1. No category

===== HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
How to become a success
even when times are tough
Negative economic times require positive
thinkers to beat the gloom and forge ahead. With
HKUST's emphasis on creative, independent
thinking and its spirit of adventure, our alumni
— from founding students to recent graduates
— are proving themselves ideally placed to light
the way even when the outlook is gray.
March 2002
Issue No: 12
experiences as Corporate Advisor to the School
of Business and Management and as a member
of the Advisory Committee on Entrepreneurship.
In 2001, he was made an Honorary Fellow of
HKUST.
Perseverance is one of the most important
factors in overcoming challenges, according to
Mr Liu. "To succeed, you need to set your goal
and then stick to it," he said.
MicroWeb Ltd, an HKUST Start-up
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Mr Sing-cheong Liu, Managing Director
of Pearl River - Hang Cheong in Guangzhou
Despite the recent downturn for many real
estate firms, chartered surveyor Mr Sing-cheong
Liu (1994 PT MBA) has been able to push his
own company forward through a combination
of long-term vision and enterprise.
Mr Liu, one of HKUST's first postgraduate
students in 1991, built up a successful business
in the local real estate market in the early 1990s.
In 1993, he decided to re-direct his focus to the
mainland and established Pearl River - Hang
Cheong Real Estate Consultants Ltd.
It was a bold move. At the time, the mainland
real estate business was still developing and
people's knowledge about property agencies was
limited. But Mr Liu was undaunted. To gain
customers' confidence, he developed a strategy
of offering quality service at a low price. He
maintained a good working relationship with his
staff, by not setting himself apart from them and
by living in an ordinary rented flat.
It took time, great effort and innovative
thinking, but Mr Liu's foresight paid off. By the
late 1990s business was booming and Pearl
River now employs over 200 staff.
Mr Liu maintained close ties with HKUST
during the time he was building up his company
in Guangzhou, and is now able to share his
Perseverance is something young
entrepreneurs Pervez Iqbal (2001 BBA-MGTO)
and Nelson Wong (2001 BBA-MGTO) well
understand after two years of running their own
hi-tech business, through good times and bad.
The pair launched HKUST start-up MicroWeb
Ltd in January 2000 to market hi-tech services
and enable SMEs to make the most of new
technology. They took on a staff comprising
HKUST graduates and guaranteed good service
at a competitive price.
Initially all went well. Then came the bursting
of the Internet bubble and the '911' tragedy.
Budget constraints saw some companies
canceling their arrangements with MicroWeb.
The drop in enthusiasm for hi-tech industries also
had an impact.
While many IT companies closed, the
MicroWeb team did not give up. Instead they
thought of new ideas to complement their original
mission. The company started to undertake
consultancy work for Internet and e-commerce
services and also to retail computer software and
hardware.
As Pervez Iqbal said: "The situation is tough
but we should be ashamed of ourselves if we
thought it too hard to handle. After all, we are young
and there are always opportunities to be found in
Hong Kong."
As Pearl River and MicroWeb show, when
HKUST alumni of any generation set to work,
there is no such word as "can't".
Happy Easter !
from Alumni Relations Section,
OUDPA
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New Credit Card for Every HKUST Alumni
A unique HKUST Alumni Credit Card is now available offering you a host of
special benefits as well as a way to boost University funds. The card, jointly
launched by the University, the HKUST Alumni Association, the Bank of China
(Hong Kong) Limited and the Bank of China Credit Card (International) Limited,
entitles holders to a variety of privileges, including special offers on HKUST Alumni
Association lifetime membership and parking on campus. What's more, every time
you use your HKUST Alumni Credit Card, 0.3% of the amount you spend will be
donated to HKUST for educational development, research and University’s
development. You will also enjoy an annual fee waiver for the first three years.
Don't miss out on this chance to make a contribution to your alma mater at no
extra cost. See the enclosed leaflet for more details — and apply now!
http://www.alumni.ust.hk
Free email
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MAKE THE MOST OF HKUST
5 MB
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!=ÜÉäéÇÉëâ]~äìãåáKìëíKÜâ Keep in touch with free email
To strengthen ties, HKUST has set up a free email service for alumni to stay in contact with the University and with
each other. The service provides users with 5 MB storage capacity for personal communication. For details, please
visit the ISA website at http://www.alumni.ust.hk or email helpdesk@alumni.ust.hk.
Don't forget that all alumni can make use of the following
first-class facilities and services at the University:
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$10/hour for the first two hours, and $50/hour thereafter. With effect
from 2 April 2002, HKUST Alumni Association members and HKUST
Alumni Credit Card holders need only pay $10 for one hour, $20 for
Annual or lifetime library cards are available on payment of the
two hours or $30 all day. In addition to the Southern Access Car
appropriate fee. The first year's fee is waived for HKUST Alumni
Park, these cardholders are also free to park their cars in marked
Association members. For details, contact the Library Circulation
parking bays elsewhere on campus subject to the usual conditions
Department on 2358 6777 or visit http://library.ust.hk/serv/cardap.html.
of no parking overnight or in “residents only” bays.
