Newsletter No. 218

PCCW CEO Shows Road Map to Success T he inaugural show of Talking to CEOs, a 10-episode programme co-organized by the Executive MBA Programme of the University and RTHK, featuring Mr. Francis Yuen, deputy chairman of PCCW Ltd., took place on 2nd March. Mr. Yuen spoke to an audience consisting of students and alumni of the University's EMBA, MBA, and OneMBA Programmes. The show, co-hosted by Prof. Andrew C.F. Chan, director of the EMBA Programme, and Mr. Chow Yung of RTHK, was broadcast on RTHK Radio 1 and simultaneously on the RTHK website ( http://www.rthk.org. hk), and will be replayed on Cable TV News Channel 1 on 28th April from 9.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. On the show Mr. Yuen told the audience that the three fundamental skills that would sustain them throughout their lives were communication skills, quantitative skills, and faith. He also urged them to identify and develop their strengths. Mr. Yuen is a member of PCCW's Executive Committee and chairman of Pacific Century Insurance Holdings Ltd. He was previously chief executive of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and managing director of Citicorp Scrimgeour Vickers Hong Kong Ltd. and of Wardley. From left: Mr. Francis Yuen, Mr. Chow Yung and Prof. Andrew Chan Unacceptable Mercury Levels Found in Hong Kong Newborns M ercury poisoning is a severe health hazard. Chronic mercury poisoning is characterized by neuropsychiatric manifestations, such as personality changes, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, headache, memory deterioration, peripheral neuropathy and tremor, and renal failure. Excessive mercury deposits in the foetus and newborns may lead to stillbirth, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, salivation, and poor control of mastication. In a two-year study conducted by the Departments of Paediatrics, Chemical Pathology, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology on 1,057 full-term newborns delivered, 25 per cent had a blood mercury level higher than acceptable. There was also a significant association between that and maternal fish intake. The researchers also found that the mercury levels of a variety of commonly seen fishes in the market were within the safety limit. But to avoid exposing their unborn babies to too much mercury, pregnant women should not consume excessive dietary fish. The results of the study were released at a press conference held at the Prince of Wales Hospital on 27th February. Three More Research Projects Receive Sponsorship T he following three projects undertaken by University staff have succeeded in attracting funding from different quarters: •香港文學教育計劃：香港文學欣賞教材套（ HK$894,122) Sponsor. Arts Development Council Principal investigator. Ms. Chui Ching-ying (Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research) • Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Genotype in High-altitude Populations of Yunnan, China (£10,000) Sponsor. University College London Medical School Principal investigator. Prof. Leung Po-sing (Department of Physiology) • Culture Communication in Hong Kong (HK$85,250) Sponsor. Quality Education Fund Principal investigator. Prof. Kenneth Leung Wai-yin (School of Journalism and Communication) Facul ty of Social Science Honou rs Ou t s t and i ng Teachers and Students T hree teachers in the Faculty of Social Science were honoured with the faculty's Exemplary Teaching Award on 22nd February. They were Prof. Lam Kin-che of the Department of Geography and Resource Management, Prof. Chan Wai of the Department of Psychology, and Prof. Daniel T.L. Shek of the Department of Social Work. The award presentation ceremony took place in the Ho Tim Building with Mr. P.C. Luk (seated right), postmaster general of the HKSAR government, and Prof. Jack C.Y. Cheng ( seatedleft), pro-vice-chancellor, as the guests of honour. The ceremony was hosted by Prof. Leung Yee (standing), dean of the faculty. On the same occasion, Dean's List certificates were presented to undergraduate and graduate students of the faculty who had achieved outstanding academic results. Engineering Students Win I EEE Paper Contest M r. Victor T.S. Wong (right) and Mr. Alan H.F. Lam (left) of the Centre for Micro and Nano Systems have won the first prize in the Hong Kong Section Student Paper Contest 2002 organized by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). Both students are currently supervised by Prof. Wen J. L i (middle) of the Department of Automation and Computer- Aided Engineering. Mr. Wong beat 14 other participants to win the undergraduate division of the contest for his work on using Carbon Nanotubes as micro circuit elements and sensors, while Mr. Lam's paper on using MEMS and wireless technology to create next- generation computer input devices beat 21 submissions to win the first prize in the graduate division. Mr. Wong's work on the manipulation of Carbon Nanotubes for practical applications was also awarded the first prize by the HKIE (Hong Kong Institution of Engineers) as the 2002 best paper on materials. 中大通訊 CUHK NEWLETTER 網 址 website ht tp://www.cuhk.edu.hk/puo / 1. 本刊逢四日及十九日出版。 2. 來函或投稿請寄沙田香港中文大學秘書處出版事務處《中大通訊》 編輯部（電話 2609 8584， 圖文傳真 2603 6864， 電郵 pub2@uab. msmail.cuhk.edu.hk )。 3. 投稿者須附真實姓名、地址及聯絡電話，文章則可用筆名發表。 4. 編輯有權刪改及決定是否刊登來稿，不欲稿件被刪者請預先聲明。 5. 本刊所載文章只反映作者之觀點和意見，並不代表校方或本刊立場。 6. 所有內容未經編者書面准許，不得轉載。 7. 本刊每期發行三千八百份，免費供校內教職員索閱，部分郵寄本地教 育機構及與大學有關人士。私人索閱，請致函本刊查詢。 1. The Newsletter is published on the 4th and 19th of each month. 2. All contributions and suggestions should be sent to the Editor, CUHK Newsletter, Publication Office, University Secretariat, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (tel. 2609 8584; fax. 2603 6864; e-mail pub2@uab.msmail.cuhk.edu.hk). 3. Contributions should bear the writer's name and contact telephone number, and may be published under pseudonyms. No anonymous letters will be published. 4. The Editor reserves the right to reject contributions and to edit all articles without notice for reasons of clarity, length or grammar. Those who do not want to have their articles amended should indicate clearly in writing. 5. The views expressed in the CUHK Newsletter are those of the authors, and are not necessarily those of the University or the Editor. 6. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor. 7. This publication has a circulation of 3,800 and is primarily intended for staff members of CUHK. Copies are also sent to local educational institutions and individuals associated with the University. Those who wish to be included on the mailing list please contact the Newsletter direct. 截稿日期 Deadlines for Contributions 期數 Issue no. 出版日期 Issue date 截稿日期 Deadline for contributions 219 4.4.2003 203.2003 220 19.4.2003 7.4.2003 221 4.5.2003 22.4.2003 222 19.5.2003 5.5.2003 223 4.6.2003 20.5.2003 224 19.6.2003 5.6.2003 香港中文大學出版事務處出版 編輯：梁其汝 助理編輯：蔡世彬 李琪 陳偉珠 製作：梅潔媚 Published by the Publication Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Editor: Amy K.Y. Leung Assistant Editors: Piera Chen, Lawrence Choi Graphic Designer: May Mui 印刷：鮑思高印刷有限公司 Printing: Don Bosco Printing Co. Ltd. 2 No. 218 19thMarch 2003