The role statement that CityU received from the University Grants Committee(UGC) in January emphasizes the need to establish collaboration and maintain

strong links with higher education institutions, business, industry and the community inHong Kong and the region. Indeed, this is always high on CityU’s agenda.

In this issue, which builds on the theme of CityU’s links with the mainland , CityU Todayfeatures how CityU, through collaboration and exchanges with the mainland, developsits areas of strength, upholds its whole person development education mission, advancesknowledge, conducts applied research to meet the needs of society, and nurtures futureprofessionals.

CityU established the Shenzhen Applied R & D Centre in 2001 and the Zhuhai AppliedR & D Centre in 2002. Since then, some of their research projects have morphed intoproducts ready for commercialization (page 10). Among these, research in wirelesscommunications has resulted in a successful spin-off company (page 28).

Under the Industrial Attachment Scheme (IAS) initiated by the Faculty of Science andEngineering, the University collaborates with various industries to offer studentsopportunities, during a period of nine weeks to one year, to hone their skills. The IASgives students an early taste of the life and working style on the mainland (page 20). Oneof the IAS participants shares her learning experiences (page 34).

In addition to cross-border applied research ventures and internship arrangements, CityUalso invites famous scholars from the mainland to serve as visiting lecturers. Thepostgraduate students of the School of Creative Media benefited from an inspiringexperience with Professor Situ of the Beijing Film Academy (page 24).

Lastly, you may have noticed a slight change in the layout of the news section which wehope provides more pleasurable and informative reading. We will continue to review andimprove the magazine both in content and appearance, and your suggestions are alwayswelcome (puo@cityu.edu.hk).

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ed i t o r ’s n o t e � �

Shirley Lam �� Editor ��

1

Collaboration and exchanges bear fruit

May ��==2004

4 May ��==2004

CityU students have proventhemselves in the realms ofcreativity and technological

innovation. A budding scriptwriter has wonacclaim for her work written for acommercial movie. Also, talented sciencestudents have shone in public contests,w a l k i n g a w a y w i t h a w a r d s a n dchampionships.

School of Creative Media (SCM)undergraduate, Ms Christine To, amazedmovie veterans with her debut commercialfilm script written for Jianghu. “She turnedout a really sharp script,” commented actor-producer Mr Eric Tsang, who pickedChristine to write for Jianghu. Only in herearly 20s, Christine amazed viewers withher depiction of brotherhood and loyaltyin triad societies. Mr Tsang was introducedto Christine through Mr Patrick Tam, aformer award-winning movie director whonow teaches a scriptwriting course in theSCM. Christine impressed Mr Tam withone of her assignments which depicted thefeelings of love and desire of a middle-agedhousewife. When asked how she wasinspired to write on the masculine themesin the story, Christine said, “Throughobservation of daily life, I find that thesense of brotherhood is quite commonamong people on the street.”

Mr Chiu Leung and Mr Steven Yang,students from the Department of ElectronicEngineering, have won the first and thirdprizes, respectively, in the Hong KongUndergraduate Student Paper Contest2003, organized by the Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers (IEEE). One ofthe major findings of Chiu’s paper is that,with the application of a novel compactmicrostrip resonant cell, the performanceof mixers is remarkably enhanced. Stevencombined a hexagonal patch with an

L-shaped probe antenna, thus expandingthe bandwidth to support 3G, as well as PCSand CDMA. Their findings have wideapplications in mobile communications.

Mr Geng Chunya, a postgraduate studentfrom the Department of Physics andMaterials Science, has clinched the GoldAward in the Mobile CommunicationsDesign Contest 2003, organized by theHong Kong Institution of Engineers(HKIE). His innovative project, “MobileE-Credit Card System”, settles credit cardtransactions through a mobile phone. Theidea arose naturally from practical needs indaily life, he said.

Students make their mark

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Hall residents launched a hostel-wide

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donations. A lucky draw on books

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CityU scientists gain ITF supportfqc�� !"#$%

In the project titled “Screening Agents for Angiogenic Modulating Activities Using TeleostsEmbryos”, Dr Cheng employs zebrafish embryos to identify herbs that can induce or inhibitthe formation of new blood vessels. With ailments such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer,the formation of blood vessels has proved to be a critical factor in treatment. For instance,promoting the formation of blood vessels to bypass the blocked ones can help a stroke patient;curbing nutrients brought by new blood vessels can control growth of a cancerous tumor. DrCheng has developed software to trace the changes in the network of blood vessels in fishembryos, when experimented on with different Chinese herbs.

Building on his “Body Brush” and “Body Baton” human-computer technology, ProfessorIp is working on “Smart Ambient Therapy” (SAT) for the special needs of the disabled.Body Brush maps the body’s gestures and motion path to a set of visual attributes, turningthe whole body into a dynamic paintbrush. Body Baton goes to the audio dimension,turning the human body into a digital musical baton. Professor Ip is developing a VirtualReality Therapy system—a semi-immersive virtual environment with body-driven audio-visual feedback suitable for use in psychotherapy and rehabilitation. In mid-March, a groupof disabled children were invited to try out the SAT, with encouraging results. “Thedisabled children became more proactive in expressing themselves through their bodymovements,” Professor Ip said. That prompted him to explore collaboration withprofessional therapists and rehabilitation centres to evaluate the effectiveness of SAT.“Eventually, we hope to set up a Smart Ambient Therapy centre, using the technology.”

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Two CityU projects for the therapeutic treatment of the human body have attracted sponsorship in the latest round of Innovation andTechnology Fund (ITF) applications. Associate Professor Dr Cheng Shuk-han of the Department of Biology and Chemistry received

a HK$2.5 million grant to pursue her research on fish embryos, while Chair Professor Horace Ip of the Department of Computer Scienceobtained a HK$1 million grant in support of his “Body Brush” and “Body Baton” projects. The results were announced in late March.

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SAM wins industrial sponsorship p^j�� !"#$Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong Ltd recently made a HK$100,000 donation to CityU’s

Smart Asset Management (SAM) Laboratory, in support of its unique equipment

fault diagnosis and prognosis system—Smart Asset Maintenance System (SAMS@).

