Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1999

which provides information on the Latest developments in environmental impact assessment, state-of-the-art techniques in prediction methodology, and professional training. It will also function as a discussion platform for environmental professionals. The website is the collaborative effort of th e University's Centre for Environmental Studies, the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA), the South China Institute of Environmental Science of the National Environmental Protection Agency ， and a few key members o f IAIA's local chapter. Partnership with SmarTone and Ericsson to Boost Mobile Communications The University signed a memorandum of understanding on 28th Januar y 1999 with SmarTone and Ericsson for the research and development of added-value mobile data applications over the GSM and/or third- generation mobile network for Hong Kong and other markets. It is the first academia-industry initiative, involving a prestigious institution of higher learning, a major global telecommunications group, and a leading mobile communications operator in Hong Kong, that is specifically aimed at mobile data applications. From left: Vice-Chanceller Prof. Arthur K.C. Li; Mr. Hubert Ng, chief executive officer of SmarTone; and Mr. Stephen Yeung, managing director of Ericsson CUHK Opens Beijing Liaison Office The University has established a liaison office in Beijing to promote greater academic cooperation with universities on the mainland. The liaison office, located in Peking University, was officially opened on 6th October 1998. Officiating at the opening ceremony were Prof. Chen Jiaer, president of Peking University, Prof. Arthur K.C. Li, vice- chancellor of CUHK, and Mr. Xie Weimin, division chief of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office o f the State Council. The new liaison office w i l l play an important role in facilitating communication with the University's various project partners, supplying up-to-date information about the University, and providing logistics support to CU members responsible for organizin g collaborative projects on the mainland. Inauguration of CUHK-Peking Joint Units In collaboration with Peking University, CUHK has recently set up a Joint Centre for Intelligence Engineering and aJoint Laboratory f o r P l a nt M o l e c u l a r B i o l o g y and Biotechnology. Officially inaugurated on 24th March 1999 at the University, the centre and the laboratory Present at the inauguration ceremony were (from left) Prof. Kenneth Young, pro-vice-chancellor of CUHK; Prof. Chi Huisheng, executive vice-president of Peking University; Prof. Arthur K.C. Li, vice-chancellor of CUHK and Prof. Chen Zhangliang, vice-president of Peking University. Chinese University Bulletin Spring • Summer 1999 60