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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, today (January 13) visited the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to learn about its progress in science and technology research.
Accompanied by the President of PolyU, Professor Timothy W Tong, Mr So toured the Industrial Centre and was briefed on various research activities at the university. These included anti-cancer drug research, Nu-Torque singles ring yarn technology for the textile sector, the Exoskeleton Hand Robotic Training Device for stroke patients to recover their hand functions and optical sensor technology for enhancing structural safety of high-speed rail, as well as the Mega-Structure Diagnostic and Prognostic System for monitoring the structural health of large-scale infrastructure.
PolyU also introduced the newly established Aviation Services Research Centre (ASRC). The Centre, co-founded by PolyU and Boeing Corporate, seeks to develop new or improved aviation service technologies applicable to the aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry.
Mr So watched a demonstration of using the latest technology in turbine blades refurbishment which increases the efficiency of aero-engine maintenance.
Mr So said he hopes that the ASRC will further enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness in the MRO industry, which is a long-growing and high-profit-generating business.
During his visit, Mr So showed special interest in the Camera Pointing System jointly developed by PolyU researchers led by Professor Yung Kai-leung and the China Academy of Space Technology.
This sophisticated space tool is the first instrument made and developed in Hong Kong that has been deployed for China's lunar exploration programme since its launch in 2007. It successfully landed on the moon's surface last month following the launch of the Chang'e-3 lunar probe.
Professor Yung showed Mr So how the Camera Pointing System, mounted on the upper part of the lander, moved and rotated to capture images of the moon and movement of the rover released by Chang'e-3 to explore the lunar surface.
Mr So said at the end of the tour that the research projects he had seen today were very exciting ones. He congratulated PolyU on its achievements and said he hopes that researchers would keep up with their good work and make valuable contributions to Hong Kong's technological advancement.
Ends/Monday, January 13, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:37
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