CITY CLASS Issue 16 | JUN 2024

HARMONY in the Urban Jungle

Charting the Complexities of Cities Paths to a Deeper Understanding of Global Realities

Empowering the Youth for Social Rejuvenation

Sustainability and Transforming the Language of Marketing

ISSUE 16 | JUNE 2024

Department of Chinese and History

Department of English

Department of Linguistics and Translation

Department of Media and Communication

Department of Public and International Affairs

Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Chan Feng Men-ling Chan Shuk-lin Language Centre

Centre for Public Affairs and Law

Centre for Communication Research

Centre for East Asian and Comparative Philosophy

Southeast

The Halliday Centre for Intelligent Applications of Language Studies

Charting the Complexities of Cities

A Pathway to a Deeper Understanding of Global Realities

CLASS Academics Named in Stanford’s List of Top 2 per cent Most-cited Scientists Worldwide

Empowering Youths for Social Rejuvenation

Sustainability as the “New Black”: Transforming the Language of Marketing

Distinguished Economist Spots the Lodestar in China’s Economy

and Lecture Trace Marco Polo’s 700-Year Heritage

Tracing the Origins of Turtle Soup Across Three Continents

Documentary by CLASS Faculty Wins International Film Award in Europe

Harmony in the Urban Jungle

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. Three faculty members from CityUHK’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences share their expert opinions on how we can respond to the unprecedented global challenges through impactful interdisciplinary research

It is no easy thing to change the way we live. Real reform requires a buy-in from all segments of society. Whether the goal is humanity peacefully coexisting with the natural world or everyone contributing to an equitable and inclusive society, each individual has a part to play.

Faculty members at City University of Hong Kong’s (CityUHK) College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) have heard the call. They have been working within their expert fields to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to achieve a better future for all. Their collective efforts have helped pave the way towards a more sustainable and harmonious Hong Kong—but they are not finished yet. They have new ideas on what more humanity could do.

“I think first and foremost we have to realise that everything is interconnected,” says Professor Rebecca WONG, Associate Professor at the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

She says that reading the 17 SDGs makes it easy to understand that the problems affecting developed countries are in fact the very same ones facing developing countries.

“If you boil it down, we are all facing the same issues, such as climate change. We are bound by the same forces, the same notions, the same environment. What’s important is that at the end of the day, these goals bring everyone together to address the same topics about the environment, animals and creating a more harmonious society,” she says.

Accordingly, the SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, were developed in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people can enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

The SDGs comprise 17 interconnected goals, each addressing a specific aspect of sustainable development.

Empathy for People and Planet

As such, Professor Ilex LAM, Adjunct Professor at the Department of Public and International Affairs notes that while the developmental goals are focused on the five Ps—people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships—it should be remembered that caring underscores everything.

“We have to remind ourselves to be caring to the planet, caring about prosperity, caring about people, caring about partnerships, and at the end, is the achievement of peace,” he says.

Achieving such lofty aims is easier said than done and the question remains: how can we foster harmony in society?

According to Lam, harmony can be achieved when a society can focus on collaborations that promote the efficient allocation of resources. He emphasises the need for inclusivity in achieving equality and the importance of equity.

Professor Derrick HO, Assistant Professor at the Department of Public and International Affairs, agrees, presenting his views that community participation and engagement, and participatory urban planning are hugely important when addressing social needs.

“These can help design more inclusive communities,” he explains. “Social interventions and innovations that build a sense of place and identity within communities, such as shared gardens and shared public spaces, can really promote social cohesion.”

What’s important is that at the end of the day, these goals bring everyone together to address the same topics about the environment, animals and creating a more harmonious society

Professor Rebecca Wong

Equal Rights and Opportunities

In a city like Hong Kong where urban development is subject to the needs of commercialisation and gentrification, Ho emphasises the need for inclusive urban designs. This circles back to what Lam says about equality versus equity.

Lam notes that in today’s society, there aren’t enough opportunities and resources for marginalised groups like the disabled, ex-offenders and those in poverty. He argues that more needs to be done to create equal opportunities for career advancement, education and appreciation. And a lot of it boils down to resource allocation.

“It all comes back to the question of equal opportunity,” according to Ho. “Do I have the opportunity for capacity building, education and learning, and do I have the same opportunity to enjoy and appreciate

a bus ride, perceive a path to getting promoted, and enjoy mobility of labour? These are all questions that need to be asked.”

Yet while Hongkongers generally enjoy a high level of education and excellent infrastructure, income inequality and equity in resource distribution remain a concern and housing issues continue to divide society.

“We have to be aware of the fact that there’s no equality, and depending on who you talk to and what their background is, there is never going to be an agreement on what equality looks like, but it shouldn’t be a competition,” Wong says.

Indeed, the three professors agreed that taken together, some of the issues dogging the improvement of Hong Kong’s harmony include housing, climate change, the relatively low happiness index, and the mental effects and fallout of COVID-19.

Wong’s research into green criminology has examined the often unexpected links between organised crime and illegal trade in animals.

It all comes back to the question of equal opportunity. Do I have the opportunity for education and learning, and do I have the same opportunity to enjoy and appreciate a bus ride, perceive a path to getting promoted, and enjoy mobility of labour?

Professor

Derrick Ho

Ho believes that inclusive urban designs, such as shared public spaces, can promote social cohesion.

Heat as the Silent Killer

According to Ho, many societal problems stem from housing issues. Especially in Hong Kong, a shortage of public housing and long waiting lists can exacerbate issues such as immigration, health and harmony.

“The fact is we are in an ageing society, and we have ageing buildings that are hard for redevelopment, but people still need to live, but maybe they cannot change their living environment, so they live in subdivided flats where the conditions are horrible,” he explains.

Ho notes that especially with extreme weather patterns, small and cramped living spaces may not be adequately ventilated or able to retain heat. Some might not even have air-conditioning capacities or windows. The bad consequences were obviously shown during COVID-19 when social distancing was practised and people have nowhere to go except staying home. So, it is not surprising to see health risks increasing.

“If you stay in such a room during summer, you could get dehydrated or a heatstroke, and that’s just the start,” he says.

Wong agrees, adding that cramped living spaces and climate change can affect the harmony and balance between humans and animals. This is worsened with unregulated pet trades or the exploitation of animals. She adds that part of the problem in urban societies like Hong Kong, where shopping malls may predominate,

is that people might not necessarily make the connections between their living spaces and the natural environment.

In her study and research of green criminology, she has looked at the impact of organised crime and the illegal trade of animals, and says that most people think these issues are isolated.

“Very few people know this, but hotter temperatures, for example, lead to aggressive behaviour and people are more likely to commit violent crime when the temperature is higher. This is proven in academic studies, and is called the heat-aggression hypothesis,” she says.

Another issue is the introduction of diseases. Wong says that when people learn about a puppy farm in the New Territories, they might not make the connection as to how the farm could affect their lives, especially if they live in the city. But the reality is that the illegal capture or trade of animals into Hong Kong can bring diseases that can jump to humans, such as swine flu. And it can also go the other way when humans infect animals.

“The human linkage isn’t always widely recognised,” she says. Then, of course, there is the issue of air pollution. Wong notes that there is also crime “in the air”. Studies have shown that air pollution can increase in the stress hormone cortisol which cause people to have more violent behaviours. Aside from the impact on human health, air pollution affects bees, but what most people do not realise is that bees are pollinators.

Even in developed urban societies extreme weather can have an impact in the form of heatstroke and dehydration.

“If you take bees away from the planet, you’ll see half the produce at supermarkets gone and prices will go up, so we can’t be so ignorant,” she says.

