. New Architecture Programme An Architecture Study Programme will be launched in 1991-92. The University has been invited by the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee to formulate detailed course proposals for the establishment of a department of architecture. The new programme aiming at an annual intake 11