CityU EngD Society Annual Dinner cum Prof. Bieng Chuah Retirement Celebration 2019

The CityU Engineering Doctorate (EngD) Society in the Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (SEEM) was organized Annual Dinner cum Prof. Bieng Chuah Retirement Celebration on 30^th Mar 2019. Before the Annual Dinner and Celebration, our chairman announced the EngD Society Transformation Plan.  

Our Society President - Dr. Herbert Yeung (Cohort 2004) announced that we would transform our CityU alumni association to be company limited by guarantee.  We were also planning to apply charitable institutions under Chapter 88 and to locate in Science Park.

During the discussion, our Founding President - Dr. WH Fok shared the aim of EngD Society and asked us to consider another EngD program in CityU for Civil and Architectural Engineering.  Dr. Yeung said we had considered and included them in our Memorandum of Association. 

Prof. Kuo Way (President, CityU) arrived and gave a good new to us.  EngD (Engineering Management) had located under College of Engineering. He said EngD(EM) is a great program in CityU.

Dr. Amie Lai is only lady in EngD Program.  Prof. Kuo encourage us to invite more Amie to join our program. 

Then we took a group photo for memory.

Dr. Bieng Chuah was invited to share this CityU live and feeling.

Meeting with Prof. Zhen-Song Chen for Promoting Extenics

Dr. KS Chin and I had a tea meeting with Prof. Zhen-Song Chen on 27^th Mar 2019 in City University of Hong Kong.  Zhen-Song Chen (陈振颂) is Associate Professor in School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University (武汉大学土木建筑工程学院工程管理系特聘副研究员/硕导) and he had also be Postdoctoral Fellow in SEEM Dept., CityU from 2016 to 2017.  We are planning to visit Wuhan University in next month.

Then I briefed the Extenics and Extension Innovation Method.  Prof. Cai Wen is the founder of the new discipline-Extenics.  Since 1976, he has been engaged in the study on the theories and methods for processing incompatible problems. He published the paper of “Extension Set and Non-compatibility Problems” in 1983 founding a new discipline-Extenics (Originally called “Matter-element Analysis”).  

In addition, Dr. KS Chin and I were fellow in the Research Institute of Extenics and Innovation Methods, GDUT. (特聘為廣東工業大學可拓學與創新方法研究所兼職研究員)

Reference:

Extenics - http://extenics.gdut.edu.cn/index.htm

Prof. Zhen-Song Chen - http://civ.whu.edu.cn/info/1374/4821.htm

HKPC x MIT HK Innovation Node Seminar on “The Iterative Innovation Process”

I had joined the seminar named “The Iterative Innovation Process” co-organized by HKPC and MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node on 27^th Mar 2019.  I recognized Prof. Eugene A. Fitzgerald who is the Merton C. Flemings SMA Professor of Material Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and also CEO & Director of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART).  He is a founding lecturer in MIT’s new Innovation and Entrepreneurship Minor, and served on the MIT President’s Committee for the Innovation Initiative, as well as, the President’s Committee on the Future of MIT Education.

In the beginning, Prof. Eugene A. Fitzgerald briefed their objectives and topics to be discussed.  He said “You cannot perform innovation in an hour since innovation process takes years (incremental) to decades (fundamental).”  He also introduced his book named “Inside Real Innovation” and planning for the second edition. Prof. Fitzgerald asked “Why should people care about Innovation?” It is because of Growth or Death problem. (Lotto remark: Quality is a matter of Life or Death. So Innovation is a matter of Growth or Death.)

The Prof. Fitzgerald used a figure “Feeling the Elephant” to explain different people had different meaning of innovation.  He said it was not just invention or science or entrepreneurship.  His definition of innovation is “Useful embodiments of ideas in the marketplace”. It is a basic human process that delivers value in the market place.  He also added innovation efficiency was not equal to operational efficiency.

Then he introduced the basic elements of innovation that included Market Application (M), Technology (T) and Implementation (I).  In real world, there are uncertainty in each element that is non-linear process.  

CMATCL & HKSTP Meeting for reindustrialization

Per my first boss and friend Mr. Dominic Lam request, I arranged a meeting between CMA Testing and Certification Laboratory and HKSTP – Advanced Manufacturing for reindustrialization opportunity on 27th Mar 2019.