And all this ultimately affects the one thing that can promote social cohesion—people’s happiness.

Ominously, Lam notes that while Hong Kong people live a relatively good life compared to other countries, the city has one of the lowest happiness indexes in the world. He says that Hong Kong residents tend to prioritise family harmony over individual happiness and that housing and job insecurity are major concerns.

“There is a shift from ‘salaryman’ to ‘businessman’ and this is changing the way people approach work and life,” he says. “There is a focus on aligning resources and finding purpose. This is why it is important to address the issues around equity and equality in government policies—Hong Kong’s low happiness index is a concern.”

Technology Supports Inclusivity

Ho shares similar views, adding that creating a harmonious society also means addressing everyone’s basic happiness.

“What then are the lowest common denominators that we need to do to prioritise people’s happiness and to try and create a more equitable society?” he asks.

The general agreement is on building a smart and inclusive city, focusing on community building and aligning policies.

“When you look at a smart city framework, we can use technology to create opportunities and become more inclusive in society,” Lam says. However, he cautions that too much focus on technology can also create digital divide challenges for some segments of society such as the elderly and the disabled. He stresses that policymakers need to be mindful of this.

But for urban planning and community building, Ho sees the advent of technology and data as key components for inclusivity.

Illegal wildlife trade poses a serious risk to our planet’s diverse ecosystems and the survival of many species.

It is important to address the issues around equality— Hong Kong’s low happiness index is a concern

Professor Ilex Lam

For example, he notes that AI can help to analyse society’s intentions and needs by providing an understanding of its behaviours, needs and wants.

“We can actually do more things and support society when we plan and design urban spaces,” he says. And this is an important aspect of building a harmonious society.

“Everyone needs to get together to make resource use efficient, share knowledge, data and information, as well as share technology so that the government can use all available resources to properly address the needs in society,” Lam says.

Communication is also key. The professors hope that through their research and lectures they will be able to impart to students and the wider society the message that everyone can make a small change and that together, they can create bigger impacts.

“It can be small things, like pet adoptions—‘adopt don’t buy’. These things don’t just affect humans, it’s all part of a bigger ecosystem,” Wong says. “So just be a good person and don’t think of only yourself, because everything is interconnected.”

Lam believes that everyone deserves to enjoy equal opportunity in society.

For more than 30 years, Schiller has sought to unravel the mysteries of language cognition.

Pushing the Boundaries of Linguistics Research and Teaching

A trailblazer in neurolinguistics, Professor Niels SCHILLER avidly takes the lead in fostering collaboration and expanding the scholarly reservoir within CityUHK’s Department of Linguistics and Translation

Nothing rivals the power and intricacy of language and communication in the vast realm of human existence.

Understanding the intricate workings of the human mind and its relationship to language has always been the captivating pursuit of Professor Niels SCHILLER, who recently joined City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) as Head of the Department of Linguistics and Translation (LT) and Chair Professor of Psycho- and Neurolinguistics.

“Language is a means to communicate, but it’s the most complex of cognitive skills that human beings have,” Schiller explains.

When humans use language, they are making use of their memory, motor, and executive functions, all part of an incredibly complex process. This is why talking can seem so exhausting, he adds.

“It’s so taxing on the cognitive system but also intriguing in the sense that there are still many open questions,” Schiller says.

Exploring those open questions has spurred Schiller’s more than 30-year career, marking him as a trailblazer in neurolinguistics. He has made it his personal mission to unravel the mysteries of language cognition and push the boundaries of linguistics research.

Raising the Bar

Today, he is bringing his research and expertise to CityUHK in the hope that he will be able to make positive contributions to both the fundamental research in the field and its relevant applications for society, as well as make an impact on his students.

“There is already a lot of expertise in the area of language processing available at the Department, but I’m hopefully here to raise the bar,” he says.

Indeed, Schiller notes that, for the most part, the study of linguistics has always taken a traditional research route. However, with the advent and advances in science and technology, he sees two areas that are now prime for development. One is in computational linguistics, which deals with the computational modelling of natural language and the application of interdisciplinary computational approaches to linguistic inquiries. The other area is experimental linguistics, which studies the relationship between language and the brain as well as how to develop that branch further.

“These are two areas in linguistics that have much potential both in terms of fundamental research but also in their application. Taken together, these aspects should help the Department to excel and reach new goals,” he says.

Language is a means to communicate, but it’s the most complex of cognitive skills that human beings have

Professor Niels Schiller

In fact, Schiller is no stranger to pushing and exceeding boundaries. His PhD career includes many accolades and supervised works under some greats, including Professor Pim LEVELT at the world-leading Max-Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen in the Netherlands. During his training in psycholinguistics, a keen interest in neurolinguistics began to grow.

Using EEG for Speech Production

As his career progressed, he made many notable contributions. Perhaps one of the most significant is being among the first to use electroencephalography (EEG) for speech production research.

“Until the 1990s, it was believed that EEG would not be suitable to investigate speech production because of motor artefacts, but we have shown in several studies that you can get very clean EEG signals for the pre-articulatory period and even when people have already started to speak,” he explains.

On top of that, his research also showed that morphological processes play an important role in speech production, independent of meaning and form effects.

“By investigating language production at the millisecond level, we gain insights into how meaning is translated into articulatory movements in the brain,” Schiller explains.

“My goal now is to advance the understanding of the complex cognitive and neural mechanisms that allow us to communicate through language. I also aim to bring together psycholinguistics and computational linguistics to inform language processing models,” he adds.

In explaining the difference, Schiller explains that both fields essentially cover the study and relationship between language and the brain. While psycholinguistics looks at behavioural methods, neurolinguistics uses electrophysiological and neuroimaging methods. General research questions would still include how speakers plan their utterances, translate meaning into form and retrieve words from their mental lexicon and how listeners extract meaning from speech.

Designed for Pragmatic Skills

Aside from furthering his research in the field, Schiller also hopes to inspire students coming through the programme.

“What I hope to bring to the students is that we, as a department, can make our students enthusiastic about language and its relationships to the brain,” he says. “But also, to impart to them transferable skills such as programming, statistical knowledge and even data processing because it’s important to realise that only a relatively small percentage of students may do a PhD or end up in academia.”

As such, he says that the programme is designed to ensure that students walk away with pragmatic skills in the workplace and in society and not just limited to research. Citing examples,

he says students will need to be knowledgeable in programming languages, think analytically, and even analyse data—all the skills used in the study of linguistics are also transferable to many jobs out there.

Another thing that Schiller is excited to develop in LT is to embed experimental labs and experimental work into the programme.

“In my experience, students like experimental work because they get to learn hands-on stuff: lab research, data acquisition and analysis, programming,” he says.

Expanding Collaboration

However, he notes that this requires collaboration with other schools and faculties. For this reason, his utmost priority is forging deeper ties between LT and other departments at CityUHK.

“Even outside of the College, such as Department of

Neuroscience, I can see many opportunities for collaborations,” he says.

In the same vein, Schiller is also actively helping the Department recruit and expand its manpower, hoping to draw experts from several fields, including social sciences, experimental psychology, computer science, and data science.

“So really, we want to be multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary because that’s the nature of linguistics,” he says. “For example, we need students and people with a good knowledge of statistics to interpret the data correctly.”

While he says that there will always be a need for people trained in traditional theoretical linguistics, at the end of the day, to progress in the field, there needs to be a coming together of people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to inject fresh ideas and new perspectives into the Department. And he is excited and honoured to be leading the charge.

Schiller believes there are many opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborations across departments at CityUHK.

