Newsletter No. 2

CUHK Newsletter T h e Wi lson T. S. Wang International Surgical Symposium The Department of Surgery organized an international surgical symposium at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 8th to 10th December, 1989 to promote surgical education. Head and neck surgery and liver and biliary surgery were the main themes. Topics for discussion included state-of-the -art management of thyroid cancer, salivary gland cancer, gall stones and pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. More than 170 delegates from 26 countries including China, Singapore, Sweden, Australia, UK and USA took part in the function to share their experience in surgical practice, the training of surgeons, surgical research, and the presentation of scientific data. The symposium was sponsored by a well-known local educationist, Mr. Wilson T. S. Wong. The University has thus named the symposium series after Mr. Wong in recognition of his generous contribution. T h e Fourth International Workshop on Therapeutic Endoscopy Over two hundred doctors from more than 30 countries took part in the fourth International Workshop on Therapeutic Endoscopy held at the Prince of Wales Hospital from 5th to 7th December, 1989. The workshop was jointly organized by the University and the Hong Kong Society of Digestive Endoscopy to introduce the techniques of therapeutic endoscopy. Local and overseas experts demonstrated a whole range of new techniques including state-of-the-art procedures such as endoscopic sphincterotomy and removal of bile duct stones, endoscopic stenting for malignant biliary obstruction, injection sclerotherapy for bleeding varices, intubation of oesophageal tumour, and injection treatment for bleeding ulcers. Of particular interest was the technique of shattering stones in the common bile duct using electrohydraulic forces via a ‘mother and baby’ endo cope ystem. Participants watched the demonstration through closed circuit television and took part in panel discussions to exchange views. A Combined Endoscopy Unit set up in 1984 at the Prince of Wales Hospital has been active in researching new techniques of therapeutic endoscopy for diseases prevalent in Hong Kong. Many cases which would have required surgery in the past can now be treated successfully by endoscopy. T h e Vice-Chancellor Attended International Conferences Overseas Professor Charles K. Kao, who is an overseas member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), was invited to attend the 1989 IVA annual seminar entitled 'Development and Flow of Technology on a Global Basis' held in Stockholm, Sweden in October 1989. After the seminar, Professor and Mrs. Kao also attended the IVA annual dinner hosted by the King and Queen of Sweden. In late November, Professor Kao at the invitation of the Tan Kah Kee Foundation Lecture delivered two lectures on ‘A Consequence of Abundance 一 the Technical Implication in the Information Intensive Society' in Singapore. In early December, he went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to take part in a conference on ‘University Education in the 1990s' organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL). Professor Kao is the national representative for Hong Kong on the 1989/90 ASAIHL Administrative Board. Prof & Mrs. Kao with the King of Sweden (right 1) and the president of IVA (right2) 5