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Two influential figures in international affairs visited CityU recently.Mr Shimon Peres, the former Prime Minister of Israel (1984–1986 and1995–1996) and Nobel Peace Laureate, toured the University’s laboratories

on 5 March, and, on 12 March, European Union Commissioner for Trade Mr PascalLamy, spoke on the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Mr Peres gave a lecture on the role of technologicaland economic advancement on today’s world. He seesnanotechnology playing a vital, global role in thefuture. He was also briefed on the remarkable progressCityU scientists have made in nanotechnology,including publishing over 130 papers on the subject,pioneering the lasing of nanowires and nanoribbons,and being the first to report the smallest carbonnanotubes.

In a lecture titled “The European Union, Hong KongSAR and WTO” delivered at CityU, Mr Lamy spokeon China as a new member of the WTO. Hementioned expectations of some breakthroughs intrade talks in the WTO ministerial meeting to beheld in Hong Kong later this year.

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CityU NewsCentre replaces the three-year-old CityU Today website. Managed by theUniversity Publications Office (PUO),

the NewsCentre debuted on 1 April.

Both the look and the format have been transformedin the new website. The front page is morefunctional, with the order of news stories structuredto reflect their timeliness and importance.

“Despite the changes,” said PUO Acting DirectorMr Peter Ho, “what remains unchanged is thecommitment to bring to our readers CityU’s ‘latestand greatest’.”

Visit�� http://www.cityu.edu.hk/newscentre

NewsCentre takes off

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May ��==2004

Cultural Fest@Library�� !"

Ministry of ForeignAffairs officialswelcomed�� !"#$%CityU President, Professor H K Chang,welcomed a delegation of visitors fromthe Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairsof China, HKSAR, led by CommissionerMr Yang Wenchang, 17 March.

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J apanese woodprints and Korean costumes adorn the exhibition corners of CityU’sRun Run Shaw Library, from mid-March to the end of April, as the Division ofLanguage Studies joined hands with the Library to launch the Cultural Fest@Library:

East Asia. The programme is aimed at promoting students’ understanding of Japaneseand Korean cultures.

Kicking off the Cultural Fest@Library was a donation ceremony on 20 March, whenrenowned Japanese hanga (wood prints) artist Mr Denkichi Omi presented a collectionof his works to the Library. Born in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, many of Mr Omi’sworks are about the serenity and landscape of his hometown.

The Library received generous donation of hanbok (traditional Korean costumes) fromthe Consulate General of the Republic of Korea on 29 March. On display at the Libraryare the traditional costumes—ceremonial robes, bridal robes and government officialrobes. Also featured in the Cultural Fest@Library: Tae Kwon Do and a book exhibition ofJapanese and Korean arts.

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Enhancing Hong Kong’s appeal to tourists�� !"#�� !"

Final year students majoring in Leisure and Tourism Management, fromthe Division of Social Studies, showcased their projects at the TelfordAnnex, 21–23 April. More than 40 projects, on the themes of discovering

indigenous culture; re-developing old sight-seeing spots; and planning leisure-routes, were exhibited.

Several outstanding projects won trophies of recognition. A cruise touraround the Victoria Harbour, Tsing Ma Bridge, and Lantau Is land on atraditional Chinese-style boat, got the championship. The first runner upwas the “Redevelopment of the Kai Tak Airport” project, which aims atrevamping the old airport site into a resort centre. Other awards went to“Dessert House Guidebook”, “Fantastic Railway Journey” and “Tea CultureOne-day Tour”. Guests invited to the prize presentation ceremony, includingP r o f e s s o r G e o r g eS t o n e h o u s e , A s s o c i a t eDean of Newcastle BusinessS c h o o l , N o r t h u m b r i aU n i v e r s i t y , U K , a n d M sJ o j o C h a n , D e p u t yManager, Wing On Travel,c o m m e n d e d t h e s t u d e n tp r o j e c t s o n t h e i r r i c hcontent, creative ideas andin-depth research.

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“Early Hong Kong Eateries”, a collection of 90 old photographson the local restaurant business, was on display at CityU Gallery,9 April to 12 May.

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9

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May ��==2004

Upcoming Events� � !

A CityU research team led by Dr C M Tam,Associate Head of the Department ofB u i l d i n g a n d C o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d t h e

Construction Industry Institute (Hong Kong) (CII-HK)are collaborating in a study to create a unified set ofstandards for the construction industry in Hong Kong.

Dr Tam and his team received funding of HK$536,370 fromthe CII-HK for their project on investigating the feasibilityof establishing construction standards and setting strategic

directions for the industry. Before 1997, the building construction industry in HongKong followed UK standards. Since 1997, different sectors of the industry use differentconstruction materials and standards from around the world, including the US andJapan. Dr Tam’s team started the project in January 2004 and will provide a report toCII-HK in December. CII-HK is a non-profit organization established by the industryand academia to improve Hong Kong’s construction industry.

Industry and academiaset construction industry standards

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St u d e n t s o f t h e S c h o o l o fC r e a t i v e M e d i a ( S C M )p r o d u c e d a t h r e e - m i n u t e

trailer for this year’s “Le French May”,an annual cultural festival organizedby the Consulate General of France inHong Kong. Mr Jul ian Lee , SCMAssistant Professor and the projectsupervisor, described the project as awin-win situation. “While studentsga in profes s ional exper ience , theConsu l a t e r ece ive s an exce l l en ttrailer,” he said.

Working on footage provided by theConsulate, the students spent threemonths editing. It is a broadcast onthe plasma TV display at the WorldWide House and in MTR stations, onAirport Express trains, on buses andat URBTIX outlets until the end ofMay.

Students produce trailer for Le French May

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10 May ��==2004

Cross-borderendeavours bear fruit

No.2 ��

11May ��==2004

c o ve r s t o r y � � !

�� !"#$%&By Shirley Lam ��

I n A p r i l 2 0 0 3 , D r L i Q i n g , A d j u n c t Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science crossed the Hong Kong

border bound for Zhuhai with a research idea—todevelop a system platform for SMS (Short Message

Service) . He set up the hardware and softwaresys tems , h i red technica l per sonnel and soughtcollaborators. Today, less than a year later, his ideahas morphed in to a commerc ia l p roduct , theEnterprise SMS System Platform Solution. While heis busy with product registration, packaging andpromotion, he also is cooperating with ZhuhaiMobile to develop another edition of the system.

D r L i i s n o t a l o n e . F o u r t e e n o t h e r C i t y Uresearchers who are involved in the University’s

Shenzhen Applied R & D Centre and Zhuhai Applied R & DCentre, established in 2001 and 2002 respectively, are beginning to reap thebenefits of capitalizing on the expansive market, the wealth of technicalexpertise, lower labour costs, and collaboration with industry and academia onthe mainland.

