Newsletter No. 244

HK I B Opens New Mu l t i purpose Pur i f i cat ion Pi lot Plant A new biotechnology and plasma-derived therapeutics downstream pilot Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility officially opened on 30th June 2004 at the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology (HK I B). The facility was designed and constructed by HK I B. The plant, funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund o f the H K S AR Government, serves as a multipurpose protein pu r i f i c a t i on p l a t f o rm for the production of clinical grade materials with built-in biopharmaceutical manufacturing systems in accordance with Hong Kong and China GMP requirements. The new plant is designed to enhance the HKIB's multifaceted relationships with industry, academia, and the government. It also permits acceleration of basic and applied product research in partnership with industry. For instance the project's sponsor, Advantek Biologies Ltd. w i ll make use of the plant to develop plasma-derived therapeutics using technologies licensed from Amersham Biosciences, the New York Blood Center, and Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation. Target markets for these products include a wide spectrum of diseases such as primary immune deficiency, lupus, Hepatitis B, and rabies. Six Non-Teaching Staff Honoured for Exemplary Service S ix members of the University were presented the Exemplary Service Award 2003-4 by Prof. Lawrence J. Lau, vice-chancellor, on 31st July at a presentation ceremony held in the Esther Lee Building. The recipients were Miss Chu Yin-ping (Bursary), Mr. Ng Wai-kin (Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology), Mrs. Wong Leung Mei-lai (Physical Education Unit), Mr. Yeung Ki-hoi (Estates Management Office), Mrs. L i u Chan Yuk-king (Shaw College), and Ms. Poon Sau-chun (Department of Modem Languages and Intercultural Studies). Over a hundred guests including senior management, staff, students, and family members of the awardees attended the ceremony. Prof. Jack Cheng, chairman o f the Staff T r a i n i ng and Development Committee, and Prof. Michael Hui, chairman of the selection panel for the award, emphasized the crucial role played by non-teaching staff in the University's quest for excellence and the importance of continuous learning, creativity, and team spirit to service enhancement. Students the World over Gather to Explore Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore T he 2004 Summer Programme o f the Lee Shiu Centre o f Intercultural Learning was held from 13th July to 10th August 2004 in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore respectively. The Lee Shiu Centre of Intercultural Learning was established by Chung Chi College in 2001, with a generous donation from Dr. and Mrs. Lee Shiu. Its aim is to train and nurture young future leaders. The programme was organized by Chung Chi College with Fudan University o f Shanghai and the Un i ve r s i ty Scholars Programme, National University of Singapore as coorganizers. The opening ceremony, officiated by Prof. Jack Cheng, pro-vice- chancellor, was held on 14th July at the Esther Lee Building. The attendees consisted of some 70 delegates from Chung Chi College, and other universities such as Fudan University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Princeton University, the University of Southern California, the University of California at Irvine, and the National University of Singapore. This year's theme was 'China's Path to Modernity and Prosperity: A Study of Three Cities 一 Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore'. The students were divided into groups to tackle the theme from four major perspectives, namely government and law, economic development, education and culture, and social services. They presented their findings at the Young Leaders Forum on 7th August in Singapore. A series of seminars, visits, workshops, field trips and high table dinners were also organized to help with their research and to broaden their perspectives during the 29-day programme. Academic lectures and Conferences T he following conferences, seminars, and forums were held by University units from May to August: • The EMBA Forum featuring Ricky Wong, cofounder and chairman of City Telecom, and Allan Zeman, the 'Father of Lan Kwai Fong', took place respectively on 19th May and 23rd June 2004. The EMBA Forum is organized by the University's EMBA Programme. • The Summer Course 2004 in Microbiology was organized by the Department of Microbiology from 1st to 16th June 2004 at the Prince of Wales Hospital. • The Professional Development Workshop for secondary school teachers was organized by the Centre of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Faculty of Education on 5th June 2004. • The International Conference on the Boxer Movement and Christianity in China was jointly organized by the Centre for the Study of Religion and Chinese Society of Chung Chi College, the Holy Spirit Study Centre of the Hong Kong Diocese, and the Research Centre of Catholic History of Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei on 10th and 11th June 2004 at Fu-Jen Catholic University, and on 14th June in the Esther Lee Building of the University. • Two episodes of 'Talking to CEOs: CEO in the New Century: Three Kingdoms History', coorganized by the University's EMBA Programme and RTHK, were broadcast on 12th and 26th June on RTHK Radio 1. The guest of the two shows was Jonathan Cheung, a university adjunct professor and newspaper columnist. • The Secondary School Principals' Forum was coorganized by New Asia College from 13th to 19th June 2004 at New Asia College. • The Third International Conference on Mental Health Issues was organized by Harvard University, Peking University, and the Department of Psychiatry of the University from 1st to 3rd July 2004 at Peking University. • The Third Seminar on Moral Education was coorganized by New Asia College and the Beijing Oriental Morality Institute at New Asia College from 5th to 13th July 2004. • The Fourth Seminar on Traditional Chinese Culture was coorganized by New Asia College from 15th to 20th July 2004 at New Asia College. • CHESS Management, two training programmes, were held by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management from 2nd to 7th August 2004. The speakers were Prof. Mark Tabert and Prof. Roy Alvarez. • 'The International Conference and Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products ( I CMCM) 2004' was coorganized by the University from 12th to 16th August 2004 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. United College Overseas Programmes Budding Scholars Exchange Programme Six budding scholars of United College, accompanied by Prof. Lau Yee Cheung, Prof. Eliza Tse, and Prof. Chu Lee Man, the academic advisers of the 14th Budding Scholars Exchange Programme, visited the Xian University of Architecture and Technology from 8th to 17th June 2004. During their stay at Xian, the budding scholars conducted a seminar on 'Economic development versus heritage conservation in Hong Kong: Is a balance achievable?' The delegation also visited Xian Jiaotong University, various local organizations, and historical relics during the 10-day visit. Overseas Study Tour to Melbourne Twelve United College students visited the University of Monash, Melbourne in June 2004 for four weeks under the College's Overseas Study Programme. The aim of the programme was to provide students with the opportunity to appreciate the culture and socio-economic structure of Australia through lectures, workshops, school visits, and interacting with host families. The students also conducted a comparative research on the education systems of Australia and Hong Kong. Shanghai Tour Fifteen United College students, accompanied by Mr. Jeremiah Wong, the college tutor, visited Shanghai in late June for 10 days under a tour to study issues relating to the World Trade Organization and Shanghai's economic development. Participants studied the changes to and prospects of economic and business environment in China associated with its entry to the World Trade Organization. They also visited government departments and attended seminars conducted by local officials, alumni, as well as academics and practitioners in trade and business. 3 No. 244 4th September 2004