NEW HKU PRESIDENT

2018-08-09 17:39
Beijing Review 2018年30期

Zhang Xiang, who was appointed as the 16th president and vice chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) for a five-year term in December last year, assumed office on July 17.

Addressing the media earlier that day, Zhang said that he was honored to serve HKU, which has a great tradition and history.

Zhang is a world-renowned scholar in micro and nano engineering. His current research focuses on nano science and technology, materials physics, photonics and biotechnology. Prior to joining HKU, he was a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California (UC), Berkeley and Director of the NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center.

Zhang, 54, was born in Nanjing, capital of east Chinas Jiangsu Province. He completed his bachelors and masters degrees in physics at Nanjing University before receiving his PhD in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley in 1996.

He was elected as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2010 and was awarded the Fitzroy Medal for his pioneering contribution in metamaterials and superlenses in 2014.

Bankrupt Bike-Sharing Company

Peoples Daily July 13

The case of Yueqi Information Technology Co., operator of bike-sharing platform Xiaoming Bike, defaulting on user deposits is the first public interest litigation involving shared bikes and the first case of a domestic bike-sharing company going bust. It provides a positive reference for other consumer watchdog groups to pursue public interest litigation to help consumers with the return of lost deposits. The case has also prompted the relevant authorities to either put pressure on bike-sharing enterprises to cancel user deposits or more effectively regulate the bank accounts used for deposits to guard against future problems.

The companys assets were insufficient to repay user deposits, while its bikes were expensive to recycle, with many becoming secondhand or waste assets of low value. To send a message to other bike-sharing companies and prevent similar cases, Xiaoming Bikes operators should be charged for embezzlement and prohibited from business activities.

Summoning or refunding more than 100,000 creditors across China who were involved in the case has been a major challenge for the judicial system and a waste of limited judicial resources that should not be repeated.

Society has thus far treated the sharing economy, including bike-sharing, with tolerance and prudence. Although it is reasonable for relevant sectors unfamiliar with this newly emerging form of business to relax regulation, the law must be upheld and operators prevented from encroaching on the legitimate rights of consumers.

5G is Coming

Oriental Outlook July 12

The emergence of new technologies, such as the Internet of Things and virtual reality, as well as 5G global standards, marks the approach of 5G mobile communication technology. Compared with its predecessor 4G, 5G boasts higher bandwidth and speed with lower latency. It is able to satisfy peoples ever-growing needs for communication and entertainment, and make networks more intelligent, accelerating the connection of people and things.

The general view holds that the difference from 2G to 4G had been a case of increasingly higher speed, while 5G marks a milestone in the innovation of the mobile communication industry as it can provide customized network services to meet multifarious demands. As an important component of information infrastructure, the great potential of 5G will undoubtedly be realized in the coming years.

Along with the rest of the world, China has been taking part in the race to develop 5G and has won global recognition with several important patents and examples of the technology put into practice. In the near future, driverless cars and remote surgery will become a reality according to plans released by operators, and 5G will be fully commercialized by 2020.

However, it should be noted that building a 5G network is a complicated and challenging undertaking for operators and other enterprises in the industrial chain and a process that cannot be completed with one stroke. Chinas developers should neither be overconfident nor underestimate themselves, but instead use the development of 5G as a turning point to push national technological innovation and seize the opportunities of the digital age.

Value of Art Museums

Guangming Daily July 12

It is incumbent on museums and art galleries to present the value of art and culture to audiences, yet some domestic art galleries still have a long way to go to fulfill the function of educating the public. For many parents, the lack of high-quality exhibitions and professional guides at museums has made visits with children feel superficial.

Chinese parents have begun to pay more attention to fostering their childrens appreciation for art. However, the ability of domestic art galleries to educate the public remains lacking. Many galleries either have too few guides or those they do have need to be improved.

Guidance can bridge the gap in understanding between the public and art exhibitions by teaching visitors about artworks and educating them through professional instruction. Although some domestic art galleries have begun to focus on guidance and instruction, most are yet to fully engage visitors and truly consider their experience. Some focus only on the display of the items, providing monotonous information which is unable to attract or educate younger audiences.

To make art museums more accessible to the public, the relevant sectors should focus on audience experiences and what visitors can gain from exhibitions rather than only the articles themselves.

HERO REJECTS REWARD

Zhang Haofeng, a man from Xinyang City in central Chinas Henan Province refused a 100,000-yuan ($14,960) reward for saving four lives after the Phuket boat accident, according to a local media report in Henan on July 16.

Zhang rescued his fiancée and three other people and drifted at sea for 12 hours after two tour boats carrying 127 Chinese tourists capsized off Phuket in south Thailand on July 5. Inclement weather and insufficient life jackets cost 47 lives in the tragedy.

Zhang refused the reward, saying “I dont think Im that great. Anyone would do the same in that kind of situation.”

Zhangs fiancée Meng Ying described him as a very kind man and said that she was not surprised by his actions because he always tries to help others in daily life. Zhangs father was also proud of his son.

Zhang has been applauded by Chinese netizens for his heroic act. Internet user Chen Guanghui said “Hes very humble. He doesnt brag about his heroic deeds, and this is exactly why many people are so moved by his story. He is a hero.”

“Our goal is to make use of those policies to entice more social capital into the bookstores and guide existing ones to upgrade their operations.”

Zhang Su, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Financial Work, speaking on July 17 after the bureau announced plans by the municipal government to invest 50 million yuan ($7.5 million) in the construction and operation of bookstores in 2018

“Many nature reserves in China have numerous residents, which poses a great challenge for protecting the sites.”

Tang Xiaoping, Deputy Director of the national park management office of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, revealing Chinas plan to draft a series of standards for the construction of national parks on July 11

“Unilateral trade measures are not useful for global economies because today they are more interdependent and overlapping than at any time in history.”

Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director of the International Trade Center, in a recent interview with Xinhua News Agency

“National hi-tech zones have become the main engine in Chinas economy, the bedrock for supporting Chinas hi-tech industries and a key force behind Chinas high-quality innovation-driven growth.”

Cao Guoying, Deputy Director of the Department of Hi-Tech Development and Industrialization of the Ministry of Science and Technology, commenting on Chinas hi-tech zones on July 16