Charting the Complexities of Cities

Leading CityUHK’s Department of Public and International Affairs, Professor Eddie HUI investigates the crux of urban policy and public management in the hope of enhancing citizens’ quality of life

Life can take you on many paths, ultimately guiding you towards the same goal. No one understands this better than Professor Eddie HUI, who joined as Chair Professor to City University of Hong Kong’s (CityUHK) Department of Public and International Affairs (PIA) and became Head of PIA this February.

With a diverse background encompassing research, consultancy and professional expertise, Hui brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role. Before joining CityUHK, Hui honed a successful career working at major professional surveying firms and a tertiary institution in Hong Kong, where he was at the forefront of research and development. At the same time, he is credited for many groundbreaking projects that have helped shape the city’s urban landscape. His experiences, therefore, provided him with invaluable perspectives into the intricate dynamics of urban environments and set the stage for his endeavours in academia.

Building on his professional success, Hui pursued his PhD at the renowned Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge in the UK, where his exceptional achievements earned him the esteemed title of Fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust.

“I love teaching, learning and researching and knowing that through education, I can actually make a big impact on society,” he says.

Deciphering Urban Issues

With such an extensive academic background and practical experience, Hui’s expertise spans a wide range of disciplines and domains. His research and consultancy projects have investigated the complexities of urban policy, management and the broader field of public affairs.

As Hui’s opinions on Hong Kong’s urban development and property market are often featured in the media, his insights and innovative approaches have helped to shape some of the local urban landscapes, inform strategic decisions and drive sustainable development—something he holds dear to his heart.

Hui does not rest on his laurels. With over 29 years of industry experience and teaching, he hopes to bring his knowledge to CityUHK and inspire the next generation of students to carry the baton of knowledge and research, and continue having an impact on urban policy and management.

“Urban policy and management are all important here in Hong Kong,” he adds. “The discipline covers various topics such as planning, building, housing and real estate. This affects people from all walks of life. Most people in Hong Kong live in urban areas. All parties, including the private sector, NGOs and government, play a part in such an important topic.”

He explains that there is still much work to do. For example, further input should be given in future land use planning, urban renewal and public and social housing, not to mention sustainable

Hui comes to CityUHK with more than 29 years of experience in industry and teaching.

I love teaching, learning and researching and knowing that through education, I can actually make a big impact on society

Professor Eddie Hui

development and climate change, all of which are underlying issues in Hong Kong’s politics and society.

All for a Better Future

“We all know that land is a big topic in Hong Kong. Much income comes from land resources, but it’s not just about the money. It’s the process of creating a better society for Hong Kong, so if the policy is wrong and there are repercussions, it would have a tremendous effect on the community.”

Hui says this is why he wants the next generation to be educated about any arising issues and to have the know-how to examine the effects, and recommend policies that can drive the community to make better decisions.

“We can make big impacts on society by providing opportunities for students to learn and grow, to have more knowledge and help the community to be even better,” he says.

Since the field is so wide, he says that PIA graduates will find many career opportunities, from the government sector— contributing to policy development, public administration, and public finance—to NGOs, which work on social advocacy, community development and policy research.

“Some of them might even want to pursue their studies further and develop a career in research and academia,” he says. Regardless, Hui sees his students as the engines of the future.

New Momentum

With this vision, he has some goals for the department in mind. He firmly believes in the power of interdisciplinary research and social innovation. Interdisciplinary education is key, he adds, allowing students to develop the skills and tools needed to analyse and evaluate all kinds of policy issues, develop innovative ideas and nurture cross-sectoral leadership. All of these are important to driving impactful changes in the urban landscape.

He says understanding the relationship between technology and society, along with vigorous interdisciplinary research, can lead to substantial knowledge transfer activities.

To this end, Hui has a bucket list of things he wants to achieve within the department.

“My goals, of course, are always to scale new heights,” he says. “My vision is that PIA prepares the next generation of leaders who can work across public, non-profit and private sectors at the local, national and global levels and strive to produce knowledge that fosters ethical, prosperous, and well-functioning organisations and societies,” he says.

For starters, he wants to prioritise technology and social innovation in PIA’s research and teaching as this is the future direction in his opinion. Drawing on a myriad of talents and expertise within the department, he believes diversity will be important to help bring new dimensions to research.

“We can have colleagues good at health issues, those who are good with technology and analytics, and who are truly international, coming from different parts of the world to bring diverse perspectives,” he adds.

Hui also hopes to introduce a range of new courses and exchange programmes covering areas like policy management, international relations and digital technologies. This way, as a department, everyone can move forward together and build momentum to bring positive changes to society.

“It brings me great joy, and I’m delighted to see many energetic and positive contributions. This brings new energy and dynamics, which we want to see more of,” he concludes.

Hui believes that helping students grow and develop will have a positive impact on the wider community.

A Pathway to a Deeper Understanding of Global Realities

English scholars, like Professor Jason HARDING, can greatly contribute to human understanding of our lived experience, helping to define meaning and purpose for citizens in the modern world

To achieve great things and reach great heights requires a visionary leader at the helm. With a clear mission and a set of tangible goals, Professor Jason HARDING stepped into the role of Head of the Department of English (EN) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) with an unwavering determination to establish the department as a pioneering force in Asia.

“I think EN at CityUHK has enormous potential and I believe my leadership and expertise can help to unlock that potential,” he says.

With more than two decades of teaching and research experience, Harding has honed a successful career at one of the world’s leading English departments joining from his most recent posting in the UK. But with a desire to head back to Asia, Harding says he couldn’t pass up the opportunity when a position came up in Hong Kong at CityUHK.

“Especially because it’s in Hong Kong and it just seemed like a perfect challenge,” he says.

A Wide Scholarly Network

Moreover, apart from a wealth of research experience, he also brings extensive scholarly networks from the UK and Europe,

North America and Asia which through visiting professorships, collaborations and conferences, he says, would significantly enhance and promote EN’s international profile.

“We aim to do this through strategic ‘peaks of excellence’ in sharply defined areas of research strength and by strengthening our collaborative research networks both within Hong Kong and beyond,” he says.

Indeed, he comes with remarkable like-mindedness to the University’s overarching goals, which is to inspire and nurture the next generation of innovative minds in multiple disciplines who will have a broad vision, willingness and capability to use their knowledge to serve their communities.

According to Harding, many of the areas that he will be growing, such as digital humanities and healthcare communication, align directly with CityUHK’s ambitious strategic missions.

And at the heart of Harding’s vision for the Department is a recognition of the complex relationship between technology, humanities and ethics in a rapidly changing world. He believes that while English studies has always been a dynamic and contested field of knowledge, the new wave of new technologies sweeping 21st century life will also transform scholarship in the humanities.

Harding hopes to promote awareness of the complex relationship between technology, the humanities and ethics in our rapidly changing world.

We live in the shadow of science and technology, but its meaning is not defined by scientists alone. Humanities can deepen and extend our understanding of science and technology

Professor Jason Harding

Pioneering Digital Literacies

In fact, he is among the pioneers with first-hand experience in the impact of digital technology on humanities. One of Harding’s most impressive works, which he says is also his proudest scholarly achievement, is a 1,000-page volume which he edited for the award-winning The Complete Prose of T.S. Eliot: The Critical Edition . What made the project so ground-breaking in the field of digital humanities was that Johns Hopkins University Press gave priority for it to be developed online over the standard print edition, which was the norm then.

“To do that,” Harding says, “it required a lot of pioneering techniques in transferring a huge amount of archive material to a digital database and developing a really ground-breaking online platform.”

