Newsletter No. 94

Mathematician, Entrepreneur, and Social Welfare Administrator to Receive Honorary Doctorates Sir Michael Atiyah Dr. Lee Hon-chiu The Hon. Rosanna Wong Yick-ming T hree distinguished persons will be awarded honorary doctorates at the University's 52nd congregation to be held on 12th December 1996 at the University Mall. HE the Rt. Hon. Christopher Patten, Governor of Hong Kong, will officiate at the ceremony as Chancellor of the University. Dr. Lee Hon-chiu and the Hon. Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, CBE, JP, will receive the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, while Sir Michael Atiyah, OM, will receive the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa. Their citations will be written and delivered by Prof. Serena Jin, professor in the Department of Translation, and Prof. Andrew Parkin, professor of English. Prof. K. P. Fung, professor in the Department of Biochemistry, will be the mace-bearer. Sir Michael A t i yah Sir Michael Atiyah is one of the most distinguished mathematicians of this century. He has made significant contributions to the advancement of mathematical science, especially geometry. Sir Michael is currently director of the Issac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences and master of Trinity College, Cambridge University, from which he received his degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. For the past four decades Sir Michael has taught and conducted research in various leading institutions, including Cambridge University, Oxford University, the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, and Harvard University. Sir Michael's achievements have won him numerous prestigious awards. These include the world's top mathematics honour 一 the Fields Medal 一 in 1966, and the Franklin Medal conferred by the American Philosophical Society in 1993. Twenty-six universities around the world have honoured him with the conferment of honorary doctorates. As president of the Royal Society in UK from 1990 to 1995 and member of many international professional bodies, Sir Michael has also been active in the promotion of natural sciences and scientific exchanges between the UK and other countries. The Chinese University has benefitted for many years from Sir Michael's invaluable advice and guidance as an external expert to its Department of Mathematics. Dr. Lee Hon-chiu A leading entrepreneur, Dr. Lee is currently chair and managing director of Hysan Development Company Ltd., deputy chair of the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou, and non-executive director of a number of local and overseas companies, including Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., Hang Seng Bank Ltd., and Imperial Chemical Industries plc in the UK. Dr. Lee holds a BS degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MS degree in electronics from Stanford University. A keen supporter of higher education, Dr. Lee sits on the Council of The Chinese University and the Court of The University of Hong Kong. He has contributed significantly to the development of The Chinese University as Council member and chair of both the Terms of Service Committee and the Campus Planning and Building Committee. Over the years Dr. Lee and other members of the Lee family have generously supported various academic and research activities of the University through the Lee Hysan Foundation. Dr. Lee is also active in public service. He chairs the Standing Committee on Directorate/Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service, sits on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Council and its Executive Committee, and is also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The Hon. Rosanna Wong Y i ck- ming A social welfare administrator by profession, the Hon. Rosanna Wong has a distinguished record of public service. Previously an appointed member of the Legislative Council, and chair of the Police Complaints Committee, the Commission on Youth, and the Social Welfare Advisory Committee, she is currently convener of the Executive Council and chair of the Housing Authority. Ms. Wong holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree from the University of Hong Kong and three Master's degrees — i n social work, social policy and planning, and arts — from the University of Toronto, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of California respectively. Ms. Wong has brought her professional knowledge and insight to bear on the formulation of public policies on housing, youth, social welfare, and numerous other issues. In recognition of her outstanding achievements and contributions, Ms. Wong was elected one of Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 1985 and named a Global Leader for Tomorrow in 1992. As general secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Ms. Wong has led the agency in providing a wide range of services for the youth of Hong Kong. Ms. Wong has been an ardent supporter of The Chinese University, and has frequently visited the campus to officiate at graduation ceremonies of the constituent colleges, attend academic conferences, and conduct seminars for students. RESEARCH NEWS • HK$80 million from the RGC for 1996 -97 One hundred and eight research proposals submitted by academic and research staff of the University have succeeded in obtaining earmarked grants totalling HK$64,903,000 from the Research Grants Council (RGC) this year. Last year's figures were 112 projects and HK$53,344,000. The University has also received a direct grant of $15.6 million to finance small projects. For 1996-97, the government has made available a total of $331 million to seven UGC-funded tertiary institutions for research purposes: $66 million for direct allocation to the institutions to finance small projects; $8 million for central allocation to strengthen the research base of these institutions; and $257 million for 464 selected research proposals submitted by the academic and research personnel in the seven institutions. The 108 CUHK projects fall into 10 different areas: computing science, information technology and applied mathematics (17); electrical and electronic engineering (6); mechanical, production and industrial engineering (1); physical sciences (16); pure mathematics (4); biological sciences (13); medicine, dentistry and health (28); administrative, business and social studies (12); arts and languages (8); and law, architecture, town planning and other professional and vocational subjects (3). Details of the 108 projects will be announced later. • Relationship between Exercise and Health under Probe Researchers from the Department of Community and Family Medicine recently obtained a grant ofHK$565,490 from the Health Care and Promotion Fund to study the pattern of habitual physical activity, health fitness and behaviour among the local population aged 40-59, as well as their knowledge of the relation between exercise and health, their attitudes towards exercise, and perceived barriers against increasing physical activity. Undertaken by Prof. Suzanne Chan Ho, Prof. Lee Shiu-hung, and Ms. Chan Sieu Gaen, the study, entitled 'Habitual Physical Activity, Health Fitness and Behaviour among Adult Population in Hong Kong', is expected to last a year and seven months.