(Left: Mr. Raymond Wong, Mr. Dominic Lam, I and Mr. YK Lau (Assistant GM, Business Development, CMATCL))

Firstly, Dr. HL Yiu (Head of Advanced Manufacturing, HKSTP) introduced reindustrialization policy in HKSTP and recently development & support such as Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) and Data Technology Hub, as well as, IE 2.0 policy.

Then CMATCL team explained their ideas for service CMA’s corporate members (~4000) transformation need. We were happy for discussing synergy opportunity.  I represented HKSQ to discuss about Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme (RTTP) that could help tenants and CMA’s members.

HKQAA Green Finance Certification Scheme Presentation Ceremony cum Forum 2019

I was honor to be invited as VIP represented Hong Kong Society for Quality to attend Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) Green Finance Certification Scheme Presentation Ceremony cum Forum 2019 on 25^th Mar 2019.  Green Finance is a strategic tool for promoting the economic development and regional cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and along the Belt and Road. In keeping with the development of the national Green Finance policy and being supported by the Hong Kong SAR Government, HKQAA has taken the lead to develop the Green Finance Certification Scheme to provide third-party conformity assessments for Green Finance issuers since 2016.  Before the ceremony, I met many HKQAA friends and we took some photos for memory.

Photo with Mr. Wong Ka Wo, Simon (Deputy Chairman, HKQAA), Mr. Bryne Pang and Ms. Bess Choi.

Photo with Mr. Calvin Luk, Ms. Bess Choi and Mr. Edmond Fung.

Photo with Mr. Adams Wong

Photo with Ms. Meico Cheong

I met cohort of CityU Eminence Society Dr. Wilson Chan (Associate Director of MBA Programme, CityU) and he was one of panelists in the forum.

I also met my teacher Dr. CN Ng (Associate Professor, Dept. of Geography, HKU) during my study HD and MPhil.

Before the event start, I visit the HKEX Exhibition Hall.

Today’s Hang Seng Index was observed.

In the beginning, Ir Dr Hon Lo Wai Kwok (Chairman of HKQAA) gave the welcoming remarks. He said green finance was also acting as a strategic tools for promoting economic development and regional cooperation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and along the Belt and Road.

The Hon Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, GBM, GBS, JP, (The Acting Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) gave the opening remarks.  He said that Hong Kong government placed a high priority on developing the economy on a sustainable basis and on becoming a regional hub for green finance.

Then group photos were taken.

(Left: Mr. Wong Ka Wo, Simon, Mr Wong Kam-sing (Secretary for the Environment), Ir C S Ho, The Hon Matthew Cheung Kin-chung (The Acting CE, HKSAR), Ir Dr Hon Lo Wai Kwok, Mr James Henry Lau (Secretary for Financial) and Dr Michael P H Lam)

Then HKQAA board members with guests took a group photo

The first speaker was Dr. Nigel H Croft (Chairman of ISO Technology Subcommittee (ISO/TC 176/SC2); Associate Technical Director of HKQAA) using video presentation and his topic was “ISO 14030 – The Upcoming First ISO Standard for Green Bonds).  Firstly, Dr. Nigel Croft introduced HKQAA achievements such as accredited by Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (2011), Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index (2014), Observer of Green Bond Principles under International Capital Market Association (ICMA) (2018) and Approved Verifier under Climate Bonds Standard (2018).  

CityU President's Lecture series - Big Data Analysis & AI: Opportunities & Challenges

The President's Lecture Series: Excellence in Academia offers a platform for CityU academics to discuss wide-ranging academic investigations with students, faculty and staff across the CityU community.  Big data and machine learning are currently two main techniques used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications.  A historical review of AI and explain the basic principles of data classification and machine learning methods would be discussed in this lecture.  Before the lecture, I took a photo with guest speaker Prof. Hong Yan for memory.

I also met CityU President Prof. Way Kuo and my old colleague Mr. Spencer Chan (Sr. Manager, Business Development, HKSTP).

Professor Hong Yan (Chair Professor of Computer Engineering, CityU) was our guest speaker and his topic named “Big Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges”.

