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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Grand Opening of the Faculty of Medicine Building of the University of Hong Kong today (April 29):
Dr Fung, Professor Cheng, Professor Lam, guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to be here at the Grand Opening of the Faculty of Medicine Building of the University of Hong Kong.
The University of Hong Kong traces its roots to the former Hong Kong College of Medicine established in 1887. Being one of the oldest universities in Asia, the University of Hong Kong has made tremendous contribution to the development of Hong Kong, nurturing generations and generations of distinguished local academics, scientists, professionals and social and community leaders. It has also established itself as one of the pre-eminent centres of learning and research institutions in Asia.
The Faculty of Medicine has the mission to promote the advancement of teaching and research in medicine and to produce medical professionals who are ready to rise to the challenges of the 21st century. In so doing, the Faculty plays a key role in promoting health and patient care, benefitting and serving the people of Hong Kong, the rest of China and the international community. The mission of the Faculty is important to the well being of our future and is shared and supported by the whole community.
As Professor Lam said a moment ago, the 21st century will be a biomedical century. With the rapid advances and breakthroughs in molecular and genomic technologies, rapidly unfolding before us are new horizons and opportunities for the discovery of new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, which will enable us to both live longer and enjoy a better quality of life. The Council of Advisers on Innovation and Technology has identified biomedical research together with IC design, nanotechnology, and service automation, as the four niches in the knowledge based global economy which Hong Kong has the potential and strength to excel.
In respect of biomedical research, the Council has recommended that following the rapid rise in affluence of the population in Asia, particularly in the Mainland of China, there will be a growing demand for quality medical and healthcare services in the region. Hong Kong is particularly well positioned to become a leader in the niche area of biomedical research and development of treatment to diseases that are unique to or common among Chinese and Asian people. Research in this important new medical frontier will not only contribute to the well being of mankind and the Chinese people in particular, but will also create a new economic driver for Hong Kong in the 21st century.
I am most encouraged that the Faculty of Medicine is repositioning itself to take up this new challenge. The Faculty has already established a number of top notch research institutes, including the Research Centre of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the best and the most advanced Clinical Trials Centre in the region, and the world renowned HKU-Pasteur Research Centre on microbiology, bringing Hong Kong to the forefront of biomedical research. I am delighted that a Genome Research Centre will be established as part of this new Medical Building and I am most encouraged and honoured that we are able to attract Dr Tsui Lap-chee, one of the world's top experts in genomic research and a Hong Kong belonger to come back to be its director. The Centre, which we will have the privilege of visiting in a minute, will lead the genomic research in Hong Kong, South China and the region. The research will facilitate the translation of the knowledge of genes, the proteins they encode, and their functions into applications for the understanding of disease mechanisms. The opening of the new Faculty of Medicine Building and the establishment of the state-of-the-art research facilities like the Genome Research Centre and other world class research laboratories that are likely to follow will create a cluster of advanced research facilities to promote collaboration and cooperation among research institutions in Hong Kong. It will also help attract the world's top scientists and researchers like Dr Tsui Lap-chee to come and work in Hong Kong and add to our capability in scientific research and discovery.
The Grand Opening of the new Faculty of Medicine Building today marks a significant milestone in the development of the faculty and a new era in medical education and research in Hong Kong. The fine architecture of the new building makes it a new landmark in the area. The project would not have been possible without the support from the University Grants Committee, and donations from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and other benefactors. It has set a fine example of the concerted efforts of the Government and the different sectors of the society in pursuing a project which contributes to the well being of Hong Kong. I hope to see more and more community partnership in educational and scientific research projects in future.
I congratulate the University, members of the Faculty of Medicine and all those who have contributed to bringing this magnificent project into fruition, on their vision and commitment to promoting medical education and research in Hong Kong. Taking pride of its accomplishment in the past century, I am confident that both the University of Hong Kong and the Faculty of Medicine will scale new heights in the nurturing of talents, in supporting innovation and technology as one of Hong Kong's important economic drivers, and in the pursue of cutting edge of biomedical research for the benefit of mankind.
Thank you.
End/Monday, April 29, 2002
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