Fung Scholars Network Newsletter Dec 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM EDITOR 3

FOUNDATION UPDATES 4

COMMUNITY UPDATES

HONG KONG CHAPTER 9 LONDON CHAPTER STANLEY MITCHELL FS2015/16 THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD 12 BEIJING CHAPTER & SHANGHAI CHAPTER 13

REMARKABLE MOMENT – EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE

CONNIE WONG FS2021/22 THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY 14 DRAGON LO FS2021/22 THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG 16 SHERYL WONG FS2021/22 THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG 18 XIANGRUI QU FS2021/22 PEKING UNIVERSITY 21

CAREER/ PROJECT SHARING

PRISCILLA CHAN FS2013/14 THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG FROM SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TO PE/VC 23 ANDY WONG FS2021/22 CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG START UP PROJECT - WHEEL REAL EXPERIENCE 25

ARTS & CULTURAL

XIAOYU LIU FS2015/16 PEKING UNIVERSITY A GLIMPSE OF THE 20S 27

MESSAGE FROM EDITOR 29

MESSAGE FROM EDITOR

Hello, it gives me a great pleasure to present to you the 20th issue of the Fung Scholars Networking Newsletter! The Fung Scholars & Fellows network is growing rapidly, and it has connected bright minds across disciplines, industries and geographic locations. On behalf of the editorial team, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the continuous support provided by our Foundation. I would also like to thank endeavors of all writers and editors that make this edition possible.

In this edition of the newsletter, we have invited numerous writers from around the globe to share their inspiring exchange experience and career stories. These articles show the courage and wisdom of Fung scholars in the post-pandemic world. The spread of highly contagious Omicron variant has led to renewed concerns and frustrated hopes of returning to normal life. Looking back on history, sometimes disruption that shook our society to the core has also opened new possibilities for our future. Therefore, in confronting challenges brought by COVID-19, we hope this newsletter can give you a sense of support after reading.

The Editorial Board would like to thank all the writers who have contributed to the diverse topics and opinions include in this newsletter.

We would like to add that the Editorial Board and Victor and William Fung Foundation take no responsibility for the views expressed in this publication. Thank you for your continued support and if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact me (pchen@ofcapital.com) or JennyAnn (jennyannchan@fungfoundation.org). If you have something you would like to share with our fellow Fung Scholars, please do not hesitate to contribute to our next edition.

Priscilla Chan

(FS2013/14, Xiamen University)

FOUNDATION UPDATE

Fung Scholars Online Career Sharing Session

A total of 24 Online Sharing Sessions were organized since Feb 2020. Our Fung Scholar speakers from different regions, years and fields shared with our fellow Fung Scholars their interests, personal and career experiences. The sharing sessions have benefited nearly 500 Fung Scholars. Thanks to all our Fung Scholar speakers for their efforts and contributions.

In 2022, there are two major sharing themes: Career Sharing and Sustainability

DATE SPEAKER

12 MAR JENIFA CHAN

YEAR & TOPIC

FS2007/07, LINGNAN UNIVERSITY

TOPIC: HUMAN RESOURCE INDUSTRY

02 APR CHATHURI WEERASINGHE FS2014/15, ASIAN UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN APARAJITA CHAKABORTY FS2014/2015, ASIAN UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN

TOPIC: ASIAN UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN FUNG SCHOLARS SHARING - CAREER EXPERIENCES AND INSPIRATIONS

30 APR RITA ZHANG FS2021/22, HARVARD UNIVERSITY

TOPIC: WORKING FOR FORTUNE 500: ESSENTIAL INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

28 MAY MARCUS TONG FS2013/14, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HK

TOPIC: SUSTAINABILITY SERIES: FOREST MANAGEMENT IN SWEDEN

03 JUNE WILSON CHEUNG

FS2008/09, HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

TOPIC: SUSTAINABILITY SERIES: WORKING AS A POLAR EXPEDITION

Asian University for Women Fung Scholars sharingCareer experience and inspirations

Working for Fortune 500: Essential Interpersonal skills

Fung Scholars Online Career Sharing Session FOUNDATION UPDATE

Welcome new Fung Scholars from Hong

Kong, Mainland China, and Singapore.

This academic year, we have over 200 Fung Scholars from Hong Kong, Mainland China and Singapore. Online and in-person gatherings were organized to welcome our new Fung Scholars to the Fung Scholars & Fellows community.

Pre-departure gathering for Fung Scholars from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Glen See (FS2021/22, Singapore Management University) visiting the Foundation

On 3 Jun, Wilson shared with our Fung Scholars his extraordinary life in the polar region and his polar and space research at the Fung Scholars Online Sharing Session - Frontier of Unknown, From Polar Expeditions to Beyond Earth. Very positive feedback from the participants.

Our Fung Scholar Wilson Cheung (FS2008/09, Hong Kong Baptist University) is being selected as one of the Explorers Club’s “50 Explorers Changing the World” in 2022 for his polar research and expeditions achievement.

