Hong Kong Science Academy Celebrates Decade of Innovation

The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences (ASHK) held its 10th Anniversary Celebration Banquet today (22 January) at the Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong. Nearly 200 leaders and representatives from academia, government and industry gathered to reflect on ASHK's accomplishments in advancing local scientific research and fostering innovation over the past decade, while also looking ahead to a new chapter in the development of Hong Kong's innovation and technology (I&T) sector.

Mr John LEE, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government, delivered a speech at the ceremony preceding the banquet.

Mr John LEE, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government, delivered a speech at the ceremony preceding the banquet. Professor SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Ms. Lillian CHEONG, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Mr Duncan CHIU and Professor William WONG Kam-fai, Legislative Council members, along with other distinguished guests, were also in attendance.

Established in 2015, ASHK is dedicated to fostering international collaboration, showcasing Hong Kong's excellence in scientific research, strengthening science education, and providing forward-looking recommendations on scientific research and education. It has garnered consistent support from the Hong Kong SAR Government and various sectors of the community. To systematically cultivate scientists committed to serving society, ASHK established the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences (YASHK) in 2018. Over the past decade, ASHK and YASHK have become vital pillars of Hong Kong's I&T ecosystem, having jointly organised more than 660 science outreach events with over 150,000 participants.

Professor Dennis LO, President of ASHK, remarked that ASHK's growth has paralleled Hong Kong's I&T development.

Professor Dennis LO, President of ASHK, remarked that ASHK's growth has paralleled Hong Kong's I&T development. ASHK has also witnessed the HKSAR Government's dedicated policies and strategic investments, which have laid a robust foundation for technological progress and paved the way for future breakthroughs. He went on to express his sincere gratitude to Mr LEUNG Chun-ying, then Chief Executive of the HKSAR; Mr WAN Gang, then Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC and Minister of Science and Technology; and Professor BAI Chunli, then President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, whose staunch support led to the establishment of ASHK in 2015. He also thanked the HKSAR Government and various sectors for their support over the past decade, and paid special tribute to Founding President Professor Lap-chee TSUI for his dedication and leadership.

Mr John LEE, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government, delivered a speech at the ceremony preceding the banquet.

Professor LO emphasised that science is not only a lifelong pursuit for scientists but is increasingly recognised as the cornerstone of a modern nation's strength. He urged that, with Hong Kong now in a golden era of technological innovation, the local I&T community should seize this opportunity to strengthen and leverage its advantages to support Hong Kong's development as an international I&T hub. Professor LO stated, “ASHK will continue its commitment to nurturing young scientific talent and, together with all sectors, create an even more brilliant future for advancing I&T in Hong Kong." In addition, during the banquet, Professor LO presented membership certificates to five newly elected ASHK Members and twelve newly elected YASHK Members for 2025.

The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences (ASHK) held its tenth annual general meeting today (11 December) and elected five new members, namely, Professor Xuhua HE , Professor Mei-Po KWAN , Professor Siew Chien NG , Professor Michael HÄUSSER and Professor Wai-Yeung WONG Raymond. Professor Dennis Yuk Ming LO, President of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, congratulated the five newly elected members, praising them for their outstanding achievements in scientific research and significant contributions to social progress. He hopes that by bringing together more scientists who have made remarkable contributions to Hong Kong’s scientific development, ASHK can further promote the city’s research capabilities, reinforcing its position as an international innovation and technology centre, and continue to promote the popularisation of science, nurturing a new generation of research talent to contribute to Hong Kong and the nation as a whole.

Professor Xuhua HE is a mathematician who is conducting research in areas that include arithmetic geometry, algebraic groups, and representation theory. His work on finite and affine Weyl groups, and flag varieties, has gained wide recognition for its innovative approaches and applications.

Professor Xuhua HE

Professor Mei-Po KWAN is a geographer who applies cutting-edge geographic information science and remote sensing methodologies to address pressing health, transport, environmental and social challenges in urban settings. Her pioneering work has led to the identification of two major conceptual breakthroughs - the Uncertain Geographic Context Problem (UGCoP) and the Neighbourhood Effect Averaging Problem (NEAP) - which challenge traditional residence-based approaches to neighbourhood effect research and have driven a paradigm shift toward mobility-based environmental exposure assessment.

Professor Mei-Po KWAN

Professor Siew Chien NG is at the forefront of epidemiology research on inflammatory bowel disease and the role of gut microbiota in health and disease. She has discovered novel gut microbial signatures and transformed such signatures into clinically applicable non-invasive tests for early diagnosis of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

Professor Siew Chien NG

Professor Michael HÄUSSER is a renowned neuroscientist. He has made significant discoveries that have deepened the understanding of how single neurons contribute to computation in the mammalian brain, particularly in the role of dendritic cell in information processing. Through his lab, he has adapted and developed ‘neurotechnologies’, such as combining two photon imaging and two-photon optogenetics, to study the function of neural circuits in the cerebellum and neocortex, alongside careful quantitative analysis and modelling.

Professor Michael HÄUSSER

Professor Wai-Yeung WONG Raymond is a chemist engaging in research on the designing and synthesizing of molecular functional materials and metallopolymers (1D and 2D) with photofunctional properties and energy applications. His team is committed to developing sustainable energy sources and enhancing energy conversion technologies to address upcoming global energy needs while promoting a cleaner, more resilient future.

Professor Wai-Yeung WONG Raymond