Finding a niche in the Pearl River DeltaSince 2001, CityU’s investment in applied R & D projects in the Pearl RiverDe l ta r eg ion (PRD) ha s r e su l t ed in a sp in -o f f company in w i re l e s scommunications. These R & D projects also heralded new medications forcancers and a new health supplement; enhanced surgical planning andevaluation, especially in orthognathic surgery; increased the efficiency andsecurity of communications; and contributed to the making of dictionaries.

CityU, one of Hong Kong’s most prolific universities in applied R & D in the PRD,has successfully established a foothold on the mainland by catering to the needsthere via technology transfer and joint ventures. The applied R & D venture inShenzhen and Zhuhai has led to the establishment of 16 collaborative projectswith mainland laboratories, universities, research institutes and companies.

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This has brought in a total of RMB470,000 yuan in contracted research andconsultancy projects, and a total of RMB1,231,000 yuan in research funding frommainland institutions. The two research centres employ a total of 93 mainlanders,of whom 17 are research degree students and 20 are research degree holders.

The applied R & D venture took off with the establishment of the Industrial TechnologiesResearch Centre and the Biotechnology and Health Research Centre in Shenzhen;followed by the Information Technology Research Centre in Zhuhai. “These are theresearch areas where CityU’s strengths lie,” said Mr H Y Wong, Director of theTechnology Transfer Office (TTO), which provides support to the PRD research centres,from administration, project selection and commercialization to marketing. “We believethat they will have meaningful applications,” he added.

The PRD, which absorbs 25% of China’s foreign direct investment, is the hub of China’smanufacturing industries. There is a great demand for information technology andindustrial technology services and products to enhance productivity in manufacturing.“We decided to develop a system platform for SMS because we recognized its growingpopularity on the mainland and its vast potential market,” Dr Li said. The EnterpriseSMS system, jointly developed by Dr Li and his colleague, Assistant Professor Dr LiuWenyin, provides an intelligent platform for application services based on SMStechnologies. It increases corporate competitiveness by enhancing communication withinthe enterprise and between the enterprise and customers.

China ’s rapid economic growth hascreated a demand for more, andhigh-end, medical and healthservices, which matches CityU’sb i o t e c h n o l o g y a n d h e a l t hportfolio. Recognizing the lack of asystem that can address the specificneeds of the hospital and surgicalcentres on the mainland with regardto construction, simulation and

evaluation of surgical plans, Chair Professor Horace Ip,Department of Computer Science, developed a Computer-Assisted Simulation System for Orthognathic Surgery(CASSOS) with medical document management

functions to help doctors perform operations.

Zhongshan University in Guangzhou is among the first users of this system.Other hospitals and surgical centres in Xiamen and Zhejiang also have showninterest. It is estimated that 200 to 300 surgical hospitals can make use of thisproduct. CASSOS Orthodontist (Professional and Advanced Versions), whichtargets 4,000 to 5,000 orthodontic clinics, soon will be ready to be put on themarket. Another product for plastic surgery is under development.

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13May ��==2004

c o ve r s t o r y � � !

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Quality labour at low costIn addition to the vast potential market,CityU scientists also enjoy access to a larger anddiversified pool of expertise and lower operating costson the mainland. Dr Li, for example, attributed hissuccess to getting a qualified senior developer for theproject.

“There is a great difference in cost between doingapplied R & D in Hong Kong and on the mainland,”said Chair Professor Benjamin T’sou , Director of the LanguageInformation Sciences Research Centre (LISRC), who works on the synchronouslanguage database, LIVAC. “For the cost of employing one person in Hong Kongone can hire five in Shenzhen and Zhuhai.” The LIVAC project, which startedin Hong Kong, has been segmented and verified for nouns, but not for verbs.The low labour cost in Zhuhai has made possible a fine categorization schemeof verbs and of the other parts of speech. The Zhuhai project is expected tocontribute about 10 times more material to processing than Hong Kong.

Professor Fong Wang-fun of the Department of Biology and Chemistry, and Directorof the Biotechnology and Health Research Centre, concurs with Professor T’sou.His team, which focuses on Chinese medicine studies, in particular, benefits from

the wider choice of eligible personnel, who not only are available ata lower cost, but also possess sound market knowledge. They

have developed “�� !"#$ ”(a health supplementmade from Chinese herbs) which is pending government

approval.

Joint efforts facilitate researchApplied R & D success owes much to col laborat ion.

Professor Yang Mengsu , Department o f Biology andChemistry, who has established four joint laboratories with

prestigious universit ies and research institutes on the mainland, valuesalliances. In addition to a high-level network for conducting joint R & Dprojects, cooperation with the Peking University School of Pharmacy, theThird Military Medical University, the Shanghai Institute of Microsystemsand Information Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and theNational Engineering Centre for Modernization of Chinese Medicine inZhuhai, brought in over RMB 300,000 yuan in research funding and eightpostgraduate exchange students. In December 2003, Professor Yang filed aChinese joint patent with the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development,Chinese Academy of Medical Science, for the anti-tumor properties of aclass of triterpenoid compound that may be developed into cancer-preventiveand curative drugs.

Prof Benjamin T’sou�� !"#$

Prof Fong Wang-fun�� !"

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14 May ��==2004

c o ve r s t o r y � � !

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Seeking collaborators also brings researchers closert o t h e m a r k e t . T h r o u g h t h e S h e n z h e n G o l d r a d i o

Communication Company Ltd, a joint venture company set up between CityUand the Shenzhen Goldtel Group, the wireless communications team, comprisingChair Professors Chan Chi-hou, Luk Kwai-man and Associate Professor DrXue Quan from the Department of Electronic Engineering, benefits from theaccess to market needs and feedback in the process of research. The joint ventureand proximity to market information expedite the successful development andapplication of the Beidou Global Positioning System (BGPS). (See related storyon pages 28–33.)

Partnership promotes commercializationPartnership is also important when it comes to commercializing the technology.“Applied R & D essentially begins with research,” Mr Wong said. Transformingthe discovery into a product is the next stage of applied R & D, that is,development, the stage when searching for investors, marketing, and establishingcompanies is key.