With such a depth of experience and knowledge, Harding comes to CityUHK with a bucket list of things that he hopes to achieve, starting by being part of the College’s interdisciplinary mission to produce humanistic perspectives on frontier research in science and engineering. He believes that it is important that expertise in the College is deployed to provide a fully-rounded approach to tackle some of the global challenges facing humanity.

“EN’s defined ‘peaks of excellence’ in digital literacies, professional and healthcare communication, urban studies and cross-cultural encounters will address the radical transformations to society and culture as well as some of the biggest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century,” he says.

To this end, he says that the linguistic complexities of narrative and metaphor remain essential tools for human understanding of our lived experience, shaping meaning and purpose for people. This is why scholars in EN, as experts in their field, have much to contribute to contemporary culture and society.

Humanities Define Science & Tech

In fact, Harding recently held a seminar examining how humanities can shape the understanding of science and technology, pointing to the recent Oscar-winning film biopic Oppenheimer as a case example of how the creative arts provide an imaginative framework for processing the human implications of something as important and dangerous as nuclear weapons.

“We live in the shadow of science and technology, but its meaning is not defined by scientists alone,” he says. “Humanities can deepen and extend our understanding of science and technology.”

As such, Harding is currently engaged in an exciting research cluster which examines urban narratives and representations of the city as a crucial dimension of our lived experience in the modern world. This research will be on display at a forthcoming international conference called “Urban Mediations” at the CityUHK Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre.

“It will be a superb opportunity to showcase our research at CityUHK to an international audience and we hope it will be the first of several major collaborative events,” he says.

As AI technologies advance and global challenges like climate change and sustainability become more pressing, human beings will seek to make sense of these issues in relation to their own lives. In this regard, Harding argues that forms of imaginative expression, such as film, fiction, and essays, are a crucial way that societies engage with and debate these challenges. These artistic mediums will then provide a valuable lens through which humans can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities and realities of the world we live in today.

“All citizens will have a stake in these discussions,” Harding says. For this reason, he is also passionate about inspiring his students to become life-long learners in today’s changing world and develop creative and analytical skills that will equip them for the future workplace.

“CityUHK’s emphasis on discovery-enriched learning and curiosity-driven research is the foundation of the work we do in EN in nurturing future world-class scholars,” he says.

He notes that one of the areas where the Department at CityUHK outperforms UK departments of English is students’ employability after they graduate. He credits the professional Final Year Project as a crucial factor behind the Department’s recorded nearly 100 per cent employment rate among its recent graduates.

“It provides students with invaluable workplace experience and as Head of Department, I have been delighted to learn about the wonderful work our students do with external partners such as Orbis and Hong Kong Generation Next Arts. It makes me proud to see how valued our students are by the wider community,” he says.

Harding is keen to help his students develop the creative and analytical skills that will equip them for the future workplace.

CLASS Academics Named in Stanford’s List of Top 2 per cent Most-cited Scientists Worldwide

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) at CityUHK is pleased to announce that 13 CLASS faculty members have been recognised by Stanford University as among the top 2 per cent most-cited scientists in the world.

Based on the bibliometric information from the Scopus database as of 1 October 2023, Stanford University released the list of the top 2 per cent most-cited scientists in various scientific disciplines globally. This publicly available database, published by Professor John P.A. IOANNIDIS, provides standardised information on citations, h-index, co-authorship adjusted hm-index, citations to papers in different authorship positions and a composite indicator (c-score). Continually updated, the list presents separate data for career-long and single recent year impact.

The following scholars, listed in alphabetical order of surnames, have earned their place on this prestigious list:

Professor Yanto CHANDRA

Associate Professor, Department of Public and International Affairs Chandra’s research focuses on the mechanisms of performance of entrepreneurship and innovation in the social and public sector, and how new technologies affect the economy, civil society and policy, and ways to govern them. One of his projects examines how large language models of artificial intelligence can be applied to improve organisational performance. He also studies blockchain and decentralised autonomous organisation for value creation. These build on his multi-year research investigating the relationship between entrepreneurship and performance in hybrid organisations, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable business models such as B-Corporation and impact investing.

Most-cited fields: Business & Management; Political Science and Public Administration

Professor Edmund CHENG

Professor, Department of Public and International Affairs

Cheng’s research intersects political sociology, digital governance, and sociology of science, focusing on the comparative study of Asia and policy implications. Various scientific bodies worldwide have funded his research. His recent work has appeared in Perspectives on Politics, Political Communication, Political Studies, Political Psychology, British Journal of Sociology, Sociological Methodology, Information, Communication & Society, New Media & Society, China Quarterly, China Journal and Journal of Contemporary Asia, and as a monograph in Cambridge University Press.

Most-cited field: Cultural Studies

Professor DONG Liang

Assistant Professor, Department of Public and International Affairs

Dong’s research focuses on urban sustainability science and policy as well as their application in sub-topics, including circular economy, corporate environmentalsocial-governance (ESG), Net Zero and carbon neutrality policy analysis, sustainable human-techno-environmental system design, sustainable industries and urban planning, using advanced spatial and datadriven techniques. According to Scopus statistics, he was ranked the first author in the field of “Industrial Symbiosis, Sustainable Development and Circular Economy” from 2013 to 2022. He has led national-level circular economy projects, smart cities, SDGs cities, and low-carbon cities projects in the EU, Japan and China.

Most-cited field: Environmental Sciences

Dr Simon FUNG Sai-fu

Instructor I, Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Fung possesses extensive knowledge in the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning within the field of computational social science. His expertise lies in utilising these technologies to examine human behaviour and explore health-related issues. Employing an interdisciplinary approach and innovative research methods, he has published extensively on topics such as healthrelated quality of life (HRQOL), digital health, cybercrime, social gerontology and sports. Fung holds the title of Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and currently serves as an associate editor for Health and Quality of Life Outcomes and Frontiers in Psychology

Most-cited field: Toxicology

Professor Bert GEORGE

Professor, Department of Public and International Affairs

George is a former editor of Public Administration Review and a current deputy editor of Public Management Review

His research focuses on the effectiveness of strategy processes and practices in the public and non-profit sectors. He uses a range of methods in his research, including reviews and meta-analyses, surveys and case studies, and, more recently, methods from neuroscience and data science. He has been awarded the Louis Brownlow and Joseph Wholey Awards by the American Society for Public Administration. His work has been cited by the US White House, the European Commission, the World Bank, OECD, Unicef, and national governments across the globe.

Most-cited field: Political Science and Public Administration

Professor Christoph HAFNER

Associate Professor, Department of English

Hafner’s principal research interests include English language teaching and learning, English for specific purposes, and digital literacies. In particular, he is interested in studying how new technologies can be utilised to support the development of both “traditional” domain-specific literacies (e.g. English for Law), and the “digital literacies” which are necessary to exploit the potential of digital media. His books include Understanding Digital Literacies: A Practical Introduction (2nd edition) (Routledge, 2021, co-authored with Rodney JONES); and English in the Disciplines: A multidimensional model for ESP course design (Routledge, 2019, coauthored with Lindsay MILLER). He is the President of the AsiaPacific LSP and Professional Communication Association and a past President of the Hong Kong Association for Applied Linguistics.

Most-cited field: Languages and Linguistics

Professor Eddie HUI Chi-man

Head & Chair Professor of Urban Policy and Management, Department of Public and International Affairs

Hui’s principal research interests are housing and urban studies. He is a professional with diverse experience in research and consultancy projects. Hui has been serving a range of public organisations in Hong Kong. He was awarded the Medal of Honour (MH) by the Chief Executive in 2015 for his dedicated public service, in recognition of his contributions to the region, particularly the Town Planning Board and the surveying sector. He is currently the Vice Chairman of the Property Management Services Authority.