In the beginning, he introduced where data come from such as multimedia, business observation, R&D, etc. Camera especially digital camera was sensor for data acquisition.  (Remark: The mirror image showed the full house of participants.)

Then Prof. Yan then introduced the history of AI from 1950s to present.  After 2011, big data and deep learning became the hot topics in AI.  

Prof. Yan mentioned the 4^th industrial revolution in which 100 startups using AI to transform industries. He stated expert system advantage on using intuitive rules but noise sensitive.  

HKSQ Dinner for congratulating Angela wedding

During the 4^th HKSQ Exco meeting on 21^st Mar 2019, we knew that our vice-chairlady Ms. Angela Wong had married.  So HKSQ exco arranged a dinner for congratulating Angela wedding. 

(Left: Ricky Suen, Ben Tsang, Peter Fung, I, Minda Chiang, Jane Wong and Angela Wong)

Reference:

HKSQ - http://www.hksq.org/index.asp

Briefing on Applications to Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS)

The Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (“PASS”) for organizing professional exchange, promotion and training projects was launched by the Government to directly fund industry-led projects for promotion and development of Hong Kong's professional services.  HKSQ was invited for this briefing session on 21^st Mar 2019 in Central Government Offices.

Ms. Fion Chow and Ms. Rachel Chow were PASS representative to explain the scheme to us.  The briefed the background of PASS which was approved by Legco for $200 million in July 2016 and the first round to application in Nov 2016. 

Government supported profession service aimed as below:

1.      Improving market access

2.      Spearheading market promotion

3.      Enhancing standards and external competitiveness

Where PASS is part of such services and it has three objectives:

1.      Increasing exchanges and co-operation

2.      Promoting publicity activities

3.      Enhancing standards and external competitiveness

A wide range of professional sectors are eligible for PASS, including accounting, legal, building and construction, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, amongst others.  

HKSQ is belong to others such as business consultancy, technical testing and analysis.

Maximum PASS grant for each approved project is HK$3 million or 90% of the total eligible project cost, whichever is lower.

And then the application process was mentioned.

Finally, they briefed the application and assessment cycle and the coming deadline was 31 May 2019 (10^th round).  

During Q&A, we asked the procurement requirement that 2 quotations under HK$50k and 5 quotations over HK$50k.  For university, 5% contribution come from venue and teacher’s time but another 5% should be come from industry cash sponsor.  For NGO, 10% contribution could be in cash or in kind (man hour & venue).

Reference:

PASS - https://www.pass.gov.hk/en/home/index.html

Chu Hai College Public Talk on Uzbekistan: On the Reform Path

Chu Hai College of Higher Education organized a Public Talk named “Uzbekistan: On the Reform Path” on 19^th Mar 2019.  Uzbekistan has been considered to be the coming geostrategic hub of the Central and of the Eurasian landmass as a whole.  This seminar introduced their economic revitalization that opens the window to Uzbekistan and to the Central Asia. Before the talk, I took a photo with Dr CHAN Man Hung, Thomas (Director, One Belt One Road Research Institute (OBORRI), Chu Hai College of Higher Education) for memory.

It is my first time visited Chu Hai College of Higher Education.  The new campus was established in 2016 and its building cost and land were supported by Jockey Club and Government respectively. 

The Chu Hai College of Higher Education founded in 1947.  The name of the College was explained in the following diagram.

Prof. Lap-Chee Tsui (President, ASHK) had serviced in the college in 1972.

I recognized a new friend Mr. Stephen Chan (Deputy President, The Association of Hong Kong Accountants (AHKA); Chief Consultant, Trinity-C Management Ltd.).

In the beginning, Prof. CF Lee (President, Chu Hai College of Higher Education) gave a welcome speech.

Then Dr Thomas Chan introduced the guest speaker Prof. Komiljon Karimov who has been Rector of Westminster International University in Tashkent from Mar 2015.  He had worked at UN agencies such as UNESCO and UNICEF where he dealt with the development challenges in the area of education and healthcare.  He has an extensive research interest and experience in the field of international education.  Prof. Karimov holds a PhD degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent.

Prof. Komiljon Karimov (Rector, Westminster International University in Tashkent) presented the topic “Uzbekistan: On the Reform Path”.