“The University is not supposed to become a shop,” Professor Fong remarked. “If wedevelop a technology, we need to transfer it to industrial partners forcommercialization.” For example, he added, instead of selling the health supplement“�� !"#$ ”directly to the market, he seeks an investor to handle themanufacturing and sale. One of the ways to attract investment, according to ProfessorFong, is to display the technologies in trade shows through which many potentialinvestors from the pharmaceutical industry are enlisted. With the same strategy, atthe October 2003 China Hi-Tech Fair, Dr Li attracted some 30 potential customersto his Enterprise SMS system, two of whom have expressed an interest in purchasingthe product and in further cooperation.

A boost in marketing“We’re experts in doing research. But in doing business, we’re like primary schoolstudents,” Professor Fong quipped. “Seeking investors and partners is, therefore,vital.” And the TTO, he says, plays an important role in this area. At present,a marketing officer in the Shenzhen Institute, which provides administrativesupport to the Shenzhen Applied R & D Centre, is responsible for seekingcollaboration and for marketing the technologies. “We hope that, in future,each research centre will have its own marketing professional to provide morefocus for their specialized areas,” Mr Wong explained. He also hopes to appointmarketing agents across the country to help tap and build up the markets.Professor Horace Ip’s team, for instance, is appointing an agent in Shanghai topromote CASSOS.

Prof Chan Chi-hou�� !"

Dr Xue Quan

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Prof Chan Chi-hou�� !"

Prof Luk Kwai-man�� !"

15May ��==2004

c o ve r s t o r y � � !

CityU Cross-Border Applied R&D Centres �� !"#$%&'

Shenzhen Applied R & D Centre

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Location Shenzhen Virtual Univresity Park Zhuhai Southern Software Park�� �� !"#$ �� !"#$

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• Industrial TechnologiesResearch Centre�� !"#

“There are many ways of marketing. Before the research centres can afford to recruit theirown marketing professionals, seeking partners is, for the time being, a way to go,” saidChair Professor Hong Yan, Acting Head of the Department of Computer Engineeringand Information Technology, and Director of the Information Technology Centre.

Becoming self-sustainableIn the second round of project selection that will take place later this year, Mr Wong says,they will place more emphasis on securing industrial partners, in addition to looking forcommercially viable applications and commitment to commercialize the research resultswithin a short period of time. Experts may be invited to the selection committee to assessthe technical competence and market intelligence of the proposed projects.

Mr Wong also suggests that the University divide project development into two phases.The University provides seed money for the initial start-up at the research stage, butwhen the project advances into the development stage, it is expected to become self-sustainable and continue to thrive on its own. “Therefore, we hope that we win thesupport of industrial partners and investment,” Mr Wong said.

Moving in the right directionMost CityU researchers, like Dr Li, Professor Fong, Professor T’sou, and Professor Yan,agree, “We are moving in the right direction by embarking on applied R & D activities inShenzhen and Zhuhai. The market niches and lower labour costs are conducive to doingapplied R & D activities on the mainland.” At a time when the Hong Kong government ispromoting collaboration with China, Professor Yan remarked, “we’re making a good start.”

“The pilot scheme enables CityU to map out the future direction for applied R & Dactivities on the mainland and formulate strategies to strive for more effectiveperformance,” Mr Wong concluded. The cross-border applied R & D endeavours,now bearing fruit, have proved to be a meaningful learning experience for theUniversity and its researchers.

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16 May ��==2004

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O n a winter’s day in 1996, CityU’s Government-subsidizedStudent Residence Project was conceived. The LegislativeCouncil Brief, “Review of the Provision of Student Hostels

in the UGC-funded Institutions,” outlining the Government’s policyfor providing student residences, was issued in December that year.The paper proffered the background and philosophy for providingaccommodation for degree students in universities—a long-term planfor CityU to provide 2,730 residential places for students began takingshape. Eight years later, much of that plan has come to fruition.

There’s no place

Phase I under construction�� !"

— our student hostels yesterday and today

Review of the Provision of Student Hostels inthe UGC-funded Institutions, 1996

“…an essential part ofhigher education…”

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Text by Shiona Mackenzie ==��� !"

Photos by Brian Mitchenere, Leo Wong, Sunny Wong =�� !"#$%&'$%()

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No.2 ��

17

pho to e s say � � !

May ��==2004

Phase I of the Student Residence Project, now

complete, launched in 1997 on the site

designated by the Government, north of the

main campus. Phase II, to be completed this

year, adds 1,400 to the existing 818 beds for

undergraduates, with many of the rooms

offering stunning harbour and mountain views.

Students from all walks of life and parts of the

world benefit from campus-dwelling at CityU.

Surely, there is no place like home.

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17

pho to e s say � � !

May ��==2004

pho to e s say � � !

18 May ��==2004

Undergraduate bedroom floor plan

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Students enjoy orientation in Multi-Purpose Hall�� !"#$%&'(Students enjoy orientation in Multi-Purpose Hall�� !"#$%&'(

19

pho to e s say � � !

May ��==2004

The University’s centre of gravity has shifted somewhat northward now that the eagerly awaited pedestrian bridge across Cornwall Street, joining the Student ResidenceHalls with the main campus, is operational. Under the canopy, sheltered from the thoroughfare, the walkway provides a welcome respite from the sound and speed ofHong Kong traffic.

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pho to e s say � � !

20 May ��==2004

No.2 ��

Hands-on t ra in ing , meaning fu l out -o f -c la s s room exper ience , p repara t ion fo r the workp lace—al l

these demands for a new curriculum for training engineers and scientists are rolled into the Industrial Attachment

Scheme that CityU pioneered four years ago. It started in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, with a few dozen students

in 2000, but it has blossomed to more than 400 places this year, with a dozen participants coming from the business and

humanities disciplines. More importantly, most of the students have gained experience working in China, where many of

their future job prospects are likely to be. Professor Roderick Wong, Dean of Faculty of Science and Engineering, discusses

the salient features of the Scheme.

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21

i n t e r v i ew � � !

May ��==2004

What is the Industrial AttachmentScheme (IAS)?The Scheme is an innovative andhighly effective way of implementingco-operative learning at CityU. Everysummer, we place our second-years t u d e n t s f r o m t h e s c i e n c e a n dengineering disciplines in a real-lifeworking environment for nine weeks.

The IAS comes with a lot of personalcare and mentoring from the companiesthat accept these students, along withsubstantive supervision and monitoringfrom our Faculty staff. Other localuniversities have similar schemes, butours is no doubt the largest in scale andthe best organized. I also believe it offersthe best value for student learning andprofessional growth. Last summer, weplaced over 350 students in this Scheme.