Most-cited field: Urban and Regional Planning

Professor KIM

Ki Joon

Associate Professor, Department of Media and Communication

Kim primarily investigates the socio-psychological antecedents and consequences of human-technology interaction. He develops and validates theoretical paradigms in which human interactions with the latest emerging technologies (e.g., the Internet of Things, wearable devices, autonomous vehicles and generative AI) lead to socially meaningful outcomes. Kim has authored over 100 related research articles, and his works have been featured in major international news outlets, including TIME, NBC News, Fox News, and The Guardian, as well as in local media in more than 15 countries.

Most-cited field: Human Factors

Professor Sylvia KWOK

LAI Yuk-ching

Professor, Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Kwok’s research mainly focuses on the family ecological and positive psychological factors related to children and adolescents’ mental health and well-being. She has published papers in highimpact international refereed journals related to children and adolescent anxiety, depression and suicide, parenting (including positive parenting, child abuse and neglect), as well as positive psychology concepts such as gratitude, emotional competence, growth mindset, self-compassion, flourishing, and meaning of life. Leveraging her research outputs, she has collaborated with over 300 local schools, social welfare agencies, and corporates to promote positive education for students, teachers, parents, employees, and the community.

Most-cited field: Social Work

Professor Matthew SUNG Chit-cheung

Associate Professor, Department of English

Sung’s ongoing research projects focus on the intersections of language use, language learning and identity negotiation in the context of international higher education. His expertise is in the area of applied sociolinguistics, with research interests in language and identity, language ideology, multilingualism, English as a lingua franca, and second language education. His recent publications have appeared in Applied Linguistics Review, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, Language, Culture and Curriculum, Linguistics and Education, and Journal of Language, Identity and Education

Most-cited field: Languages and Linguistics

Professor Richard M WALKER

Chan Hon Pun Professor of Behavioural and Policy Sciences, Chair Professor of Public Management, Department of Public and International Affairs

Walker’s research primarily focuses on public management and performance, research methods to advance public management, and sustainable development. His current agenda is focused on undertaking replications of prior experimental studies in public administration, citizen-government relationships, and the effective management of government.

Most-cited field: Political Science and Public Administration

Professor WANG Xiaohu

Professor, Department of Public and International Affairs

Wang is interested in the role of policy implementation capacity-building in improving the performance of public institutions. He has used this capacity-building approach to examine institutional forces influencing performance management, sustainable development, collaboration, and fiscal policy success of the US, Chinese, and Hong Kong governments, with extensive publications on these topics. In practice, he conducted programme evaluations for many local governments and non-profit organisations in the US and Hong Kong. He has authored nearly 100 publications, including the popular textbook Financial Management in the Public Sector (Routledge). He served on many academic editorial boards, and chaired the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Section on Public Performance and Management

Most-cited field: Political Science and Public Administration

Professor ZHANG Lin

Associate Professor, Department of Public and International Affairs

Zhang’s research is primarily in the area of energy and sustainability economics, focusing on climate change and energy transition-related policies that contribute to the sustainable development of society. The contribution of his work tries to understand

the interactions between the government, citizens and firms in the transition towards a green economy. He serves as the editor for The Energy Journal and a council member of the International Association for Energy Economics.

Most-cited field: Energy

Tam believes that young people can use some help in finding meaning in their lives.

Empowering Youths for Social Rejuvenation

In our fast-paced and ever-changing world, teenagers today face immense stress from multiple aspects of their lives. Professor Cherry TAM believes social entrepreneurship education and training can be key solutions to help enhance the psychological strength, resilience and self-esteem among young people today

In an increasingly competitive, complex and fast-paced world, it is not surprising that our youths are facing the kind of stress and challenges unseen previously. In fact, youth mental health has emerged as a defining concern of our time.

A recent study commissioned by the Hong Kong government has revealed that around 24 per cent of Hong Kong’s youth aged between six and 17 have experienced one mental health issue in the past year. Ominously, more than eight per cent of secondary school students have thought about suicide. Comparing these to global trends, Hong Kong is on the higher end.

While the situation is alarming, there is much that can be done, says Professor Cherry TAM, Associate Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at City University of Hong Kong. But first, understanding the root cause is important.

Creating Opportunities

According to Tam’s research, key factors contributing to this alarming trend are academic stress, family relationships and interpersonal relationships. To address these issues, early prevention and raising awareness are important. And society also needs to create enough opportunities for young people to explore their interests and personalities through collaborations.

“Right now, we have many arrangements, measures and resources that we have put into mental wellness, but most of the resources and emphasis need to be put into early identification, early prevention and early treatment,” Tam says.

Indeed, the Education Bureau recently awarded each of the city’s local schools HK$80,000 to promote mental health initiatives. While this is all heading in the right direction, Tam is eager to see more being done.

From her wealth of experience and research, she believes that young people need to find meaning and direction in their lives. She is an advocate for social entrepreneurship education and training, which she says is key to enhancing psychological strength, resilience and self-esteem among young people.

“We can’t just sit them down and give them a lecture, we need to encourage young people to have more life exposure, more experiences and to have greater collaboration and interaction with other people,” she said. “Social entrepreneurship education and training would allow them to have more understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and interests and to just simply know more about themselves.”

Discover Life Purpose

To this end, her work has been looking at the impact of social entrepreneurship education and how taking a meaning-centred approach can contribute to resolving mental health issues among the young.

According to this approach, meaning-centred is premised on existential philosophy which states that every person has an innate desire to live a more meaningful life, regardless of whether they are in a good or bad situation.

“So, the idea is to appeal to this,” Tam explains. “When they can’t find meaning or they don’t know their purpose, then they might engage in addiction, depression, or even aggression as a coping mechanism. If they can find meaning in life and know more about themselves, we can tackle the issues.”

For this reason, she says that social entrepreneurship education is a wonderful way to encourage young people to develop their business skills and immerse themselves in a positive way in society, while finding meaning in their lives. This is because

We can’t just sit young people down and give them a lecture, we need to encourage them to have more life exposure, more experiences and to have greater collaboration and interaction with other people

Professor Cherry Tam

at the heart of it all, social entrepreneurship education is about the greater good.

Contrary to traditional entrepreneurship where employment or youth employment is understood as wage employment with a focus on a lifelong career, with social entrepreneurship education, there is an emphasis on both economic and social values and doing something for the greater good. For example, developing apps that can help the elderly.

Tam explains that youths can innovate, develop their creativity, observe the market and start their own business. “They would also be able to make an impact by going a step further to use a business to address a social problem.”

Young people can then take ownership and develop solutions to social problems through team-based, project-based training with a focus on technology and mental wellness. And the benefits are priceless.

“These can enhance the awareness of the social problems while, at the same time, to enhance their entrepreneurship knowledge and skills, they will also need to know how to manage a business to serve the community to address the social problems,” she says.

The Power to Make Changes

Further to that, youngsters develop a strong sense of selfawareness and self-confidence, and the ability to work together to inspire each other to identify a social problem, think about a possible solution and capitalise on technology to address the problem. When youths are empowered to make social changes, that’s when they can really gain a sense of self-worth and find meaning, Tam says.

With such obvious benefits, Tam is passionate about bringing these ideas to policymakers. She says that there is still a gap for social entrepreneurship education, and this is the

impact she wants to bring to the table.

She says their research results, particularly in primary and secondary schools, suggest that the government puts more resources into the curriculum and allows it to lead social entrepreneurship education and training, to inspire the students to the market.