The Explorers Club is a non-profit world leader in exploration. Members of the Club have traversed the earth, the seas, the skies, and even the moon, on expeditions of exploration. The Explorers Club 50, an honorary program of trailblazing explorers, scientists, artists, and activists spanning the globe. These honorees are exploring, inspiring, and creating the future of our planet.

Wilson is the first Hong Kong person to obtain this achievement. He has been working as a polar expedition and Mountain & Ski Safety consultant after graduating from Hong Kong Baptist University in 2010. He was awarded the Fung Scholarship in 2008/09 to support his exchange to Kazakhstan. He is also a Glaciology PhD student.

"Wilson Wai-Yin Cheung's ambition is to contribute to our knowledge of the polar regions. During his ten-year career, he has conducted many scientific expeditions under trying conditions and has accumulated over 1000 days of field experience in polar regions."

The Explorer Club 50 2022- Fifty People Changing The World, The World Needs To Know About, Page 39.

COMMUNITY UPDATE

Hong Kong Chapter

On Dec 2021, 38 Hong Kong Fung Scholars gathered to celebrate Christmas at Explorium, Hong Kong. This was the first in-person event of the Hong Kong Chapter since the pandemic started.

Bingo! Fung Scholars played bingo and other ice-breaking games to get to know

Vanessa Mok (FS2009/10, The Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Dorothy Mak (FS2007/08, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) from Australia, Cathy Ng (FS2012/13, The Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Pamela Wong (FS2013/14, The Chinese University of Hong Kong) from Paris

Gift Exchange

joined the gathering through Zoom to share their updates.

The participants had a great time at the party. It’s great to be able to gather again and to make new friends.

On 14 April, the Hong Kong Chapter initiated a Hong Kong Fung Scholars Online Casual Update Sharing for the local Fung Scholars to get together. In the session, the Fung Scholars took turn to share their updates and to discuss the upcoming plans of the Hong Kong Chapter.

Mitchell (FS2015/16, University of Oxford)

After a difficult two years, it was with great excitement that we announced the first UK Chapter meetup. Interest was high following the wellattended annual Fung Scholars meeting, this time online.

Inspired by some of the connections and conversations from that event (FS2009/10,Singapore Management University) myself set out to reinvigorate our local scholar associations. For UK based Fung scholars, with the end of COVID restrictions, the 28th of January was the perfect time to meet.

For most of the scholars, this was the first Fung Scholars' event they had ever had the opportunity to attend in person. It was fantastic to meet so many current scholars and alumni from previous years. There really is no substitute for real conversations to highlight the incredible diversity of the Fung Scholars association. We had scholars who worked in sectors from quantum computing and biotech, to crypto. It was wonderful to spend the evening getting to know just some of the exceptional Fung Scholars based in London. But this is just the beginning! This summer we will be hosting a follow-up event, and hopefully meeting even more of the UK Fung Scholars community.

Stanley

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Fung Scholars Beijing and Shanghai chapter organized a New Year Gathering on 26 and 27 Feb 2022 respectively. The events were attended by Fung Scholars from mainland China and Hong Kong across different batches.

BEIJING CHAPTER:

Eve Zhang (FS2018/19, Xiamen University): We spent an unforgettable and enjoyable evening. We talked about our exchange experiences and career planning while tasting Beijing cuisine. It was such a valuable opportunity for the Hong Kong and Beijing Fung Scholars to gather and exchange ideas.

Teresa Song (FS2018/19, Tsinghua University): I attended a dinner party with Fung Scholars in Beijing over the weekend and met many new friends. We shared our past life and study experiences in Hong Kong and enjoyed a very delicious dinner. All in all, we had a great evening!

BEIJING SHANGHAI

SHANGHAI CHAPTER:

Michael Chong (FS2021/22, Hong Kong Baptist University) : As a new Fung Scholar, interacting with a group of welcoming seniors who willingly shared their stories in their study and career paths was pure gold for me. They were encouraging all the way as I told them my ambitions and goals and gave me constructive advice based on their past experience. Getting to know their views on the Mainland and Hong Kong also showed me a different perspective of various issues, helping me better understand what I want to achieve in the future. One thing is for sure: I found my second home at Fung Scholars.

If you are interested in helping to arrange future Fung Scholars event in your region, please get in touch with JennyAnn Chan (jennyannchan@fungfoundation.org)

REMARKABLE MOMENTS

CONNIE

WONG

(FS2021/22, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY)

MY EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE, MY JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION

I am Wong Sze Lam Connie, a second-year student majoring in Property Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. I am now on exchange at Tsinghua University and I would like to share my experience as well as journey of transformation with you.

PRE-DEPARTURE: DEPRESSED, WORRIED, SCARED

I was full of worry before the exchange. What if the pandemic situation got worse and I could not enter the school? What if I failed to catch up with the curriculum there? What if nobody could help me when I encounter problems?

MY QUARANTINE EXPERIENCE:

Dull, meaningless, boring…these were the words popping up in my mind when I knew that I had to stay in the quarantine hotel for 28 days before embarking on my exchange. However, my quarantine exceeded expectations. It turned out to be a special and enjoyable experience where I got to take a good rest there and temporarily escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was a blessing in disguise.

MY EXCHANGE:

Overall, it was an eye-opening experience, since Tsinghua University is very different from what I had experienced in Hong Kong.

