Newsletter No. 234

Survey Reveals SARS-related Psychosocial Problems Prof. Lee Sing (right) of the Hong Kong Mood Disorders Centre at the press conference T he Hong Kong Mood Disorders Centre of the University examined the psychosocial impac t of SARS on residents of Amoy Garden s in a study conducted fro m June to August 2003 . A tota l o f 4,89 6 self-repor t questionnaire s were distribute d t o al l household s o f Amo y Gardens, among which 903 were validly analysed . The surve y showe d tha t th e dail y live s o f nearly 90 per cent of the respondents wer e deepl y affected in terms of social relationships, work, an d f ami ly lives . Clos e t o 4 1 pe r cen t sai d thei r requests to dine with friends were rejected in April 2003, 2 5 pe r cen t reporte d havin g distance d neighbours wh o wer e infected. Ove r 3 0 per cent were turned down when they requeste d household maintenanc e service s o r hom e delivery, an d mor e tha n 2 0 pe r cen t wer e rejected for hote l servic e o r received unfai r treatment a t clinics . In the workplace, nearly hal f of those at work i n April perceive d unfair treatmen t o r unpleasant experiences . Thes e include d being asked to work a t home and to produc e clear healt h bill s i n orde r t o resume work , being requeste d t o wea r masks , an d bein g avoided. Man y ha d to conceal their identit y as Amoy Garden s resident s whe n seekin g jobs durin g the outbreak . Close t o 9 0 pe r cen t reporte d havin g fel t distressed an d anxiou s sinc e th e outbrea k o f SARS. Symptom s o f ba d mood , i r r i t ab i l i t y , insomnia, headache , an d ches t discomfor t wer e common. The researchers at the centre recommend tha t the gove r nmen t pa y mor e attentio n t o th e psychosocial healt h o f th e publi c an d adop t a proactive mod e o f interventio n fo r individual s who are affected or will be affected in future SARS outbreaks. An accurat e mode of assessing risks i s also importan t fo r reducin g pani c an d socioeconomic losses. China's Tourism Gems on Display T he Chin a Nationa l Touris m Administratio n has designate d 'Th e Lifestyl e o f Chines e People' a s the country's touris m theme fo r 2004 , with th e ai m o f introducin g th e unique lifestyle s of the Chinese t o tourists . I n lin e w i t h th e theme , th e University' s School o f Ho t e l an d Tou r i s m Managemen t organized the Exhibition o n Cultura l Tourism i n Ch i na i n c o l l abo r a t i o n w i t h As i a To u r i s m Exchange Centr e Ltd . a t the Cultura l Squar e o n CUHK campu s fro m 5t h t o 9t h Januar y 200 4 t o promote heritag e touris m i n China . O n displa y were 16 0 photos o f som e o f China' s mos t sceni c and historic sites . Ten thousand copies o f a book on cultural tourism in China were also distribute d for free . The Asia Tourism Exchange Centr e Ltd . i s a locally registered , non-profi t agenc y unde r th e China Tourism Association, which plays an active role i n p r omo t i n g t ou r i s m developmen t i n mainland China , Hon g Kong , an d Macau . Officiating a t the openin g ceremon y o n 5t h January wer e Prof . Le e Kam-ho n (left), directo r of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management , and Mr . L i L e i ( r i g h t ) o f th e As i a Tou r i s m Exchange Centre . Top-tier Scientists Gather for Protein Sciences A Cr oucher Fo u n d a t i o n Ad v a n c e d Stud y I n s t i t u t e o n 'Advances i n Protei n Sciences ' wa s organize d b y th e D e p a r t m e n t o f B i o c h em i s t ry f r o m 1 5 th t o 2 0 t h D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3 . Sp o n s o r ed b y th e C r o u c h e r F o u n d a t i o n , t h e institute comprise d lectures, workshops , and poste r an d ora l p r e s e n t a t i o n s e s s i o n s , a n d f e a t u r ed t a l k s b y em i n e n t s c i en t i s t s f r om oversea s an d mainland China , includin g Dr . Richar d Roberts , Nobe l laureat e in physiolog y o r medicine , an d Prof. Wan g Chih-chen , membe r of th e Chines e Academ y o f Sciences . Ove r a hundre d loca l researchers i n biochemistr y an d related discipline s attende d th e various functions . Specialists Explore Ways to Improve SpeechandHearing Assessment Tools L ocal speec h therapists , audiologists , an d schoo l teacher s listened t o addresse s b y U S expert s i n c ommun i c a t i v e research an d watche d demonstration s o f th e lates t c l i n i c a l instruments a t th e s em i n ar o n th e De v e l opmen t o f S p e e c h a n d H e a r i n g Assessment Tool s organized b y th e C o o p e r a t i v e C e n t r e f o r C ommu n i c a t i ve Research o f th e University o n 12t h December 2003 . Commo n l y use d speec h an d hearin g assessmen t tool s wer e also introduce d a t th e seminar . The aim of the seminar was to acquaint the health care industr y and the public wit h the latest advances in the development of speec h and hearing assessmen t tools . 中大通訊 CUHK NEWSLETTER 網址 website http://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. Th e Newsletter is published on the 4th and 19th of each month. 2. Al l contribution s an d suggestions shoul d be sent to the Editor, CUHK Newsletter, Publication Office , University Secretariat , The Chinese University o f Hong Kon g (tel. 2609 8584; fax. 2603 6864; e-mail pub2@uab.msmail.cuhk.edu.hk) . 3. Contribution s should bear the writer's n ame and contact telephone numbe r, and may be published under pseudonyms. No anonymous letters will be published. 4. Th e Editor reserves the right to reject contributions an d to edit all articles withou t notice for reasons of clarity, length or grammar. Those who do not want to have their articles amended should indicate clearly in writing. 5. Th e views expressed in the CUHK Newsletter ar e those of the authors, and are not necessarily those of the University or the Editor. 6. N o part of this newsletter may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor. 7. Thi s publication has a circulation of 3,800 and is primarily intended for staff members of CUHK . Copie s ar e also sen t to local educationa l institution s an d individual s associated with the University. Those who wish to be included on the mailing lis t 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 235 19.2.2004 5.2.2004 236 4.3.2004 19.2.2004 237 19.3.2004 4.3.2004 238 4.4.2004 18.3.2004 239 19.4.2004 1.4.2004 240 4,5.2004 20.4.2004 241 19.5.2004 5.5.2004 242 4.6.2004 19.5.2004 243 19.6.2004 4.6.2004 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 Assistan t Editors: Piera Chen, Lawrence Choi Graphi c Designer: May Mu i 印刷：鮑思高印刷有限公司 Printing: Don Bosco Printing Co. Ltd. 3 No. 234 19th January 2004