Sports Facilities E
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All alumni are entitled to a free Sports Facilities User Card. Apply
in person at the Student Affairs Office's Amenities Service Counter
on LG3. Enquiries: 2358 6666.
On-Campus Accommodation E
The spanking new China Garden on G/F offers Chinese food
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Alumni can reserve rooms for themselves and guests at the Visitor
Center. For rates and bookings, call 2358 6158.
Career Services E
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Alumni are welcome to use the Career Center and can contact a
student counselor for an individual consultation. Appointments can
be made in person or by calling 2358 8590.
Parking E
New Catering Outlets
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and dim sum. Due to limited seating, this new restaurant only
serves University members and their guests. As alumni, you are
welcome to go there. Note that it is a bookable venue (Tel: 2358
1133). For proof of identity, please take a look at "What's New"
at http://www.ust.hk/alumni.
The LG1 new restaurant, which is
open to all, offers three styles of
cuisine. Come and try out these
exciting new dining venues!
Spaces are available at the Southern Access Car Park at
Alumni and friends having lunch
at China Garden.
=====ALUMNI POSTCARDS
===
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How HKUST helped me make
my mark on life sciences
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My life science website (http://genomicshome.com) is now
recognized among the international research community and I
have to thank HKUST for providing me with the right educational
environment to set me on my way in both research and creative
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decided I should create my own website to share what I had
found via the Internet.
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state-of-the-art DNA chips and genome mapping technologies,
functional genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics. I then
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focused on human genetic eye diseases and, as it entailed using
as well as information on life science research areas, such as
research at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. My work
I collected many relevant resources about these technologies
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thinking. After my two degrees at HKUST, I took up clinical
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The scientific research community has really welcomed the
site and it has been widely linked with renowned institutes all
over the world, including the US National Institutes of Health. It
was also recently recommended by Science magazine.
For this success, I have HKUST and my fellow students to
thank. I had very good supervisors, colleagues and classmates
at the University, and the exceptionally
dynamic atmosphere and research
environment laid down an outstanding
foundation for my life today.
Best wishes to you all!
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=========ALUMNI UPDATE
!
Young alumnus inventor
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Congratulations to PhD candidate Fu Ming-sun (2000 MPhil(ELEC))
who reached the finals of the 2001 Young Inventors Award, sponsored by
the Far Eastern Economic Review. He was one of only 14 finalists chosen
from a total of 216 entries from universities around Asia. He received
recognition for inventing a halftone-image watermark technique that hides
information in a picture and can prove its authenticity. A US patent is
pending on the technology.
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Down to business in Shanghainese
Business Shanghainese, co-authored by Houghton Lee
(1994 PT MBA) and Dr Tang Zhixiang, is now available.
The book introduces the Shanghainese required in
Start-up founder wins “Outstanding Young Digi Person” award
HKUST PhD candidate James She (2000 MPhil (ELEC)) has became
the youngest recipient of one of Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young
different business contexts. Along with useful phrases
and grammatical rules, the book, together with the
accompanying CD, explains many current slang terms
and idiomatic expressions. HKUST alumni can receive
Digi Persons awards in recognition of his services to IT in the community.
Mr She is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of start-up company
SinoCDN, which he launched in 2000. Mr She, who set up the company
with his HKUST MPhil supervisor, Professor Danny Tsang,
a special 10% discount (HK$79 per copy) and free local
delivery by placing their order with Houghton at
hleeyang@hkstar.com.
was presented with the award in December 2001. Also in
2001, SinoCDN gained two Hong Kong awards for its
innovative technologies.
7
MBA Trailwalkers score fundraising success
The MBA Alumni Association (MBAAA) has helped set the pace for future Trailwalker participants by raising the highest amount for
teams in the education sector in last year's event. The achievement was recognized at an award presentation ceremony organized by
Oxfam Hong Kong in February to celebrate top teams in eight different categories. The 16 members of the four HKUST MBA alumni
teams raised a total of $136,510.
In his opening speech, Mr Chong Chan-yau, Executive Director of Oxfam
Hong Kong, said that the active participation of university students, including
those from HKUST, was most encouraging and showed students were still
keen to get involved in community work and charitable causes.
Five of the alumni Trailwalkers and MBAAA representatives attended
the presentation ceremony.