Calling it a win-win situation, she believes that it is in this awareness to give back to society that social progress in mental health can be made, while much good can be done for society where it is needed.

Tam adds that young people can make use of their creativity and innovation to develop their own businesses. “This is one way for them to develop a lifelong career to build up their own business and through that business or their success, they can create more employment, jobs and opportunities for other people,” she says.

Tam says there are numerous benefits to social entrepreneurship education, including gains in self-worth, self-awareness and self-confidence.

Sustainability as the “New Black”: Transforming the Language of Marketing

As consumers make eco-conscious purchasing decisions and shareholders monitor environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, Professor Esterina NERVINO believes it is vital that students interested in sustainability professions can communicate the new discourse to them

Long considered opposing forces, sustainability and luxury have begun to converge driven by a growing awareness of the planet’s finite resources and the urgent need for responsible consumption. As environmental consciousness continues to gain momentum amongst consumers, luxury brands are having to reimagine traditional notions of opulence and revisit the importance of transparency and traceability and the role of conscious consumer choices in shaping the future of luxury.

Accordingly, Professor Esterina NERVINO has taken a joint appointment as Assistant Professor with the Department of English and the Department of Marketing at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) to carry out research into these growing areas of concern and the importance of effective communication in sustainability.

Originally from Italy, Nervino feels that she is no stranger to luxury, having been born into a small town coincidentally called Diamante, the Italian word for ‘diamond’, synonymous with the world of luxury. Having more than 11 years’ experience in the academic and private sector combined, she has been studying how language and the use of images, colours, camera angle, and other semiotic resources shape the concept of luxury.

Especially in what she calls a new age of luxury, social media communication has been shaping consumer demand and driving a transformation in luxury. From the conventional definition and understanding of conspicuous consumption, social stratification and signalling, it has now evolved to conscious consumption, social equality and perhaps, importantly, sustainability.

Nervino says today’s luxury discourse is about the brand’s ESG commitments, efforts, achievements and going from “gold” to “green”.

Crafting Sustainable Brand Narratives

Indeed, her research into luxury communications shows that now more than ever, there is a growing need for authentic and engaging narratives that go beyond just addressing environmental considerations. She argues that there must be various communication strategies and best practices for conveying sustainability efforts to consumers. And there is also great danger in using loose language such as “eco-friendly” that can take brands down the slippery slope of greenwashing—when the PR and marketing of a product deceives the public into thinking an organisation’s products, aims and policies are environmentally friendly, when they may not be.

Besides seminars and workshops with companies across different sectors, “many of my engagement activities target the general public and students to shed light on how communication can manipulate some perceptions,” she says. To this end, Nervino is excited to be part of plans to bring this conversation into the classroom.

She designed a new course, launching next academic year, titled “The Language of Sustainability” at CityUHK, that will focus on sustainability communication through narrative and rhetorical conventions, and look at how language, images, colours, and the use of other semiotic resources influence the perceptions of sustainability messaging in communications across different channels.

Explaining that her role at CityUHK would be spread across the departments of two different colleges, Nervino says she hopes to create synergies between the two areas.

“Since my research areas mainly fall into Language for Specific Purposes and professional communication, basically I am examining how language is used in different domains,” she says.

Nervino says these days luxury brands seek to emphasise their ESG commitments and going from “gold” to “green”.

There is no need to treat marketing around sustainability as a competitive advantage. Instead, you need to integrate it into the business

Professor Esterina Nervino

Turning to luxury as a specific example, Nervino observes how luxury communication and marketing have changed. Describing sustainability as the “new black”, she says that the whole industry has undergone a transformation driven by consumer concerns, corporate pressure, risk for reputational and financial damage, and regulations in certain regions. For this reason, luxury and sustainability can no longer be mutually exclusive—in fact, luxury brands need to look at themselves from a new perspective and ensure that they can pave the way in sustainability innovation, changing their business models while embracing artisanal work and craftsmanship as essential marketing messages.

“So brands now shouldn’t be using sustainability as a marketing tool, we are not in that era anymore,” she says. Instead, Nervino advocates using evidence-based storytelling to avoid the abuse of the term “sustainability”.

“Storytelling, I think, is basically the main tool for luxury. What makes brands stand out is by telling a story that creates the collective imagery,” she adds.

She notes that some brands are already making moves in that direction with LVMH being one of the brands that has acquired a production house in France solely to shift its communication towards entertainment.

Brand Transparency Matters

“Students interested in sustainability professionals need to know how to communicate about it, whether you’re an engineer or someone in business or communication, we all need to be aware of the power of narratives,” she says, adding that the new course will therefore have very specific learning outcomes.

She then elaborates that there is now a concrete shift towards more scientific approach to sustainability communication. As such, the new norm requires that clear texts are used for all communication.

In fact, Nervino sees this as a real opportunity for brands to utilise quiet sustainability to deliver their communications while not compromising on their product.

“There is no need to treat marketing around sustainability as a competitive advantage, instead you need to integrate it into the business,” she says. “The role of brands today can be used to influence and educate consumers and influence their behaviour.”

“I’m not asking companies to change their products as this would inevitably impact their business, but just to rethink their business models and communicate honestly about what they are doing”, she says, adding that it is more about using the brand’s influence to show their peers and consumers what they are doing and sharing best practices.

“Ultimately, it is about being aware of the importance of the words used in advertisements that can be decoded and have an influence on themselves as consumers,” she says.

Distinguished Economist Spots the Lodestar in China’s Economy

Together with the Youth of Guangzhou and Hong Kong Association, CityUHK’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) hosted a public seminar, featuring distinguished guest speaker Professor Justin LIN Yifu, on China’s economy and its influential role in the global arena

Wars and conflicts have erupted across nations. Grappling with a complex web of challenges emanating from global and domestic uncertainties, China’s economy stands at a crossroads. How will it navigate these obstacles in the face of cutthroat competition?

In collaboration with the Youth of Guangzhou and Hong Kong Association, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) invited an esteemed economist, Professor Justin LIN Yifu, to deliver a public lecture

titled “How to understand the opportunities and challenges in mainland China” on 9 September 2023. Drawing an audience of over 500 students, faculty members and guests, the seminar brimmed with insightful perspectives and thought-provoking discussions.

Setting the stage for the captivating lecture was Professor Jennifer LIN Fen, Associate Vice-President (Global Strategy) and Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at CityUHK. With great enthusiasm, she first welcomed and introduced the keynote speaker.

Lin dispenses his wisdom at a lecture titled “How to understand the opportunities and challenges in mainland China”, on 9 September 2023.

Lin is a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and vice-chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee, focusing on development policy, agriculture and poverty in China and abroad. In 2008, he made history by becoming the first individual from a developing country to assume the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank. After his tenure at the World Bank, he returned to Peking University, where he contributed to higher education and academic research.

Lin has maintained a long-standing collaboration with CityUHK and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Social Science degree by the University in 2009.

Conflicts Pose Challenges

Lin then took to the stage and brought his astute observations and expertise to the audience. The very first question one would raise was: How did China manage to distinguish itself economically?

Karl MARX once preached his belief that history repeats itself. Lin thus drew parallels between the long-standing dominance of the Group of Eight (G8) in global economic affairs and the characteristics observed during the era of the Eight-Nation Alliance a century ago. This prevailing status quo remained unshaken throughout the last century.

Yet, the dynamics shifted following the global financial crisis

in 2008 as a new key player came: China. According to Lin, the nation’s rapid economic growth altered the global order. One of the many far-reaching impacts was the recalibration of SinoAmerican relations, which was a significant hurdle to China’s ongoing economic development.