How does it work?Through our departments, we inviteappl icat ions f rom our s tudents inMarch to join the Scheme in thesummer. We have a vigorous selectionprocess and criteria, based on academic

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�� !"#$%PRM�� !"#$%&'a c h i e v e m e n t a n d n o n - a c a d e m i cqualities. We shortlist and interviewthe applicants, trying to match thenature of placement arrangements withthe interests of the students . Thestudents wi l l have to face a f inalinterview by the company. This is along and careful process, involvinghours of work by our academic andsupport staff. In the end, we send thestudents, once the summer vacationstarts, to their assigned companies. Thestudents spend nine weeks minimum inan industrial setting, mostly in China,with a few in Hong Kong.

During their time there the studentshave to undertake a project related totheir own academic or professionalbackground and at the same t imebeneficial to the industrial partners.These partners assign staff as “mentors”to advise and supervise the students.Students are treated as part of the regularstaff of the companies where they work.Most of them are given small stipendsor allowances. Those students who workin SAE or SMT in Dongguan, locatedin an industrial boomtown in the heartof the Pearl River Delta (PRD) north ofHong Kong, for example, live in thefactory dormitories and have meals inthe cafeterias there. They have to minglewith the local staff, only travelling backto Hong Kong once every week or two.It is a total immersion approach.

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22

i n t e r v i ew � � !

May ��==2004

Why China? And how far into Chinadoes the Scheme extend?W e l l , f o r o n e , m o s t o f t h emanufacturing industr ies in HongKong have been relocated to China,in particular, the Pearl River Deltaarea, which has been dubbed as theworld’s workshop. Seldom do we findsuch well-organized and large-scalefactories, where students can learn som u c h i n a r e a l - l i f e a n d m o d e rnindustrial environment in Hong Kong.And increasingly, our engineering ands c i e n c e g r a d u a t e s a r e f i n d i n gemployment outlets in China afterthey graduate. By joining the IAS,students jump-start their future career,a n d t h e y l o v e i t . L a s t y e a r , w eextended the IAS to Suzhou, where wehad some industrial partners who wereinterested in taking our students on.But most of our participants stay in thePRD and Hong Kong, where logisticsare easier to arrange.

How do the students benefit?Students can, first and foremost, applywhat they have learned at University ina real-life situation, contributing to

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solving genuine problems. What’s more,they gain a first taste of working andliving in China. This is an invaluableexperience, an asset, in fact, to theirfuture job seeking. And during theirwork, they also have ample opportunitiesto hone their skills in problem-solving,teamwork, time management, and so on.I bel ieve this i s a t ransformativeexperience for the students in theireducation. And it suits the University’semphasis on and strength in qualitylearning, in applied research, and ourWhole Person Development philosophyfor the students.

What, in your view, sets the IAS apartfrom other Schemes and makes itsuccessful?I would say that has to do with the aim ofthe IAS. We believe strongly in the uniquevalue we provide to our students—enriching their learning outcomes throughwell-planned, meaningful out-of-classroomexperience that is relevant to their needs.And our industrial partners have a highcommitment to making the Scheme work.They contribute a lot and they give us goodadvice, through formal and informalchannels. Some partners are so impressed

with what weare doing thatthey not onlydonate moneyto us, but alsoa c t a s o u rchampion in

22

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23

i n t e r v i ew � � !

May ��==2004

their circles. We value their input, and inthe end, these industrialists benefit too.The student projects help solve some oftheir production problems, and in the longrun, they have trained a new generationof talent committed to the industry, andin some cases, to their companies. Theyare investing in their own future. Lastly,the amount of energy and time our Facultystaff put in is really amazing. During thenine-week attachment, for example, eachstudent will get, on average, three visitsby their professors, who travel to theirfactories to see how the students are doing.That does not include the pre- and post-training debriefing sessions and the follow-up work we have organized for thestudents. That level of commitment is, Ibelieve, not seen elsewhere; it’s because ourstaff care about our students so much.Their success is our success.

What’s next?Based on our success with the IAS, andthe continued support of our industrialpartners, we launched, slightly lessthan two years ago, a logical follow-o n p r o g r a m m e . T h i s i s t h e C o -o p e r a t i v e E d u c a t i o n S c h e m e ,supported by a designated centre in theFaculty . The idea i s s imple : o f feraround 80 selected third-year students,who already performed well in theIAS, a chance to work for a full-yearin a company. The modus operandusrema in s the s ame—coord ina t ionbetween CityU Faculty staff and our

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industrial partners to provide what thestudents need and can perform withina s p e c i f i e d t i m e . T h e d u r a t i o nis longer, and students have to deferone semester to graduate . But a l lpa r t i c ipant s a re happy to do so ,because, in most of the cases, beforethey graduate, the companies are likelyto offer them a job.

Any future plans for the IAS? Anyexpansion plans in the near future?The IAS Scheme has seen phenomenalg rowth . In 2001 the re we re 150placements . In 2003, desp i te thethrea t o f SARS and a l ack lu s te reconomy, we had more than 350placements. All our IAS staff leadersare working hard to ensure an equallyimpress ive l ine-up in the comingsummer. To top our latest record instudent placement is a test of our hardwork and the commitment o f ouri n d u s t r i a l p a r t n e r s . B u t I a moptimistic. Last year, we expanded theS c h e m e t o s t u d e n t s f r o m o t h e rf a c u l t i e s , s u c h a s B u s i n e s s a n dHumanities, believing that they canalso benefit from such a value-addedexperience. We’ll certainly work withother Faculty leaders to maintain andexpand our arrangements.

Professor Roderick Wong was interviewed by

Peter Ho.

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Zhuhai��

May ��==2004

No.2 ��

Documentary film is a dwindlingart form in a world increasinglydrowned out by Hollywood-style

productions. How can a veteran Beijingdirector get a group of Hong Kong studentshooked on the struggling art form?

Sunny Ng, a 27-year-old second-yearstudent in CityU’s Master of Fine Arts(MFA) programme, has never had anyprofessional experience in making adocumentary, except a brief stint as aproducer of an MTV segment. He wastrained in computer science and hadworked as an IT consultant before joiningthe two-year full-time programme on mediadesign and technology.