For my studies, fortunately, we were able to hold face-to-face lessons and interact with teachers and classmates in person. Our assignments, which were given each week from the start-of-term, were dreadful and tiring at first. However, I soon adapted, and found it helpful for consolidating the knowledge learned.

I also enrolled in different courses and gained precious exposure to topics not covered by my major program. My favorite one was the interpretation class, through which I got the opportunity to be the interpreter of a formal conference. The experience was challenging but rewarding.

Some other highlights of my exchange included the massive student events organized by Tsinghua University. For example, we had the chance to attend DIY workshops, in which we made accessories representing Tsinghua University as souvenirs. We also had the opportunity to enjoy an orchestral concert at the university Grand Hall. These activities have added more colors to my exchange journey.

NOW: BRAVER, HEALTHIER, STRONGER

Why braver? Despite countless difficulties, I did not succumb to any of the problems and was able to experience a lot of new things by stepping out of my comfort zone. For instance, I was afraid of starting conversations and interacting with others, but I broke the ice actively and asking questions when there were problems that I could not solve.

Why healthier? On campus, I always see people exercising, and this prevailing energetic and sporty atmosphere influenced me to make changes. I used to be a couch potato who refused any sports. After I started running with a group of local students a few times, I developed the habit of running every day. It started from just a small adjustment, but this subtle decision had resulted in a big change to my lifestyle.

Why stronger? I learned to focus on myself instead of comparing with others, and not let anyone rush me with their time schedule. There has been serious involution among Mainland Chinese students, and I felt frustrated when I was the only one who failed to answer the questions in class. Although comparison is inevitable, I gradually changed my mindset. I know that I am not playing others’ games, nor should Inever measure myself by the rules and standards of success set by others. When I am comparing with myself and constantly improving myself, I am getting stronger day by day.

I also captured unforgettable memories and gained friendships that last a lifetime. The Fung Scholarship funded by the Victor and William Fung Foundation played an indispensable part in my exchange journey, allowing me to explore different things here and transform into a better person.

If you are going to have an exchange, don’t worry too much, and just enjoy yourself!

DRAGON LO (FS2021/22, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

My name is Lo Koon Kit Dragon. I am a penultimate year undergraduate law student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. I have been studying in Durham University as an exchange student for six months, and very soon I will be leaving the UK, the place I have started falling in love with. Coming to the UK has been one of the best decisions I have ever made because I had never been to the UK and this experience allows me to open my eyes.

Going on a year abroad, I am surprised to see how welcoming and open students are in the UK. I am surrounded by students of different ethnicities and nationalities, so I was able to make a great lot of lifelong friends from diverse backgrounds. It is great to have insights into different cultures and I consider those friends I met while on exchange as my closest ones. This made homesickness less of an issue.

Similar to CUHK, Durham University is a collegiate university with 17 colleges. It provides me with different opportunities to participate in a wide range of sports and activities at college level, just like joining a big family with a strong sense of community. I remember moving into my dormitory in Van Mildert College like it was yesterday. Thankfully, my room is very cozy and spacious with a magnificent view of a pleasant lake, and I can always see many wildlife including squirrels and ducks outside my room. Van Mildert College organizes many massive events for students including formal dinners, College Christmas and Bops which is an informal session of dancing to pop music, where students also take the stage to

perform. The event transformed the college into a massive themed-party with drinks, decorations and entertainment. These events provided me with an unrivaled experience outside my study and made the college a social hub. My college also has the largest dining hall in Durham and it is fully-catered. The most memorable event in Durham is the Lumiere Festival. It was a mega outdoor event with artwork, shows and light exhibitions. The highlight of the festival was a lightshow projected onto the exterior of Durham Cathedral accompanied by orchestral music. There was also extraordinary artwork made by LED bulbs, and it was spectacular to see hundreds of moving and illuminating figures in the historic city. The city was packed and bustling with visitors, the atmosphere was truly magical, and it was wonderful to see so many people out on the streets enjoying themselves.

Despite the on-going pandemic, almost all of my classes are in person so I have got a chance to interact with other students. The lecturers and professors made lessons enjoyable. I cannot imagine any other place where my academic knowledge could have been enhanced in such an exciting way. The thing I love most is the opportunity to travel to so many different amazing places.

If you have got the spirit for adventure, you will be sure to love a year abroad. I arranged several weeks in different cities during the Christmas break like Cambridge, London, York and Edinburgh. It was a great opportunity that changed my worldview and gave me an international outlook. This enriching experience prepares me for life in a global society.

So far, I am so glad to have chosen to do a year abroad as I have really enjoyed myself here! Going abroad to study is an amazing experience which I will cherish throughout my life. I am grateful for the opportunity and will remember it forever. It is really a lifechanging chapter and I know I will take any chance to come back to the UK.

My life has been tremendously transformed thanks to the scholarship awarded by the Victor and William Fund Foundation. It provided me with immense support so that I can have the wonderful opportunity to learn, to grow and to broaden my horizon.

If you are wondering whether to sign up for an exchange, take the leap! If you wish to learn more about my exchange experience, please my blog: www.dragonlo.com.