The speaker then unpacked the tension between two mighty nations. “The outbreak of a war between China and the United States would pose challenges to the entire world, constituting an unprecedented global paradigm shift,” he remarked.

The Silver Lining

While identifying China’s current predicaments in the global economy and within its society, the speaker also presented a promising forecast for future opportunities as the silver lining. Lin noticed that China is realising its potential in developing innovative technologies. It will consequently drive growth in high-value-added sectors and facilitate the transformation into a digital society.

With a compelling blend of business acumen and political insight, Lin also supported his analysis with a data-driven approach. He skilfully interpreted key indicators such as GDP per capita and unemployment rate, spelling out their implications for the mighty nations.

“As the world watches with bated breath, China’s economic trajectory is poised to shape not only its future but also the international economy at large,” said Lin, concluding the importance of the Chinese market to economic stability worldwide.

Gloom or Bloom

The seminar later reached its culmination with an engaging dialogue facilitated by Professor Linda LI Chelan, Director of CityUHK’s Research Centre for Sustainable Hong Kong and Professor of Department of Public and International Affairs, and Professor Isabel YAN Kit-ming, CityUHK’s Associate Provost (Student Life) and Associate Professor of Department of Economics and Finance. Alongside Lin, the moderators guided a discussion and Q&A session, in which the participants eagerly seized the opportunity to delve into the complex issues at hand.

Lin offered valuable recommendations when asked about the increasing youth unemployment rate and shortage of skilled labour in China. He suggested government officials implement policies to promote investment and instil confidence among consumers and private enterprises. He was optimistic that the youth unemployment rate would show improvement by the end of 2023.

As the discussion wound down, it was not difficult to realise that opportunities and challenges are two sides of the same coin. The insightful seminar indeed left the audience inspired and better equipped to navigate the ever-changing economy.

Professors Lin (right), Yan (middle) and Li during the Q&A session.

Exhibition and Lecture Trace Marco Polo’s 700-Year Heritage

In collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong and Macau and the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong, CityUHK’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences co-hosted a series of events marking the 700 th anniversary of Marco Polo’s passing

Seven hundred years have passed, but the legacy of Marco Polo, the fabled Venetian merchant and explorer, remains a quintessential emblem. He represents the unbreakable thread that binds China and Italy, forever intertwined in a resplendent tapestry of heritage and tradition.

Tracing the footsteps of Marco Polo, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has joined hands with the Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong, to co-organise a series of events commemorating the 700th anniversary of his demise. It is also part of the festivities celebrating CityUHK’s 30th anniversary.

A Visual Portal to the Road Travelled First, the photo exhibition “Marco Polo and His Footprints”,

curated by the Italian news agency ANSA, unfurled its artistic splendour on 26 March 2024. This visual journey served as a portal, enabling visitors to traverse the hallowed paths tread by Marco Polo and delve deep into where he once left his footprints. The exhibition welcomed all CityUHK members and public visitors, and ran until 14 April 2024.

During the opening ceremony, Professor Freddy BOEY Yinchiang, President of CityUHK, delivered the opening speech. He emphasised that Marco Polo’s significance extended beyond connecting two geographical regions; he also bridged two civilisations. “Today, we celebrate the fact that Marco Polo is now better known than ever before, as he willingly brought one civilisation back to another,” Boey remarked.

Ms Alice FRATARCANGELI, Director of Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong and Macau, and Mr Carmelo FICARRA, Consul

The distinguished guests, including (from left) Prof Alfred Ho, Prof Li Wen-jung, Mr Federico Rampini, President Freddy Boey, Mr Carmelo Ficarra, Ms Alice Fratarcangeli and Ms Antonietta Cornacchia, inaugurated the photo exhibition “Marco Polo and His Footprints”.

General of Italy in Hong Kong, also delivered their opening remarks, providing prologues of both the exhibition and the public lecture.

With a joyous ribbon-cutting ceremony, the honourable guests officially commenced the inaugural event of the Marco Polo celebratory series.

Unearthing 700 Years of Pivotal Legacy

In concert with the exhibition, a public lecture titled “Marco Polo 700 Years Later” was also organised on the same day, with over 100 guests, faculty members and students in attendance. This event, featuring the renowned writer Federico RAMPINI, sought to delineate the profound significance of this revered voyager in the annals of Italian and Western history.

Professor Diego FOSSATI, Associate Professor of CityUHK’s Department of Public and International Affairs and one of the organisers of the Marco Polo events, first outlined the activities available in the series. Professor Esterina NERVINO, Assistant Professor of CityUHK’s Department of English (EN) and a co-organiser of the Marco Polo events, then emceed the public lecture and welcomed the speaker.

Drawing insights from several historical figures and phenomena, Rampini identified the intellectual dialogues between the East and the West facilitated through commerce and travel. He cited examples such as the Silk Road, the Mongol dynasty and Italian priest Matteo RICCI, illustrating Eurasia’s far-reaching impact on science, ideologies, religion and art.

In a thought-provoking conclusion, Rampini noted the ongoing global dispute and turbulence, affirming that the world should embrace the core values embodied by Marco Polo to foster advancements and discoveries. “Let us strive to rebuild some degrees of openness and curiosity that we can learn from Marco Polo,” he concluded with a hopeful message.

The floor was opened for questions after the talk. The audience inquired about the historical evidence and literature concerning the legitimacy of Marco Polo’s voyage. Rampini further clarified the myths and cultural exchanges surrounding Marco Polo, enriching the attendees’ understanding of the pivotal heritage that the traveller had contributed to the world.

During the closing remarks, Professor Alfred HO, Dean of CLASS, extended his gratitude to Rampini and all those involved for delivering a meaningful event on Marco Polo, as it perpetuated the importance of research in humanities and social sciences. “In just 60 minutes, we embarked on a journey spanning several centuries, regions and civilisations to contemplate the past, gain insights for today and envision the possible future,” Ho said.

Extensive Cross-Cultural Programme

As a hub for Sino-Overseas exchange and dialogue, CLASS has actively involved its faculty members in developing a crosscultural study programme for secondary schools. This programme comprises three riveting talks covering several humanities and social science topics.

In the first talk “Shells and Ships: Some Things Only Known to Marco Polo”, Professor YANG Bin of CityUHK’s Department of Chinese and History discussed Marco Polo’s travel history and relevant controversies.

Next, Professor Jason HARDING, Head of EN, explained how Marco Polo’s Il Milione served as a significant source of inspiration for Italo CALVINO’s Invisible Cities in his talk titled “Marco Polo and Imaginary Cities”.

Last but not least, Fossati delivered a talk titled “Marco Polo’s Adventures in Southeast Asia”. He shed light on the fascinating cross-cultural and diplomatic aspects of Marco Polo’s expedition in the region.

Secondary schools were invited to book an exhibition visit alongside these engaging talks as part of the tailored post-event outreach and shared initiatives.

All in all, it is evident that the series of Marco Polo events have coalesced into an intellectual and cultural exploration—one that unceasingly inspires generations both present and future.

Scan to watch Federico Rampini’s lecture

Rampini shed light on the intellectual exchanges shaped by the commercial and travel activities in Western history.

Ms Alice Fratarcangeli (from left), President Freddy Boey, and Mr Federico Rampini explored the captivating photographs showcased at the exhibition.

CityUHK Lab Boosts Youth Mental Health Awareness

Hong Kong’s education system has always been considered to be examination-oriented. Students face a variety of burdens, ranging from academic pressure to family issues. It is important to build resilience in children and teens so that they can identify their strengths and develop the ability to navigate, overcome and recover from adversity.