A film debutAt a private screening held in CityUPresident Professor H K Chang’s residenceat the end of December 2003, Ng’s videonarrative made an impressive debut,capturing the undivided attention of theselected audience of educators, film makersand cultural critics. It received a mixedreaction. The 35-minute video “TheWeight of Years” chronicles the daily lifeof Ng’s reticent father, with the camerafollowing the 60-year-old mover to workand getting closer to him at home. Theshort piece opens with a soft plea from aneager son to an uncommunicative andoften emotionally distant father forpermission to record his activities onvideo—“Dad, can I make a film about you?”It ends with long bonding conversationsbetween the two. To many of theprofessional video and film makers at the

By Peter Ho==��

24

Documentary asremembrance�� !�� !

25May ��==2004

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s c reen ing , the nov ice d i r ec to r ’stechniques—camera angles, lighting andsound quality—might still have been a bitraw, but none could deny his sincerity. Allagreed that the emotional tension betweenthe father and son was at times palpable.

Ng ’s work, in fact, started off as anas s ignment a s par t o f the courserequirements on documentary film at theSchool of Creative Media (SCM). In theend, however, it morphed into anaudacious attempt on the part of thestudent to put into practice what histeacher instilled in him. Documentariesare about people and events , anddocumentary makers need passion. JohnGrierson, the father of documentary film,said, “Documentary is the creativetreatment of actuality.”

And the truth is Ng is not alone in beinginspired by his teacher, Professor SituZhaodun, a Visiting Professor at SCM fromSeptember 2003 to early March 2004.Twenty-five other young men and womenin his class, from a diverse background insociology, journalism, biology, psychology,fine art, finance and physics, also took histeaching to heart. After a four-monthintensive course on documentaries byProfessor Situ, the MFA class produced 19short films on subjects ranging from asculptor (“Portraying City Heroes”), aFrench immigrant (“Nichole’s Room”) andan ice skating coach (“From Skate toAffinity”) to stories on a part-timeCantonese Opera artist (“Man Lai Fung’sCantonese Opera”) and a British voyager(“Adventure Under Sail”). (See box on page26 for a full list.) All these were capturedin digital video format.

“Almost none of the students had priorexperience in film and video production,”said Professor Situ from Beijing FilmAcademy. “It’s amazing and also satisfyingthat, within a span of just a few months,they are able to produce, from scratch tofinish, a number of films that have shownso much potential in the mastery of subjectcontent and aesthetic appeal.” ProfessorS i t u , d u b b e d t h e “ g o d f a t h e r o fdocumentaries” in China, enjoyed a nearlyfour-decade career at China’s premier filmschool and counted among his beststudents such internationally renowneddirectors as Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige.

To celebrate the students’ remarkableachievements, the SCM organized a mini-film festival “19 Lives Through19 Eyes” forpublic viewing in March. One localtelevision station has shown interest in thisbatch of work and is arranging a few piecesfor public airing later this year. The onlyhitch: obtaining the consent of the peoplefeatured in these short films. Some, whoagreed to be featured with the fullunderstanding that these were studentprojects, now hesitate and demur. Theyprefer their lives to remain private.

Documentary as realityT h e s t u d e n t s ’ w o r k s a n d t h e i renthusiasm exceeded Professor Situ’sexpectations. As a Visiting Professor, hehad a singular goal in mind: to lectureon documentary film and its production.Before he arrived, though, he was awarethat, living under the influence ofHol lywood-sty le product ions , h i sstudents could be more interested infilming techniques than a yearning totell a compelling story. Besides, most ofthem had no prior exposure to filmtraining, and many were computerprogrammers. He was aware that, for hismedia-savvy students, form might takeprecedence over content.

26 May ��==2004

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“I always believe documentary films areabout memories,” said the lanky and spirited,professor with glint in his eye. “Withoutproper ways to retain history and memories,a culture is lost.” The documentary is, afterall, about real people and real events orscenarios, he told his students. The contentor subject matter takes precedence over theformat. “Doing a documentary,” ProfessorSitu said in his first lecture last September,“is like living for a period of time with yoursubject. You are going to enter a somewhatromantic relationship; you have to knowyour partner well, perhaps, better than youknow yourself.”

Trying to observe and record the real worldthrough the camera lens often opens one’seyes to oneself. “Home and Away”, forexample, a 35-minute video by MFAstudent Sheetal Agarwal, recounts the storyof two Filipino maids through conflicts withher two Indian families, unraveling theintriguing world of domestic helpers inHong Kong. In telling the story of foreignworkers in Hong Kong, the business majorturned graphic designer, came to realize thatshe, as an Indian living and working in HongKong, and her subject share a commondestiny as foreigners in a predominantlyChinese city. The project helped her tounderstand her own situation. It wasAgarwal’s first video/film work, and now,according to Professor Situ, she is in lovewith documentaries and the video camera.

Professor Situ’s course, over 11 lectures, washeavily illustrated with examples, work thathe did in China and other exemplary filmsand video clips from all over the world. Onestudent wrote of Professor Situ, “He taughtme how to think and observe.” Studentsresponded with unbridled enthusiasm, notonly to his lectures, but also to hisassignment: to produce a documentary infour months’ time.

In the end, every work emerging fromProfessor Situ’s class was focused on HongKong and its people, exuding a humanistic

19 Lives on Film

1. The Movement of CityU Philharmonic Orchestra�� !"#by Marco Chong ��

2. The Weight of Years�� !"by Sunny Ng ��

3. Man Lai Fung’s Cantonese Opera�� !"#$%by Belle Tang Pui-yee ��

4. Adventure Under Sail�� !"#$by Nick Foxall �� •�� !

5. Fotan Carnival�� !"by Kong-kee =��

6. From Skate to Affinity�� by Alyssa Lam ��

7. Private Home Cuisine by a Sichuan Woman�� !"by Liu Hong-yu ��

8. Nicole’s Room�� !"#by Connie Chan Man-yee ��

9. Opening a Door�� !"by Edmund Chiu ��

10. Dialgoue Between the Hearts�� !"by Frank Chow Fai ��

11. The Story of Au Zhu�� !"by Chan Kam-kwong =��

12. “Window” of the Soul�� �� by Katherine Chan Sim-kuen ��

13. The Future Road��by Ada Wong King-wan ��

14. Chung Yang Festival�� by Lam Wai Cheong ��

15. Dined and Wined to Society�� !by Reine Wong ��

16. Home and Away�� �� by Sheetal Agarwal �� •��

17. Relief of the Heart��by Simon Yuen ��

18. Life Is Like a Stage�� !"#$%by Celia Tsui Yuen-sze ��

19. Portraying City Heroes�� !by Wade Chan

26

f ea t u r e s � � !