I travelled to London

I travelled to Edinburgh

I travelled to York

My friends and I at college bar My friends and I drinking at Lumiere

My best friends in Durham

My days in Durham The view from my room

WONG TSZ YEE, SHERYL (FS2021/22, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

In my last semester of college, I was honored to be elected as one of the Fung Scholars and given the chance to exchange at The Moody College in the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, which is renowned for its journalism program and vibrant learning environment. During my stay, I was immersed in a multicultural country where I was able to advance my spoken English while living my day-to-day life in a typical American college environment.

During the exchange, I took numerous advanced courses in the Moody College of Communication. Being one of the world’s best schools in journalism, Moody’s attention goes beyond local issues. I was exposed to more international debate during class discussion including but not limited to conflicts and wars, wealth gaps, gun issues, and LGBTQ rights, which really broadened my world view. I took the chance in my coursework to explore how it feels like to be a global journalist.

In August, the US government announced the withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan and soon the Taliban took over most of the major city in Afghanistan. Realizing most of the news coverage was mostly about Americans left behind in the cities of Afghanistan. Thus, I proposed to work on Afghans’ lives under the Taliban as my news documentary topics. Overcoming different ethical concerns arose and limited footage, Homeland, recording an Afghan lady’s struggle to leave her beloved city is documented. The documentary was screened in class and brought some

novel insights and angle to my American classmates, as we discussed in class.

I had also received great guidance from inspiring TAs and professors in Moody’s, they reminded me to pursue my passion in photojournalism. In the photojournalism course I was given weekly assignments to discover freely different parts of Austin. It was a joy to search and capture the urban development, the culture, and the people of the city. My term project was like nothing I have done before, and it was my first time to ever do underwater shooting and sports photography. Throughout the project, I followed a young Olympic diver in UT Austin to capture her intense training, study life and eventually the NCAA game, a national diving championship in the States. The photo project not only furnished my photographic styles and techniques, but also had a glimpse of the athletic training systems and support in the States. I am planning to continue the project, discovering the growth of the diver and the training system all around the world.

My exchange life beside journalism is equally magnificent. I took the Flamenco dance course which I hoped to learn gypsies’ culture and the history of flamenco dance. Proudly stepping out of my comfort zone, I transformed from the girl who has two left feet to a confident flamenco dancer. Meanwhile, I stayed in a student hostel and had a lot of great memories with all my local and international friends. In the dorm, we were encouraged to split chores with more than 70 people in the house. It was fun to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and cooking styles. I am proud to say my cooking skills have greatly improved ever since!

During the journey, all the students are opened to small talks and in-depth discussion, ranging from food, fun facts, travel to history, science, political spectrums and democracy

all around the world. For instance, we have a German student majoring in aerospace explaining the formation of geysers when we are visiting the Yellowstone National Park; Europeans and Asians discussing how is our understanding about WWII different from the point of view raised by the Museum in the States; Discovering New Orleans is actually one of the fastest sinking cities in the world when we are going on a road trip.

Throughout my time in Texas, I met with all kinds of multinational students who come from a range of countries and was lucky enough to even become close friends with a few amazing people, whom I know I can always keep in contact with even in the future when we no longer see each other as we did during my stay. The fact that I was able to even come close to getting an experience such as this is all thanks to the opportunity I was given to come live here in Austin and no other state aside from here could ever compare.

Our group chose underwater as our theme during Liquor Treat events hosted in halloween

Performing flamengo dance in class at the last day of school

Underwater shooting with the Olympic Division, Haley Hernandez in Joe and Jamail Swimming Center at UT Austin on 12 Nov 2021

A boy takes a nap with the cow that he raised after the livestock show in the Texas state fair on 9 October 2021

Racing in a desert in Arizona on 17 December 2021

Posing

Watching

My Hong Kong friends and I performing a dance during Friendsgiving Dinner in the dorm on November 2010

Visiting Yellow Stone National Park with students from the US, Germany, Czech, Portugal, Brazil, India, UK and Japan on 24 October

Visiting Brooklyn Bridge in New York with my Hong Kong classmate on 11 August 2021

in front of three sister mountain in Arizona on 16 December 2021

college football home games on 4 September 2021

Haley Hernandez on her 1-M spring board diving during NCAA on 13 March 2022

XIANGRUI QU (FS2021/22, PEKING UNIVERSITY)

In the spring semester of 2022, I went to the University of Hong Kong for exchange. During this time, I encountered the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. While most of the exchange students chose to fly back to their homeland or go on a vacation to other countries at the beginning of the outbreak, I took a bold choice to stay in Hong Kong for the rest of the semester. Now it seems like I had made a wise decision because I had an unforgettable and special experience in Hong Kong.

I felt overwhelmed by feelings of chaos and panic when the pandemic broke out in February 2022. I was living in the student residence hall and unfortunately, Omicron cases were found on the same floor I was living. The hall administrators locked down our floor immediately, yet their arrangements were disastrous. In the beginning, the administrators separated the infected students but due to the lack resources, all residents were not allowed to leave the floor. Sadly, sharing the bathroom was inevitable. In the following week, I witnessed the hallmates on the same floor were getting sick. With a severe lack of resources, no manpower could arrange food delivery but all residents had to arrange food order delivery collectively, twice in a day. During that time, the takeaway system was not running very smoothly, and it could have taken up to two hours. I was suffering from hunger and having irregular mealtimes over the week. Probably due to the limited manpower resource, we were the only floor that was locked down, despite there were positive cases in other floors as well.

