HKU Bulletin February 2004 (Vol. 5 No. 2)

2 Faculty of Arts Inspires S ince its formation as one of the three founding faculties in 1912, Arts has become one of the flagship faculties of the University. The Faculty recently marked its ninetieth anniversary in a series of celebratory events spanning the year, recognizing its contributions to Hong Kong society and its commitment to nurturing intellectual and community leaders. The diverse anniversary celebrations were organized by individual departments and the Faculty itself under the slogan ‘Inspiring through Humanities’. These included the publication of An Impossible Dream comprising a series of essays spanning the history of the University, to scholarly lectures, musical performances, and an art exhibition. The cornerstones, however, were the Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Lectures focussed on the theme of ‘The Humanities and Society’ and a homecoming banquet in November 2003, which brought back some of Hong Kong’s leading figures, together again in a University forum F . or the Lectures, the Faculty welcomed back distinguished Arts alumni Dr Anson Chan, the Honorable Martin Lee, Mr John Chan and Dr Alice Lam and a broadly based audience from within the University as well as the community. The former Chief Secretary and Lee also joined other key guests Professor Louis Cha and Dr Lee Shiu at the banquet, which saw more than 700 alumni and friends of the Faculty enjoy a relaxing evening of reunion and reminiscence, and which resulted in funds raised for the Arts Faculty Endowment Fund through generous donations pledged for paintings and calligraphy presented to Arts. The Acting Dean, Professor John Malpas, said: “We have been delighted and very encouraged with the success of the events and of the enthusiasm of the participants be they students, staff, alumni or communi ty leaders, and we are now looking forward to taking the Faculty of Arts to greater heights in the fine tradition of our first ninety years.” Environmental Awards T he University’s role as a pathfinder in environmental efficiency has seen it scoop up another award. Thanks to pioneering work on energy- efficient air conditioning insulation the Estates Office received the award from the Elect r ical and Mechanical Ser v ices Department in November 2003. Paul So, who is in charge of facilities management at the Estates Office, said: “We are very pleased with this award. We were the pioneers who first took part in this scheme back in 19 “ 9 S 9 o . this is recognition of all the hard work we have put in to promote energy eff iciency and conservation in Hong Kong.” The award was in acknowledgement of the improvements to the chill water plant for both the Knowles and Haking Wong Buildings but the University work has not stopped there. They have also installed occupancy sensors, which readjust settings or turn them off. So said: “The work goes on. We are determined to keep at the forefront of environmental efficiency.” T he University is up for another award after being shortlisted for the best environmental reporting award category in the 2003 Hong Kong Eco-Business Award C s L . P Power Hong Kong Limited and Cathay Pacific Airways Limited have been previous recipients of the award that is sponsored by the Environmental and Conservation Fund. Mar ianne Tso, the Universi ty Green Officer, Des Mabbott, Director of Safety, Sheila Stimpson, from the Registry, Paul So, Senior Assistant Director of Estates and report researcher Mandy Lao gave a presentation in December 2003 to the panel of judges. The results of the competition will be announced in mid-February. One panel member complimented the team by saying it was one of the most reader-friendly reports that he had seen for a long time. The event is organised by The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Environmental Campaign Committee, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and Hong Kong Productivity Council. 3 NEWS ROUND-UP A Shot in the Arm for Chinese Medicine C hinese medicine has moved a step closer to becoming a mainstream therapy with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between a consortium of local and international institutions. The University will provide the headquarters of the 16-member group. It includes Yale University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and PhytoCeutica, a botanical drug firm based in Connecticut, as well as universities in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The aim is to establish a common database to assist in research and promote the development of a scientific platform on which to produce high-quality Chinese medicine. The lack of evidence-based research on Chinese medicine has hampered its acceptance as mainstream therapy but the new research should lead to better-priced, safer health-care products. Our Genome Centre will play a key role in conducting advanced research such as identifying the impact of various herbs on human cells. Coastal Trails Bid W alkers will be able to promenade from Kennedy Town to Aberdeen along a 5km long series of interconnecting coastal trails, if the brainchild of a University teacher gets the green light. Dr Bill Barron, from the Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management, has drawn up the radical plan with think-tank Civic Exchange in a bid to open up Hong Kong’s enclosed shoreline. The green plan aims to also open up debate about the stretch of coast, which had been targeted for development by the government under the controversial Route Seven road extension project. Barron said: “Although the government has postponed the project we felt it was time to address the issue of the shoreline without turning it into another Route Seven fight. “In the debates over the use of the harbour the complaints have been two fold: the harbour keeps shrinking; and, the government keeps promising us access but then doesn’t deliver.” Barron and the Exchange team believe that the proposal could become a major attraction both for Hong Kong residents and tourists by tapping into the areas natural resources. As well as offering superb views of the mountains, sea and surrounding landscape, the trails would benefit from being largely covered by trees and also offer the potential for future developments. Starting with a wooded path in Kennedy Town, the trails would move onto Sandy Bay with recreational piers for fishing and viewing the sunset before reaching a restaurant lined promenade at Cyberport. Barron also wants to see improved access to Pokfulam Flying Falls – where the 20 metre coastal waterfall could be taken in by water taxis – and a hiking path linking The Peak to the coast via the reservoir. The trails would finally conclude at Wah Fu and Wah Kwai where an existing shaded walkway would be complemented by an upgraded boardwalk. Barron said: “The government has made no use of these assets so our independent proposals are designed to stimulate debate and make people think ‘Why not?’” • If you are interested in getting a leaflet on the proposal then please contact Civic Exchange on 2893 0213. Entertainment at the banquet.