Professor Sylvia KWOK LAI Yuk-ching, Professor of CityUHK’s Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences and the Convenor of Positive Education Laboratory, leads a research project on the mental health of children and youths. The objective of the project is to identify protective and risk factors in order to prevent a youth mental health crisis. It also aims to empower youngsters by formulating user-centric strategies and tools for prevention and intervention in psychological health issues. The project is in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Work of the University of Calgary, Canada. A forum was held at CityUHK on 14 October 2023, with 32 students from four local secondary schools, and 48 teachers, principals, social workers, counsellors, district board members, parents and doctors attending the event.

Six groups of students presented their photo stories at the forum. Their photos illustrated their definition of mental health

and wellbeing, and were used as voices to speak up on essential factors to support positive mental health, and what community resources were available to improve their psychological state. Students shared photos of beautiful skies, important companions such as their friends and pets, family support and interests as protective factors to stay positive. They also showed photos of report cards, exam papers and school rules as the source of their stress. Students think that the natural environment and community centres can help them relax and release emotions.

Following the students’ session was the roundtable discussion by teachers, parents, social workers and other stakeholders. They shared their suggestions on increasing public awareness on mental health, matching relevant resources to solve the core problem, reforming the education system, promoting positive education in schools, building a peer supportive network, enhancing multiple intelligences of students, providing more space for students, and strengthening parent-school co-operation. The project is expected to improve existing social policies and services provided to children and youths. The results will be collated to enrich teaching materials and programmes in secondary schools and universities. The event strengthened the partnership between different stakeholders and raised awareness on mental health in all.

Local educators, students, parents and mental health professionals attended the sharing forum on 14 October 2023.

Building Effective Health Communication for Nurses

Clear and concise skilful communication is crucial to healthcare. Frontline nurses have frequent direct contact with patients every day, thus, effective communication skills improve transparency between practitioners and patients, and pave the way for accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions. The International HybridMode Conference on Healthcare Communication, which was jointly organised by the Department of English (EN) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and the School of Nursing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), was held on 28 December 2023 at Jockey Club Auditorium of PolyU.

The conference received support from the Hospital Authority (Nursing) and the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (PASS). It aimed to create safer and more compassionate healthcare practices in nursing and communication, by sharing the latest research and experiences on improving healthcare communication in various settings and contexts. The event featured 10 presentations by experts from Australia, Sweden, Singapore, USA, and Hong Kong, covering topics such as stigma, cultural sensitivity, patient safety, interprofessional collaboration, simulation-based education and translational research. It also included a panel discussion on the practitioners’

experiences. Professor Jack PUN, Assistant Professor of EN, shed light in his talk titled “Better Nursing Handover Communication: Translational Research and Training in Hong Kong Hospitals”.

The conference concluded with a summary and a call for action by the organisers, who highlighted the importance of integrating patient safety into healthcare communication research, training and clinical practice. They also called for increased collaboration and innovation among researchers, educators and practitioners in the field of healthcare communication.

The conference was a successful event that attracted more than 300 participants online and on-site from different disciplines and regions. It was well-received by the participants, who expressed their appreciation and feedback on the quality and relevance of the presentations and discussions. The conference also provided a valuable opportunity for networking and exchange of ideas among the participants, who came from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Discover more about the conference on healthcare communication

Prof Pun, project leader and organiser of the conference (sixth from right), and Prof Harding, Head of EN (fourth from left), together with speakers and organisers from the Hospital Authority (Nursing).

Tracing the Origins of Turtle Soup Across Three Continents

Food is an essential part of every culture, and the food culture of different countries helps people understand life, society, history and even the world.

On 28 February 2024, CityUHK’s Talent and Education Development Office (TED) invited Professor CHING May-bo, Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education and Quality Assurance) of College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Head of the Department of Chinese and History, to be the speaker for a CityU Tiger Featured Talk entitled “The Flow of Turtle Soup: How Historians Study Food to Understand the World”, leading the audience to explore culinary heritage and learn how historians study food to understand the world.

in the 17th century to a status marker for upper-class Europeans in the 18th century. The pleasure of eating turtle soup was underpinned by exotic references to “the West India Way” and national labels such as “the English fashion.” Around the same time, turtle soup in “the English fashion” was reproduced in Asia along with the trading activities and colonial endeavours of the British Empire. Into the second half of the 19th century, with the invention of canned food, the once upper-class dish became widely popular in the United States. The disastrous result was that the sea turtle hunt evolved from occasional seizure to outright massacre, which did not come to a halt until the 1970s, when large-scale harvesting was gradually restricted.

In his opening address, Professor Kenneth LO Kam-wing, Director of the TED Office, introduced the Featured Talk series as one of the events to enhance high-flying students’ personal and professional growth. He then briefly introduced the speaker, highlighting Ching’s academic success as an award-winning writer, and a distinguished scholar who studies the social and cultural history of modern China, especially how the regional culture of South China took shape in a trans-regional context in terms of sound, colour and tastes from the 16th to the 20th centuries.

The talk traced a transnational history of turtle soup through the flow of species, tastes, culinary techniques and food technology across three continents over more than three centuries. Ching described how the species, nested in the Caribbean, turned from a source of flesh for transatlantic seamen

The fascinating talk received positive feedback from many CityUHK faculty, students and staff. In the Q&A session, the audience was curious about the research process of historians when identifying and assessing relevant sources for their research questions. At the end of the seminar, Ching shared a “recipe” for those aspiring to become historians—do a lot of reading, collect ingredients (primary source materials, research work), cook your own dishes (writing) and have fun studying history.

Read Ching’s research paper “The Flow of Turtle Soup from the Caribbean via Europe to Canton, and Its Modern American Fate” online

Ching gave a lively presentation on the transnational history of turtle soup, exploring various perspectives over three continents and across three centuries.

Documentary by CLASS Faculty Wins International Film Award in Europe

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences of City University of Hong Kong is delighted to announce that the documentary film Ani Choying Drolma: Mission Impossible, directed by Professor Jennifer LIN Fen, Associate Professor of Department of Media and Communication and Associate Vice-President (Global Strategy) at CityUHK, and her collaborator BAI Shan, has received the NETPAC Award for the Best Asian/Pacific film at the 39th Warsaw International Film Festival.

The NETPAC Award is presented by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema to the best Asian feature film, as determined by juries at select international film festivals. The International Federation of Film Producers Associations recognises the Warsaw International Film Festival as one of the world’s premier accredited competitive film festivals.

Lin is a sociologist and a prolific bilingual writer who extensively covers topics related to media, art, technology, and social and cultural change. Ani Choying Drolma: Mission

Lin’s documentary Ani Choying Drolma: Mission Impossible received the NETPAC award at the Warsaw Film Festival.

Impossible marks her debut as a documentary film writer and coproducer. The film narrates the story of Choying DROLMA, whose mother was forced to marry against her will—both were victims of domestic violence. Ani Choying takes refuge in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery where she learns to sing. Later, her life takes an extraordinary turn when she crosses paths with a musician from the United States, leading her on a global music odyssey. By documenting Ani Choying’s path to becoming an influential and compassionate musician, and a leading voice for women in her country, the film aims to shed light on the pressing issues of gender inequality and female education in Nepal.

Watch the trailer for Ani Choying Drolma: Mission Impossible

The awarded film focuses on the journey of Ani Choying Drolma, tracing her path to becoming a highly influential musician in Nepal.

Dean: Professor Alfred HO

Director of Administration: Dr Hermia CHIU Po-hing

Production: College Publicity and Outreach Team

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