After almost ten days of suffering, I was bursting with anger. According to the regulations of the university and the government, we were not supposed to be quarantined. We kept communicating to the administrators on the situation we faced and hoped they could give us an explanation and when we could end the quarantine. Sadly, the response we got was not as we expected. One day, we were told that the quarantine was over. I was so happy that I got outside immediately to breathe fresh air. But just a few hours later, they said there was an error in the notice, and we should return hall for quarantine. Since I was already outside, I decided to stay in a hotel for a week. Although the hotel room was much more expensive than usual due to the pandemic, I didn’t have to worry about the food issue anymore. Things began to get better during my stay in the hotel. The hall administrators suggested my hallmates to go home or stay in a hotel temporarily, so that they could cut off the transmission and arranged a separate floor for quarantine use. When we get back to our hall, things magically went on the right track. No one on my floor was infected or quarantined after that, and we almost returned to our normal hall life. Although Omicron cases were still found in the community, we felt as if the pandemic were over in the hall.

As the saying goes, it’s always darkest before dawn. After the tough two weeks, my life and study in Hong Kong began to get on track. I started to visit many places around Hong Kong and witnessed a different side of it. The popular-scenic spots like Victoria Harbor and Shek’O were quite empty, so was in the campus. The flow of people on campus was greatly reduced and I could easily find empty tables in the canteen and library. Bars and many shops were closed, and when the night fell, hardly there were any pedestrians on the streets. This is indeed a special experience, because many people have seen hustle and bustle of Hong Kong while few people have

seen her silence.

During my exchange, all the courses are taught online. My friends joked that I went to Zoom University for exchange. Over the screen, teachers and students naturally do not communicate as closely as before. Fortunately, some professors tried hard to liven up the classroom atmosphere and increase interaction and discussion. I also did my best to participate more in course discussions. What’s more, I think the meaning of exchange is not only to learn knowledge, but also to practice, communicate and cooperate with people from different cultures. I managed to make friends as well as gaining new knowledge through the courses. In addition, I really learned a lot from my teammates in group project. They reminded me of the importance of research ethics and the respect for minority groups. When we were working on a questionnaire, my teammates emphasized that the questionnaire should not make the respondents feel offended and be careful on research ethics. As such, in the questionnaire, we offered a variety of gender options and gave respondents the option of not answering some relatively sensitive questions. With the joint efforts of all group members, we made our project an exquisite academic work. It really gave me a sense of reward and satisfaction when the professor highly praised our project in the final presentation. During the last few weeks of my exchange, I witnessed Hong Kong’s gradual recovery from the darkest moments. With the gradual ease of the restrictions, the streets became more crowded. I could tell from my delivery app that many restaurants had reopened. On the subway, on the bus, and along the Victoria Harbor, the crowds of the past reappeared. I also went to visit many museums that I always wanted to visit.

During such a tough time of the COVID-19 outbreak, I really had an unforgettable and special exchange experience in Hong Kong. Now, I cherish the hard-won normal life more than before. I feel sorry for those who

tragically lost their lives in the outbreak and sincerely hope the world can recover from the gloom of the epidemic soon. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to Victor and William Fung Foundation and The University of Hong Kong for acknowledging me as one of the Fung Scholars. The scholarship has provided me with an easier budget. I am also grateful to Erin, JennyAnn, and other foundation staff for their kind concern and support during my exchange. I hope that in the future, I can participate in more Victor and William Fung Foundation events and help to grow the Fung Scholars network.

Taking courses via zoom

Hiking in Shek O

Enjoying the scenery at Carpgates

PRISCILLA CHAN

(FS2013/14, XIAMEN UNIVERSITY) CAREER SHARING: FROM SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TO PE/VC

My name is Priscilla Chan. After graduating from Xiamen University, I went on to complete my PhD degree in LKS Faculty of medicine, The University of Hong Kong. Years of research experience gave me a keen interest in the transformation and commercialization of biotechnology. Therefore, I made a major transition in my career last year. Now I work as a postdoctoral researcher in Oriental Fortune Capital, one of the top PE/VC (Private Equity/ Venture Capital) companies in Shenzhen, China.

REASONS BEHIND CHOOSING PE/VC CAREER IN SHENZHEN

China is a massive and lucrative market, with new cutting-edge technologies and startups popping up every day. PE/VC is a way of investment and financing to realize the effective combination of technology, capital, talent with entrepreneurial enterprises, and it is also a booster to promote the transformation of scientific and technological innovation. Shenzhen, as one of the top ten financial centers in the world, has the natural advantage of smooth development of PE/VC. In recent years, the pharmaceutical investment market has become very hot due to the aging of the population, consumption upgrading, supply-side upgrading and other factors. Since the arrival of the new policy of Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2018 and the innovation board in 2019, the capital

exit path of biomedical enterprises has been clear, which has led to a wave of investment in the capital market on the biomedical track, and even the value of some enterprises can be doubled several times a year. However, with the arrival of medical insurance negotiation and centralized purchase policy as well as the influence of COVID-19, biomedical enterprises have entered a cold winter period of break-out and stock price decline. Hopefully, when the false prosperity has passed, the market will return to rational value, which is more conducive to better development of this industry in China.

Oriental Fortune Capital Innovation Center THE TYPICAL WORKING MODE IN PE/VC

It’s indeed inspiring to meet innovative scientists and entrepreneurs with proven experience on pharmaceutical development from bench or clinical trial to commercialization. We have to learn quickly and constantly about new trends, starting from scratch and building up knowledge in new areas. Even if the companies are in the same area, each has its angle and specialization. We have to use established understanding of the industry to determine if it is an excellent opportunity and evaluate the options in a short period of time.

In my daily work, I am deeply involved in the following parts:

1. Business plans (BP) evaluation: We receive a lot of new BPs every day and we will do a basic selection first. We need to decide which projects are worth discussing further and which projects should be banned at the BP stage.

2. Meeting/communicating with founders: The next step is to arrange a time to meet with potential founders, either first via conference call or otherwise meet face-toface.

3. Project evaluation stage: The next step is to evaluate if the project is worth investing in or not. I am deeply involved in due diligence. Some colleagues will be responsible for the LDD (legal due diligence) and FDD (financial due diligence).

PREPARATION TO DO BEFORE ENTERING PE/VC CAREER

One large venture capital firm once surveyed its employees across seven dimensions that correlate with company performance. They looked at topics ranging from leadership effectiveness and sense of direction to innovation and learning. Besides, when recruiting investment managers, they appreciate specialized talents who can spot value creation opportunities at potential investment targets early on. Therefore, for students with medical background who want to enter PE/VC career, the first step is to understand some macro trends and policies of the pharmaceutical industry. Then you need to acquire a basic understanding of the upstream, middle and downstream industries in the pharmaceutical industry chain. The next step is to understand the ecology of the financial industry. Each sub-field of the pharmaceutical industry has its own logic. After gaining the basic

knowledge, you will know how to write a valuable in-depth report, how to do due diligence and how to use the database to find key data to support your report. To succeed in PE/VC career seeking, you have to bring something to the table that others can’t. It is about having a deep understanding of drivers and trends across sectors, in addition to knowledge of financial markets. On-the-ground experience in an emerging market is definitely a plus. There are many soft skills beyond technical skills, such as business operations, negotiation, legal and human resources. On top of this, you need to analyze, solve problems, and think strategically. In addition, building a strong professional network before applying for a PE/ VC job can be especially useful for gaining referrals. Part of investment management is also about identifying partners and experts to work with, and sometimes they are only a phone call away. of the new policy

Gathering of investment managers and entrepreneurs

ANDY

WONG (FS2021/22, CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG)

START-UP PROJECT – WHEEL REAL EXPERIENCE

We are Wheel Real Experience; we offer wheelchair experiential workshops for corporate training.

Moreover, this project enhances wheelchair users’ employability by providing on-the-job training to our wheelchair instructors. We hope to train around 3-4 wheelchair users into app developers or STEM workshop instructors every year. So far, we are supported by HSBC and GovHK Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund as well as Cyberport. Our clients include the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the Equal Opportunity Commission as well as a number of secondary schools.

There will be 3 million elderly in Hong Kong by 2030, but training is inadequate in the market for employees to learn to take care of this growing group. In our workshops, participants will be required to finish different tasks in wheelchairs so they will understand the needs of the elderly. We hope through the workshops they will learn how to design better products or services for the elderly.

During the pandemic, workshop-based business like us has been suffering a lot from the ever-changing regulations and policies. However, we also see this as an opportunity to transform. We switched our workshop delivery from offline to online and integrated new elements into the workshops to make sure our participants can still understand the difficulties faced by the elderly/disabled.

Now we are incorporating technology into experiential activities so that participants can understand the problems faced by the disabled every day more clearly. We are developing mobile applications and incorporating them into empathetic training to make workshops more interactive.

Underwater shooting with the Olympic Division, Haley Hernandez in Joe and Jamail Swimming Center at UT Austin on 12 Nov 2021

Underwater shooting with the Olympic Division, Haley Hernandez in Joe and Jamail Swimming Center at UT Austin on 12 Nov 2021

We continue to provide on-the-job training for wheelchair users as instructors

This year, I became one of the Fung Scholars in Hong Kong to travel to top universities in the world (i.e. Boston University, Lancaster University, University of British Columbia). After coming back, I plan to take a gap year to implement what I have learnt and focus on the project so it can expand to a higher level. So far, we have been providing corporate training to over 100 staff members from our clients, such as the Equal Opportunities Commission and Disneyland. Within this year, I hope to improve the content of the workshops with wheelchair users and teachers/social workers and we aim to prepare the society for the upcoming problems brought by the ageing population. We are also organising STEM workshops in secondary schools so they are able to equip themselves with the skills required to build their own social innovation to tackle the problems that they observe throughout the experiential activities.

Innovate to educate. This would be my way to contribute to the current and future community.

If you want to know more about the project, please visit: http://wheelchairexperience.com/ (website)

https://www.facebook.com/ wheelrealexperience (Facebook)

Underwater shooting with the Olympic Division, Haley Hernandez in Joe and Jamail Swimming Center at UT Austin on 12 Nov 2021

We continue to provide on-the-job training for wheelchair users for instructors

ARTS AND CULTURE

XIAOYU LIU (FS2015/16, PEKING UNIVERSITY) A

GLIMPSE OF THE 20S

In January 2022, the National Archives UK released its records of the census that took place in England and Wales in 1921. Within a hundred years, the administration procedure has become a cultural record, although not always the same as people nowadays assume. Referred as the Roaring 20s, the 1920s decade marked an era of economic prosperity and cultural diversity that swept American and Europe, including London. With the help of the census, however, the National Archives aims to investigate and present what was “Beyond the Roar”, as their exhibition’s name suggests. Decorated as a 1920s street corner, the exhibition first shows the turbulence behind prosperity. Unemployment was high, social movements were common, and the First World War was still affecting life in the UK. The latter is also indicated in the census records, by an increased orphan rate, separation of existing couples, and a loss of servicemen.

“Beyond the Roar” also recorded a transformation in housing, public health, and social life. From letters, insurance certificates, and posters, the exhibition vividly presented an image of construction of standard houses, demolition of slums, regular disinfection, and increasing gambling and dancing. It is particularly interesting that the National Archives has a significant collection about

1920s’ nightclubs, the reason being the numerous inspections by the police – this detail is simply convincing to show how radical a nightclub could be, and how the society was exuberant.

For where I am living now, however, the 1920s hardly presents anything exuberant, although housing campaigns obviously influenced this area as well. My area used to be a suburban field before the 19th century. In the century, this area was rapidly filled up with working people, as a result of both expanding urbanisation and improving railway transportation. The population continues to grow, making it one of the most crowded areas in the UK today. By 1921, most of the Georgian residential houses in the area had been completed. This would remain the same for a long time, until some of these stylish buildings were bombed down in the Second World War.

On the bombsite stands the huge residential building where I live, and the 1921 census happens to become the last photo of this building. As it happened, Georgian houses were organised along the street and surrounding a small square. These houses must have accommodated fewer residents than today, but there was no less diversity in the neighbourhood. As I was consulting some research papers at the National Archives, I was curious to check my area on one of their computers which have free access to the census record. In the first house to be checked lived a vicar from Yorkshire, along with his 30-year-old younger wife; and, if we start gossiping, we will also find a SwissBritish couple, a British-French couple, and two Scots who registered their occupations respectively as “journalist” and “journalist’s wife.”

Instead of roaring, the street I live looked very peaceful. It seems that residents simply focused on their job in this massive city. For example, two sisters lived almost “next door” to me. Both born in the same year, these supposed twins kept a subtle balance of employment, as one of them worked in an artificial flower factory, while the other was responsible for chores at home. Similarly, there were a couple running a snack business together, an international businessman from the Continent, and three policemen living next door to each other. Although having more than four children was common, there were also several sweet one-child families. Even an audience from 100 years later could sense the intimacy between family members, and I found one such family was particularly sweet. In that family, both the husband and the wife were in their 20s, and their little daughter was only 1. Instinctively, I traced the names in the 1939 register, and was at a relief to find that they were still together, although having moved to a tranquil southeastern town.

Although the National Archives has ended their exhibition on 1920s social life, there is still much to dig out from the census records. Having surveyed about 38 million individuals, the 1921 census is supposed to be the largest one that has ever been released. It is also for the first time that released census data are available online with the help of Findmypast. com. Digitalisation must have taken a huge effort.

Reviewed 100 years later, 1921 is not a stranger to us. These two generations seem to share same problems - war, pandemic, unemployment, insecurity - but also the dangerous tendency of desperation and the deepest appreciation of hope. Looking back at 1921, we are not learning from history; we are learning ourselves.

EDITORIAL & WRITERS BIO

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/WRITER PRISCILLA CHEN

(FS2013/14, Xiamen University)

Priscilla became a Fung scholar during her exchange at the University of Hong Kong in 2013. After graduating from Xiamen University, she went on to complete her PhD degree in LKS Faculty of medicine, HKU. Years of research experience gave her a keen interest in the transformation and commercialization of biomedical industry. Now she works as a postdoctoral researcher in Oriental Fortune Capital, one of the top PE/VC companies in Shenzhen. She enjoys making connections with inspiring entrepreneurs and doing in-depth research of frontier technologies. In her spare time, she loves reading and traveling.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ priscilla-chen-631823200

EDITOR MAVIS

FAN

(FS2013/14, The University of Hong Kong)

Mavis received the Li & Fung Scholarship for one-year enriching exchange at The University of Liverpool in 2013-14 during which she read multidisciplinary subjects, explored towns in Britain alongside working at a local restaurant. She studied Psychology and Social Service Management for her Bachelor and Master Degree at The University of Hong Kong.

