CW Chu College The Chinese University of Hong Kong eNewsletter

High Table Dinner (Term 1): UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) and beyond (Mr LEUNG Wing Mo)

The First High Table Dinner was held on 17 November 2022 in celebration of the College Founders' Day. Our guest of honour Mr LEUNG Wing Mo, Former Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, addressed the audience on issues of sustainability and climate change.

Known for his famous role as the host and editor of a highly successful local TV programme MObservatory (武測天), Mr LEUNG impressed students and guests with his eloquent style and a topic that is timely. He introduced the audience to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27), being held in Egypt as he was speaking, making reference to the history and development of COP and its significance in the world today — from the environmental to the political perspectives — with vividly captivating anecdotes and examples.

Although he cited the blatant warning given by the UN Secretary-General at COP27 that we are ‘on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator,’ Mr LEUNG's sharing took a moderate approach. He illustrated the topic of rising global temperatures with cases including deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, coral reefs die-off and disintegration of the West Antarctic ice sheet, among others, and their ensuing impact on the environment and our society, but placed the discussion on tiny, gradual changes to individual lifestyles that will incrementally and collectively reduce carbon footprints on a massive scale.

Mr LEUNG's sharing manifested a subtle sophistication, by illustrating a serious topic sometimes depicted as the exclusive business of high-level discussions with the down-to-earth sincerity of a citizen. ‘To avoid the unmanageable, and to manage the unavoidable,’ Mr LEUNG concluded, merging the earnestness of an expert with the warmth of a storyteller, who narrated a story of the earth that humbly calls for actions everyone can and should take to mitigate climate change.

High Table Dinner (Term 2): Art Museum as a Place of Social Healing (Prof Josh YIU)

Prof Josh YIU, Director of the Art Museum of CUHK, was the guest of honour of this High Table Dinner, held on 18 April 2023. Prof YIU's talk captured the power of art museums as places of social relevance and healing.

With keen eyes and the charm of a museum professional, Prof YIU took the audience through his endeavours curating art and presenting rich cultural narratives to field practitioners and a lay audience alike. Through reminiscences of events most impressive, photos of artworks had seemingly acquired a life beyond their two-dimensional representation on screen and temporarily turned the venue into an exhibition hall. Through his eyes, the audience caught a glimpse of the interactions that took place, as if they were partaking in those dialogues in real time.

Prof YIU discussed how art museums, especially in difficult times, can be places of solace. He recounted how he witnessed, as a graduate intern at a museum, the healing power of museums, when people plagued by traumatic experience would gather and stand in awe, seeking comfort through art, which had reinforced his commitment to the social mission of museums.

The talk reached its most fascinating moment when Prof YIU introduced the ‘Hong Kong Impressions’ exhibition, which presented a historical view of the city's development by showcasing paintings and photographs from the 1940s to the 1970s. The surprise came when the audience saw in action an award-winning virtual tour Prof YIU's team created based on the exhibition. Supported by modern street views from Google Earth, the tour offers an immersive experience across familiar spots in the city, juxtaposed with their historical images — the effect was at once relatable and extraordinary.

Prof YIU concluded on an encouraging note, relating how collaborations with museums abroad forge mutual understanding and connections across space and time, bringing the idea of art museum as a place of social healing to full circle.

The night also featured music performances by Mr Lance MA (Year 2, Chinese Medicine) and Ms Selina CHOI (Year 1, Medicine), who expressed the healing power of music.

Played by cellist Lance:
- J.S. Bach: Prelude from Cello Suite No.1 in G major

Played by pianist Selina and cellist Lance:
- J.S. Bach/Gounod: Ave Maria

- Saint-Saëns: The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals