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Local scientists receive State Science and Technology awards
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    The capability of scientific talent in Hong Kong has been recognised with one first-class and four second-class awards conferred on local scientists under the 2005 State Science and Technology Awards (SSTAs) announced today (January 9) by the National Office of Science and Technology Awards at the award presentation ceremony in Beijing.

     The first-class SSTAs award is for the category of State Scientific and Technological Progress Award (SSTPA) and the four second-class awards are for the category of State Natural Science Award (SNSA).

     This is the first time that a local scientist has received a first-class award under SSTA. More than 800 entries competed for the 2005 SSTPA which is conferred on people working in the fields of science and technology and who have made outstanding contributions in the implementation of technology development projects and social public welfare projects. The project, entitled "Adult-to-adult Right Lobe Live Donor Liver Transplantation" carried out by Professor Fan Sheung-tat, Professor Lo Chung-mau, Professor Liu Chi-leung and Dr Chan See-ching of the Department of Surgery of the University of Hong Kong, is one of the 18 conferred first-class awards.

     Liver transplant is the most effective treatment for patients with terminal liver diseases but the application is limited by the low organ donation rate in Hong Kong.  The other possible source of liver grafts is from a living person but its application in adult recipients was limited because it was thought that a person could donate only a left lobe but the left lobe is generally too small for most adult recipients. The liver transplant team led by Professor Fan successfully refined the surgical technique of live donor liver transplantation and extended the procedure to adult patients using the right lobe liver graft. With this major breakthrough, the problems of organ shortage in adult patients and graft size limitation in live donor liver transplantation were overcome. At the end of 2005, Professor Fan was elected a member of Chinese Academy of Engineering which is the highest academic title in engineering science and technology on the Mainland.

     Four other entries from Hong Kong were given the second-class award in the 2005 SNSA.

     Professor Lee Shuit-Tong of City University of Hong Kong was awarded for his research project on "Oxide-assisted synthesis of one-dimensional semiconductor nanomaterials and applications". Prof Lee's team undertook a systematic study of the synthesis, characterisation and applications of semiconductor one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials, and developed a unique method for 1D nanomaterials synthesis - oxide-assisted growth (OAG).  Using this technique, a wide variety of nanowires can be produced in high quality, large quantity, with preferential growth direction, uniform size, length and diameter. This is the second time Prof Lee has received a SNSA second-class award.

     Another award was conferred on Prof Dennis Lo Yuk Ming of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.  His research into "Biology and Diagnostic Applications of Fetal Nucleic Acids in Maternal Plasma" is recognised as being at the forefront of the field and having major impact on prenatal diagnosis.  Specifically, his work has led to the discovery that fetal DNA is present in the blood plasma of a pregnant woman, and thus the development of the methodology for the extraction, analysis and measurement of such circulating fetal DNA, which is also applied to non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.  Prof Lo's discovery that maternal plasma also contained fetal RNA also opened up new research and diagnostic opportunities.  Prof Lo's research has been supported by the Government's Innovation and Technology Fund which aims to promote innovation and technological upgrading of Hong Kong's industry.

     Prof Vivian Yam Wing-wah of the University of Hong Kong was awarded for her project on "Molecular Design and Luminescence Studies of Transition Metal Complexes with Alkynyl-and Chalcogen-Containing Ligands" funded by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong.  It has initiated world-class research via chemical synthesis and molecular design studies of luminescent carbon-rich metal alkynyl complexes and metal-chalcogen clusters, which are promising materials for the fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes, molecular electronics and luminescent sensory devices. Prof Yamˇ¦s discovery of new classes of luminescent organometallics and metal clusters has initiated, popularised and promoted the growth and development of an emerging branch of research in the field.

     The fourth SNSA second-class award was conferred on Prof Albert Chan Sun-Chi of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.  His research, entitled "Novel Chiral Ligands: Design, Preparation and Their Applications in Asymmetric Catalytic Reactions", is an interdisciplinary research area between organic and inorganic chemistry.  Through the studies of the mechanism of asymmetric hydrogenation, Prof Chan's team identified that one of the key factors for achieving good enantioselectivities in asymmetric catalysis was to introduce conformational rigidity in the ligand design.  A variety of structurally diverse and novel ligands have been synthesised and applied to a number of asymmetric organic reactions.  Prof Chan has devoted his time to combining basic research with practical applications, and his studies are at the forefront of the area.  

     A Government spokesman said the awards fully reflected the professional ability of local scientists.

     "The outstanding results demonstrate Hong Kong's strengths and capabilities in both basic and applied research and development (R&D).  It also further affirms the efforts by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in promoting innovation and technology. Their achievements will encourage the local R&D community and help stimulate our younger generation's interest in pursuing science and technology," he said.

     Organised by the State Council of the People's Republic of China,the SSTAs are highly prestigious awards in the science and technology fields on the Mainland which aim to reward citizens and organisations that have made outstanding contributions in scientific and technological progress activities. There are five categories for SSTAs. Besides SSTPA and SNSA, the other three categories are State Technological Invention Award (STIA); State Pre-eminent Science and Technology Award; and International Scientific and Technological Co-operation Award of the People's Republic of China.

     The HKSAR Government has been invited by the National Office of Science and Technology Awards to co-ordinate and submit nominations from the HKSAR for the categories of STIA, SSTPA and SNSA.  The Innovation and Technology Commission is responsible for the nomination of the STIA and SSTPA in Hong Kong. The nomination work of the SNSA in HKSAR is co-ordinated by the Education and Manpower Bureau with the help of the Research Grants Council and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre.

     "We congratulate the awardees on their achievements and encourage them to keep up their good work," the spokesman added.

Ends/Monday, January 9, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:48

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