Isabel Lui (1999 PT MBA)
MBAAA’s updates:
http://www.bm.ust.hk/~bmalumni/new/index.htm
New MBAAA Executive Committee for 2002: President Lawrence Liu (third
left, front row), Vice-President of Communications and Public Relations Isabel
Lui (third right, front row), Prof KC Chan (left), Dr Steve DeKrey (right) and
other committee members at the MBAAA Annual Dinner in January.
Lesley Kong (2000 PT MBA) and Carsten
Paasch (1994 FT MBA) receive their award
from Mr Michael McCarthy of State Street,
principal sponsor of Trailwalker 2001.
If you would like to share news or
updates with us, please email to
OUDPA at alumni@ust.hk.
====UNIVERSITY SPOTLIGHT
Prof Chu and Prof Neal Lane meet with President Jiang Zemin
HKUST President Prof Paul Ching-Wu Chu and Prof Neal Lane, former
Director of both the US National Science Foundation and the White House
Office of Science and Technology, met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin
in Beijing on 26 November 2001.Topics discussed at the meeting included
global development trends in science and technology. Prof Lane also
visited HKUST on 21 November 2001 and toured the University’s leadingedge facilities.
Alumni spark ‘giving’ spirit
There are many different opportunities for alumni to add
to life at HKUST. This spirit of "giving" was wonderfully
illustrated during the University's 10th anniversary
celebrations with the creation of the HKUST alumni song,
Fei Xiang (Soaring), and a fund-raising drive last autumn.
As added encouragement, University Council Chairman
Dr Vincent H S Lo pledged to support the drive with a
"Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Scheme". With $15,600
donated by alumni and matching funds from Dr Lo, the
total raised came to $31,200. The money will be used to
Vice-President for Academic Affairs appointed
Prof Yuk-Shee Chan was appointed Vice-President for Academic
It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all
those around can warm up in its glowing. Let's kindle the
"giving" spirit within all HKUST alumni – and keep it
growing. New programs providing ways for alumni to give
will take place in the coming months. We will be counting
Recognition
on your support!
• Prof Nancy Ip has been elected Academician of the Chinese Academy
of Science (CAS), the highest academic honor bestowed to a Chinese
Your generosity
scientist. Prof Ip is the Associate Dean of Science, Head and Professor of
Huge thanks to the alumni listed below (in alphabetical
the Department of Biochemistry, and Director of the Biotechnology
order) for their donations to the autumn fund-raiser. Thanks
Research Institute at HKUST.
also to those who prefer to remain anonymous.
• Prof Ping Sheng, Head of the Department of Physics, has been named
Leader of the Year for Technology by the Sing Tao Group.
• Prof Ping K Ko, Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, has
been awarded the 2002 IEEE Solid-State Circuits Award for the
development of device models used for IC design. He shares the award with
Prof Chenming Hu of UC Berkeley.
• Business School moves up...again!
Just one year after it placed 48th in the Financial Times 2001 MBA
rankings of the world's top business schools, HKUST's School of Business and
Ms Cheung Yuet Fun
Mr Chiew Tse Vun
Mr Chung Kam Wing
Mr Lam Siu Kei
Mr Lau Chun Tak
Mr Lo Wah Chi
Mr Sum Chi Wing
Ms Wan Pui Shan Sophia
Management has moved up the list to 47. It remains the only university
1996 BBA(MGTO)
1995 MSc(CIVL)
2001 BEng(ELEC&CPEG)
1994 BEng(ELEC)
1995 MPhil(CHEM)
2000 BBA(MGTO)
2001 BEng(COMP)
1994 BSc(BIOL)
in Asia to be included in this prestigious top-50 list.
====ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni News is published quarterly by
HKUST’s Office of University Development
and Public Affairs (OUDPA), focusing on
alumni information, activities and services,
and highlights of the University’s
development.
Design and Production
Publishing Technology Center, HKUST
Editorial Advisory Group
Terri Lai (OUDPA)
Michelle Cheung (OUDPA)
Parker Lau (HKUST Alumni Association)
Mavis Lee (HKUST Alumni Association)
Editors
Amy Yap (Chinese editor)
Sally Course (English editor)
OUDPA reserves the right to publish and
edit any material submitted for publication.
Views expressed in this Alumni News by
individual contributors do not necessarily
represent those of the University. Please
acknowledge source when any part of the
Alumni News is quoted.
The next issue of Alumni News will
be published in June 2002.
Please send your contributions
by 20 April 2002.
Alumni Relations Section, OUDPA
Room 1364, Academic Building,
Hong Kong University of
Science and Technology,
Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Phone: (852) 2358 6316
Fax: (852) 2358 0537
E-mail: alumni@ust.hk
Website: http://www.ust.hk/alumni
PTC - G9128
8
Affairs in December 2001. Prof Chan was founding Dean of HKUST's
School of Business and Management and has led the School to worldclass status and number one ranking in Asia in just a decade.
set up four scholarships, one for each School.