Mavis works in the Hong Kong higher education/non-profit sector. In her own time, she enjoys teaching young pupils, distance-running, and making artisan bread. Mavis is a foodie enthusiastic about burgers. She looks forward to meeting new FS buddies — to join hands for the social good and share joy in sports, community, and foodie exploration initiatives.

WRITER/ EDITOR DRAGON LO KOON KIT (FS2021/22, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Dragon is currently a penultimate LLB student, he received the Fung Scholarship for one-year exchange at Durham University in 2021-22 during which he studied different areas of law including international law.

He hopes to pursue a career in law

Before his exchange to the UK, he also spent some time in TsingHua University

Chinese law. Dragon enjoys sharing his experience in his blog during his spare time, he also loves traveling and playing team-sports like Dragon-boat.

Xiaoyu became a Fung Scholar as an exchange student to the University of Hong Kong in 2016. At that time, she was an undergraduate in history and sociology at Peking University. Then, she studied one year as a Master’s student, and is currently a PhD candidate in Science and Technology Studies at University College London.

Xiaoyu’s research project investigates history of geology and field work in the 20th century, and she has taught on history of science, sociology of science, and science policy as a teaching assistant.

Xiaoyu volunteers as a digitalization and transcription assistant at Jewish Museum London and as a front house steward at NHS vaccination sites.

In her spare time, she likes travelling, hiking, and cyber rabbit petting.

EDITOR JING ZHANG (FS2019/20, XIamen University)

Jing is now a postgraduate at Renmin University of China majoring in higher education (2021-2023). She became a Fung Scholar during her exchange at the University of Hong Kong in 2019, when she was a junior studying Anthropology at Xiamen University. She likes reading, writing, traveling, and communicating with people from different backgrounds. As an outgoing and energetic girl, she hopes to fully achieve her interest and potential in whatever field she chooses.

WRITER ANDY WONG (FS2021/22, City University of Hong Kong)

Wong Ho Chi, Andy is a person who loves innovations and adventure. Inspired by his mentor, Andy devoted himself into social innovation in these 2 years as he believes in the power of social entrepreneurship --- it is about building a sustainable, scalable business model to keep helping more and more people.

the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She used to be an introvert who was afraid of starting conversations. However, she has been trying her best to step out of her comfort zone by participating in different activities. She is also passionate about music and she loves musical instruments, such as the piano, the guitar, and the clarinet. In music, she can explore a different world, which always gives her inspiration and motivation. She also loves exploring new things and going beyond herself.

WRITER/EDITOR

SHERYL WONG (FS2021/22, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Sheryl Wong graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and she became a Fung Scholar during her exchange at The University of Texas at Austin in Fall 2021. After the exchange program, Sheryl joined KUT/KUTX, a local NPR radio station based in Austin, as a multimedia intern and create visuals for the team.

Being raised in Hong Kong, a city which has been pelted by political storms and social issues, Sheryl aspires to amplify the voice of the unheard and assist the unseen to be seen, by creating engaging visuals.

WRITER/ EDITOR

QU XIANGRUI (FS2021/22, Peking University)

Qu Xiangrui is now an undergraduate at Peking University majoring in economics and international politics. He became a Fung Scholar during his exchange at the University of Hong Kong in 2022. In his spare time, Qu Xiangrui enjoys reading non-fiction and sightseeing around the city. He is also a soda lover and a spicy food hater. He hopes to pursue an academic career in political science after graduation.

EDITOR STEPHANIE LEE

(FS2021/22, The University of Hong Kong)

Stephanie is a Fung Scholar and biomedical sciences graduate from The University of Hong Kong. She completed her exchange studies at Lund University in 2021, where she explored new disciplines such as social policy, contemporary music, and international law. With a passion for public health research and learning about upcoming biomedical trends, she is currently pursuing a career in health and medical communications.

DESIGNER

Felita Li (FS2008/09, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Felita was a Fung Scholar almost ten years ago when she attended Rice University as an exchange student while she was a student at Chinese University of Hong Kong. After she graduated, she attended Cornell University for her professional architectural graduate degree. Since then, she has lived and worked in New York City, exploring the challenges of living in another international city for almost ten years. She has worked for international renowned offices and continues to pursue growth professionally and outside of work. She is a ceramic candle maker, airbnb host and continue to find passion outside of work, volunteering and hustling.

EDITORIAL BOARD

LIST OF EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER

EDITOR IN CHARGE

PRISCILLA CHEN* FS2013/14 XIAMEN UNIVERSITY

EDITORS

MAVIS FAN

FS2013/14 THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG DRAGON LO* FS2021/22 THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG EVE ZHANG FS2019/20 XIAMEN UNIVERSITY XIAOYU LIU* FS2015/16 PEKING UNIVERSITY

STEPHANIE LEE FS2021/22 THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ANDY WONG FS2021/22 CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG CONNIE WONG FS2021/22 THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY SHERYL WONG FS2021/22 THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG XIANGRUI QU FS2021/22 PEKING UNIVERSITY

DESIGNER

FELITA LI FS2008/09 THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG *also a writer