27May ��==2004

Professor Situ, it is fair to say, has cinematic genes in his blood. His father, Situ Weimin, born in the early 1900s,enrolled in Tokyo’s Ueno Art School in 1928, and began his cinematic work in Shanghai in 1930, producing China’sfirst coterie of feature movies. In 1947, the senior Situ went to the United States to learn cinematography and filmmanagement, returning to China eventually to become a Vice Minister of Culture in the new government. He isregarded as one of the few pioneers in China’s film industry.

Situ Weimin’s son was born in November 1938 in Hong Kong and went to school here for a couple of years before his familymoved to Beijing in 1951. Following in his father’s footsteps, Situ junior had a passion for film. He graduated, in 1964, from theBeijing Film Academy (BFA), China’s only film school, and stayed there as a faculty member. During his career there, Situ taughta range of courses on directing and documentaries, becoming the Head of Directing in 1987. Counted among his students aresome of the world famous directors of China’s “Fifth Generation”—the first post-Mao graduating class of 1982 at BFA, includingChen Kaige (“Yellow Earth” 1984), Tian Zhuangzhuang (“The Horse Thief” 1986) and Zhang Zimou (“Red Sorghum” 1987).

Situ’s cinematic works include movies (“Bamboos”, “Sunset on Green Mountain” and “The Weddings of Father and Son”) and TVdocumentaries (“Road”, “Environmental Art”, “A Glorious Journey” and “Our National People’s Congress”). In 1997, he receivedBFA’s highest achievement award, the Golden Candle Award. He is regarded as one of the few leading voices on documentaryfilms in China.

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compassion for the indigenous people andculture. Though the filming and productiontechniques were still “rough around theedges,” he said, “the students are hooked onthe idea, at least from now on, their workswill stay focused on the life and people aroundthem.” He quotes Japanese documentary filmmaster Ogawa Shinsuke saying, “Adocumentary is a world created by thefilmmaker and the object of his shooting.”

“These films by students, as they are now,are not perfect,” Professor Situ summed up,“but they are truthful and sincere inintention, courageous in outlook, full offresh ideas and personal style.” AndProfessor Situ succeeded, within a fewmonths, in sowing the seeds of indigenousfilmmaking in a university curriculum thataims to integrate technology with the artof storytelling. A passion has been nurturedand a trail has been blazed.

27

Knowing Professor Situ Zhaodun�� !"#$%

May ��==2004

f ea t u r e s � � !

28 May ��==2004

No.2 ��

29

f ea t u r e s � � !

May ��==2004

30

f ea t u r e s � � !

May ��==2004

By setting up a joint venture with the GoldTel Group, one of the forerunners insatellite communications technology and navigation products in China, CityUhas tapped into about 25% of the of the market in key BGPS components, namely

antennas and power amplifiers. Established in December 2002, Shenzhen GoldradioCommunication Co Ltd, a RMB 2.5 million yuan start-up by CityU and the GoldTelGroup, recorded a turnover of RMB 3.8 million yuan in 2003, supplying BGPS subsystems(comprising circularly polarized antennas, power amplifiers and radio frequencytransmitters and receivers) to its parent company. Sales prospect in 2004 looks evenbrighter, with orders of no less than RMB 10 million yuan already in sight.

Dr Xue Quan, Associate Professor of the Department of Electronic Engineering, played apivotal role in mediating the joint venture. Before he came to Hong Kong in 1999, DrXue was a professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, inChengdu, closely affiliated with the GoldTel Group. While working at CityU in 2001 asa Senior Scientific Officer at the Wireless Communications Research Centre, his expertisein microwave and millimeter circuitry was sought after by GoldTel, which offered him asenior position in the Group. Instead of leaving CityU, Dr Xue considered the opportunityfor exchange and collaboration between the University and the high-tech enterprise. Hechose to stay at CityU and eventually his ideas bore fruit in a joint venture—the ShenzhenGoldradio Communication Co Ltd. The GoldTel Group holds a 51% stake, CityU andeight professors hold 39%, and the rest of the 10% is set aside for stock options andbonuses for company employees in the future. The company is essentially a spin-off of thebrainchild technologies of Dr Xue and two other CityU researchers, Chair Professors LukKwai-man and Chan Chi-hou, both from the Department of Electronic Engineering, inthe respective fields of antenna and RF circuitry.

Unique technology at a competitive price“The Group was looking for quality components at competitive prices,” said Dr Xue,General Manager of Shenzhen Goldradio. “We are able to offer what they want, at asubstantially lower price and with enhanced performance.” For instance, whereas the

Group used to source amplifiers from otheroverseas suppliers with 30-watt powerperformance at RMB 3,000 yuan each,Shenzhen Goldradio offered amplifiers with40-watt power performance, at RMB 2,000yuan each.

What sets CityU apart from other suppliers isa unique filter device embedded in theamplifiers, developed by Professor Chan andDr Xue. The filter enhances the quality ofsignal transmission and reception, withstabilized performance under a wide

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temperature range, from +50 to —40 degrees Celsius. “Our amplifiers work equally well inthe sweltering heat of Gobi Desert as in sub-zero temperatures in Heilongjiang,” said ProfessorChan, the company’s Vice Chairman.

Combining the latest technical know-how and almost 20 years of research experiencein patch antennas, Professor Luk, Shenzhen Goldradio’s Chief Technical Officer,developed the circularly polarized (CP) antennas specifically for the Beidou satellitesystem. Unlike patch antennas, which are primarily used for receiving signals, the moresophisticated CP antennas can both receive and transmit signals. The zone of signalcoverage is much wider.

Antennas, RF circuitry and base-band circuitry are the indispensable components of anywireless communications system. Shenzhen Goldradio focuses on the antennas and RFcircuitry components, which are the more technically advanced subsystems. “It was ademanding project and meeting our client’s requirement seemed impossible at thebeginning, but we were able to deliver what the Group wanted after some fine-tuningand modifications on our existing technologies,” Professor Luk said.

Prior to the setting up of Shenzhen Goldradio, Professor Luk’s patented technologybehind his wideband patch antenna with L-shaped probe launched another spin-offon the mainland. Yantai Hi-Gain Hi-Tech Co Ltd, a joint venture between CityUand the state-owned Shandong Hi-Tech Investment Corporation, produces indoor

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People need to know where they are andwhere they are heading. In the past, weused the North Star and the compassfor navigation and positioning. Today,we use high-precision technology thatgives us instantaneous information—satellite communications.

