Newsletter No. 253

Me r r i l l Lynch Donates to C U H K to Imp r ove Academic Exchange i n Greater China Prof. Lee Tien Sheng (left3 ), dean of the BA Faculty, representing CUHK to accept the cheque from Merrill Lynch S tudents of CUHK 's Master of Science Programme in Finance and their peers from the business schools of Peking University and Taiwan Chengchi University can now enrol in the Merrill Lynch Applied Finance Joint Project Scheme. The scheme is part of a new master's degree course introduced at all three universities in the first quarter of 2005. It is made possible by a donation of US$165,000 by Merrill Lynch. Conceptualized by Merrill Lynch, the project aims to provide a platform for graduate business students of the three cities to collaborate and enhance understanding of business and culture in the Greater China region. The new elective course is entitled 'Casesin Corporate Finance, and is being offered by the M.Sc. Programme in Finance at the University. It is taught by Mr. Samuel Poon, seasoned banker and managing director of Merrill Lynch. The course focuses on the application of c o r po r a te f i nan ce concep ts and theoretical tools. Students are expected to attain clear understanding of the skills required in corporate finance services and acquire insight into the role and f u n c t i on o f i n t e r na t i onal finance professionals. P r o f. Ra ymo nd So Wa i -man, director of the Un i ve r s i t y 's M.Sc. Programme in Finance, believes that the course is an 'invaluable opportunity for our graduate students to collaborate with other students in the Greater China region and learn more practical business knowledge and experience.' Some 120 graduate business students from the three cities are divided into 40 teams comprising one student from each of the participating universities. The teams develop strategic plans for selected companies in Greater China to increase shareholder value. They w i ll gather in Hong Kong in A p r i l 2005 to start developing their strategies. The panel of judges, which w i ll comprise teaching staff from the three universities as well as finance professionals from Me r r i ll Lynch, w i ll select 10 case winners and one grand prize winner. Cash prizes will be donated by Merrill Lynch. Nervous System the Focus of International Meeting Brain 2004 O ver 300 clinicians, pathologists, scientists, nurses, and other paramedics from Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, I nd i a, the Ph i l i pp i nes, and No r th Ame r i ca attended B r a in 2004, the Second Asia Pacific Multidisciplinary Meeting for Nervous System Diseases, held on 10th and 11th December 2004 at the Postgraduate Education Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital. The event was hosted by the Department o f Anatomical and Cellular Pathology; the Division of Neurology, Department o f Me d i c i ne and T h e r a p e u t i c s; Division of Neurosurgery, Department o f Su r g e r y; the De p a r t me nt o f D i agnos t ic Ra d i o l o gy and Organ I ma g i n g; and the Depa r tment o f Clinical Oncology. The meeting was opened by Prof. Jack Cheng, pro-vice-chancellor. There were more than 20 international and local speakers, among whom was Prof. Jaap Valk from Amsterdam, Wei Lun Visiting Professor to the University. The supporting societies included the Hong Kong Neurosurgical Society, the Hong Kong Neurological Society, the Hong Kong Society of Neurosciences, and the Hong Kong D i v i s i on of the International Academy of Pathology. Brain 2005 w i ll be held on 2nd and 3rd December 2005 and the themes w i ll be ep i l epsy and paed i a t r ic b r a in tumours. Celebration for Social Work Graduates M ore than 150 social wo r k graduates, their f ami ly members, friends and staff of the Department of Social Work attended the first e v e r C e l e b r a t i o n Gathering for Graduates 2 0 0 3 - 4 , h e ld by the Division of Social Work on 10th December 2004. The event kicked off with a roast-pig cutting c e r emo ny at U n i t ed College. This was followed by picture taking and a lunch buffet. The celebration was officiated by Prof. Tang Kwong Leung, chair of the Department of Social Work, Prof. Ngai Ngan Pun, head of the Division of Social Work, Mr. Lai Pui Wing, chairman of the CUHK Social Work Alumni Association and five student representatives of the Ph.D. and M.Phil. Programmes. Service to the Community and International Organizations • Prof. L am Kin-che, chairman of the Department of Geography and Resource Management, has been appointed by the Chief Executive of the HKSAR as chairman of the Advisory Council on the Environment for two years from 1st January 2005. • Prof. Lee Kw i ng Chin Kenneth, professor in the School of Pharmacy, has been appointed by the Chief Executive of the HKSAR as a member of the Action Committee Against Narcotics for two years from 1st January 2005. • Prof. Wong Tze-wai, professor in the Department of Community and Family Medicine, has been re-appointed by the Chief Executive of the H K S AR as a member of the Advisory Council on the Environment for two years from 1st January 2005. • Prof. Leung Ping Chung, professor of orthopaedics and traumatology, has been appointed by the Head of the Central Policy Unit as a part-time member of the Central Policy Unit for another year until the end of December 2005. • Prof. Ching Pak-chung, head of Shaw College, has been re-appointed by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour as a member of the Consumer Council for two years from 1st January 2005. • Prof. X u Yangsheng, professor of automation and computer-aided engineering, has been re-appointed by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology as a member of the Hong Kong Productivity Council to represent professional/academic interests for two years from 1st January 2005. • Prof. Sin Yat Ming Leo, professor in the Department of Marketing, has been appointed by the Director-General of Trade and Industry as a member of the Rice Advisory Committee for two years from 1st January 2005. • Prof. Yum Talc Shing Peter, dean of engineering, has been appointed by the Council of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers as an appointed member of the Accreditation Board for the 2004—5 term. • Prof. Chill Fung K um Helen, chairman in the Department of Psychiatry, has been appointed as the president of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists for two years from October 2004. ( I n f o rma t i o n in this section is provided by the Information and Public Relations Office. Contributions should be sent direct to that office for registration and verification before publication.) 2 No. 253 19th January 2005