Leading scholar in artificial intelligence (AI) Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research), Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence at Lingnan University, has been honoured with the 2026 IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation Outstanding Paper Award for his co-authored paper Learning-Aided Evolution for Optimization. It is the sole paper to receive this award this year, underscoring its importance in the fields of evolutionary computation and AI.
The award, highlighting Prof Kwong's international leadership in AI research, was established by the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society, whose journal is a globally recognised academic citation index database platform, ranked 11th among 204 journals in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence category of the Web of Science.
Published in 2023, the award-winning paper introduces a groundbreaking approach that integrates a learning component into traditional evolutionary computation methods, enabling AI to identify optimal solutions faster and more accurately in complex scenarios. The research team developed a novel, learning-aided, evolutionary optimization (LEO) framework, which allows artificial neural networks (ANNs) to learn from successful experiences during the evolutionary process. By observing which solutions outperform previous ones and recording this knowledge for future reference, evolutionary computation methods can move beyond random mutation to leverage past experience, significantly improving efficiency.
To evaluate the effectiveness of LEO, extensive experiments were conducted on international benchmark platforms, including single-objective and multi-/many-objective evolutionary optimization problems. Results demonstrate that LEO consistently outperforms traditional evolutionary computation methods, achieving higher efficiency and accuracy in complex problem-solving. Originally a highly forward-looking concept in 2023, LEO has increasingly been applied to areas requiring complex computations, such as traffic planning, smart manufacturing, drug discovery, and green energy, demonstrating broad practical potential.
Prof Kwong said “As global societies and industries face growing demands for rapid computation and precise prediction, traditional evolutionary optimization approaches often struggle with large datasets or multi-objective scenarios. Our innovative approach allows AI to learn from past experience, helping evolutionary optimization approaches avoid unnecessary steps and quickly find high-quality solutions. In today's fast-evolving technological landscape, this methodology is becoming an essential tool in AI applications. This international recognition not only validates our team's efforts, but also favours Hong Kong's global leadership in AI research, with a long-term positive impact for society.”
The research paper is co-authored by Prof Zhan Zhi-hui and Dr Li Jian-yu from the College of Artificial Intelligence of Nankai University; Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, and Prof Zhang Jun from Hanyang University. For the full paper Learning-Aided Evolution for Optimization, please visit: Learning-Aided Evolution for Optimization | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore.
Lingnan University AI expert Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu receives the 2026 IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation Outstanding Paper Award.
DH clamps down on illegal cigar smoking in no-smoking areas
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) carried out surprise inspections in Kwun Tong today (May 30) and issued a total of threefixed penalty notices (FPNs) in an effort to clamp down on illegal cigar smoking in no-smoking areas.
During the operation codenamed "Smokeshield", officers from TACO (including plainclothes officers) carried out inspections and enforcement action at one cigar retail shop in Kwun Tong, and issued a total of three FPNs to persons smoking cigars illegally at the premises. TACO's investigation is ongoing, and prosecution may also be taken against operators of the cigar retail shop who are suspected of aiding and abetting smoking offences.
Under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Ordinance), smoking in a statutory no-smoking area (including indoor areas of shops) is prohibited. Any person who smokes in a statutory no-smoking areas is liable to a fixed penalty of $3,000. Venue managers of statutory no-smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request a smoking offender to cease the act. If the offender is not co-operative, the manager of the no-smoking area may contact the Police for assistance.
Moreover, where smoking products (including cigars) are sold, whether in cigar retail shops or otherwise, the restrictions on the promotion and sale of smoking products stipulated in the Ordinance apply. Offenders are liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000.
In addition, under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the same offence.
"From January 2025 to date, the DH has conducted over 42 inspections of cigar shops regarding illegal smoking activities, and issued a total of eight FPNs for illegal smoking in these premises. The DH will continue to closely monitor and rigorously enforce the law against smoking in no-smoking areas, as well as the illegal sale and promotion of smoking products," said the Head of TACO, Dr Manny Lam.
He cautioned that cigar smoking is just as harmful to health as other smoking products, and urged smokers to quit as early as possible for their own health and that of their family and friends. In support of the World Health Organization's World No Tobacco Day on May 31 each year, the DH is launching the 'Quit in June' campaign. Free one-week smoking cessation drug trial packs are being distributed at over 300 community pharmacies, smoking cessation clinics, District Health Centres (DHCs)/DHC Expresses and DH clinics, while free Chinese medicine ear points patches are available at over 200 designated Chinese medicine clinics to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms. The DH has collaborated with the School of Nursing of the University of Hong Kong to launch a pilot AI-assisted smoking cessation counselling service - "Chat to Quit" this year. The AI provides accurate and appropriate smoking cessation information instantly, and offers personalised smoking cessation counselling according to users' smoking history and quitting preferences. It can also provide emotional support.
The DH also operates an integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline (1833 183) to answer enquiries about smoking cessation, and provide professional counselling and referral services. Members of the public can visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on smoking cessation and related support tools and services. They can also download the "Quit Smoking App" to keep track of their quitting progress and obtain tips on fighting cravings to maintain a tobacco-free life.
Source: AI-found images
DH clamps down on illegal cigar smoking in no-smoking areas Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH clamps down on illegal cigar smoking in no-smoking areas Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Source: AI-found images