The US launched the world’s firstglobal positioning satellite in 1978.

“Global Positioning System” (GPS)now commonly refers to a worldwideradio-navigation system formed by aconstellation of 24 satellites and theirground stations developed in the US.These satelli tes travel around theglobe at the speed of 12 hours perorbit. GPS uses these satellites asreference points to calculate positionson earth. As a counterpart to GPS,R u s s i a d e v e l o p e d i t s G l o b a l

Nav i ga t i o n Sa t e l l i t e S y s t em(GLONASS) in the 1980s,

using similar operatingprinciples.

China, too, has deve-loped its indigenoussatell i te navigationsystem, the Beidou,which literally meansthe North Star. The first

Beidou satel l i te was

launched in 2000. Based on aproposal by China’s renowned scientistProfessor Chen Fangyun in 1983,Beidou operates as a “twin-star”regional navigation system using twogeostationary satellites, transmittingsignals with ground correction stations.Be idou i s more economica l i noperating cost, and its accuracy hasbeen proved to be comparable to GPS.The system initially covers the East Asiaregion. It may be developed into a fullyg lobal navigat ion sys tem whencomplemented by satellites travellingin orbit around the globe.

These days the civilian use of satellitecommun ica t ions t echno logy i sexpanding rapidly. It is finding its wayinto cars, boats, planes, constructionequipment, farm machinery, even laptopcomputers. Scientists, hikers, sailors,pilots, drivers, surveyors, and people

“Where are we?” GPS and Beidou

and outdoor antennas for wireless communications for the mainland market. It alsosupplies Shenzhen Goldradio with some of the antenna components for other GSMand CDMA application products.

Big market potentialThe Beidou satellite system can register the precise ground location of any object withthe BGPS navigation unit installed. This function makes it a very useful device in land,sea and air transport management, mobile communications, and security. It fills thetelecommunication void in a vast country like China where many remote areas are stillinaccessible by mobile phone. “Just imagine how big the market could be if every singlevehicle in China had a navigation system installed,” Professor Luk suggested. Indeed, themarket for Shenzhen Goldradio products is by no means restricted to China; their productscan cater to any client using Beidou satellites in Asia.

With bright prospects and guaranteed sales to its parent company, the founders of ShenzhenGoldradio have high expectations—they hope the company will be listed on the HongKong Stock Exchange in three to five years’ time. The company is already making a

33

f ea t u r e s � � !

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handsome profit, but the founders have a vision beyond money. “What we want is aviable high tech company that has a future, that is sustainable, so that, in the end, we canemploy more of our graduates,” Professor Chan said. In a few years, they plan to open adesign house in Hong Kong for R&D and innovative input, while the Shenzhen operationwill focus on production.

The professors find the process of technology transfer an enriching learningexperience. Through the joint venture, they keep their applied research projectsaligned to the needs of the real world. Through the business connections of ShenzhenGoldradio, they have obtained research contracts amounting to RMB 400,000 yuanfor CityU’s Applied R & D Centre in Shenzhen. “Ideas and applications are mutuallyreinforcing,” they said. “We learn a lot through the process of meeting thespecifications of our clients, which often turn out to be a source of ideas for futureapplied research projects.”

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from all walks of life are using GPS inways that make their work safer andeasier. By and large, navigationproducts that use any satellite system forpositioning and mapping are commonlyreferred to as GPS products. In the future,it is expected to become a daily amenityas common as the telephone.

34 May ��==2004

I am a third year Physics and Materials Science student majoring in AppliedPhysics and Materials Engineering at CityU. Although not every one of my

classmates will have the good luck to develop a career in this profession after graduation, I feel the University has pavedmy way to a professional career already.

Last June, I joined the Co-operative Education Centre of the Faculty of Science and Engineering’s Industrial AttachmentScheme. During my nine-week summer internship, I worked at Astec Power (HK) Limited in Shenzhen. While noteverything I learned in the classroom could be applied there, the work I did proved the practicality of my discipline. Italso reinforced my interest in doing research. Before the end of my internship, the company and I had agreed to extendmy internship to one year.

So, as soon as the first semester of the 2003–04 academic year ended, I returned to Astec. The Company’s main productline is manufacturing power suppliers. Astec manufactures external adaptors for both IBM and Dell laptop computers. Inthe main, my job is conducting the electrical test on the IC parts that will be used in the power suppliers, and then doinga construction analysis for the overall materials. Despite the fact that my classmates and I are still students, our supervisornot only trusts us, but also tries to get us more jobs to do and even encourages us to innovate. In the end, although ourpressures may be comparatively heavier than those of other students, the rewards are, in my view, also greater. Apartfrom my Astec work, I also plan to reorganize the related research I do there into my final year project, which, I believe,will produce good results.

Because of joining the Scheme, I can only go to school once a week, so I will graduate one semester after my classmates.However, I don’t have any regrets. On the contrary, I value this rare opportunity. In the first place, as I mentioned,Materials Engineering is not a hot profession. It’s not very common for small-scale companies to set up an independentdepartment to do research in the field. Clearly, to spend a whole year working at Astec will be extremely helpful for mein either seeking a job or continuing further studies. What’s more, since Astec partnered with CityU to introduce theCo-operative Education Scheme, the rate of student interns officially employed by them, after graduation, is very high.And their salaries all meet Hong Kong standards.

In recent years, it has become fashionable for Hong Kong university graduates to seek jobs in China. In the past, likemany other fellow students, I was rather resistant to the idea of working on the mainland. But after this period ofshuttling between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, I have completely overcome my reluctance. The lifestyle and the workingenvironment of the mainland may be different from Hong Kong’s, but now I find that each has its own attractive qualities.

I have come to realize that it is possible for me to grow accustomed to working on the mainland, so I am not restricted inmy job prospects. The positive outcomes I have enjoyed in my studies, my career and my personal development areattributable to the careful arrangements and thoughtful support of CityU. Had I simply gone to China on my own to seeka job, things probably wouldn’t be going as smoothly as they are now. I must say, I couldn’t be more pleased with thebeneficial results of my participation in the Industrial Attachment Scheme. I hope more students will take an interest inand take advantage of this opportunity unique to CityU.

Paving acareer path

professional

No.2 ��

35

c o l umns � � !

May ��==2004

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Wong Yin-wa�� Year three, BSc (Hons) Applied Physics and Materials EngineeringDepartment of Physics and Materials Science�� !"#$%==�� !"#$%&'()