Convocation Newsletter, Spring 2019

HKU students can study to become veterinarians through two avenues. At the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine , Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences students can apply for a Graduate Entry Programme for the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery (BVM&S) at The University of Edinburgh. This articulation programme, first announced in 2013, allows students to obtain two degrees from two universities, and earn qualifications as veterinary surgeons in seven years. In October 2018, HKU’s Faculty of Science announced a similar programme that allows BSc students to articulate into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme at the University of Melbourne. Graduates will be conferred two degrees from the two universities in no less than seven years. The internationally accredited programme will allow graduates to work as practicing veterinarians in many countries without further training. HKU’s Healthy Chickens Becoming a Vet Regulars at HKU Libraries have probably met Jasper, the loveable and shaggy resident Library Therapy Dog. The Old English Sheepdog, who was adopted from Hong Kong Dog Rescue by a Libraries employee, has been working since 2017 to help students cope with stress, particularly during exam periods. But Jasper is not the only dog in town. “If you are afraid of dogs… you can sit in the front. This is called ‘flooding’ in psychology”, Dr Paul Wong 黃蔚澄 , Associate Professor and a clinical psychologist at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration , said jokingly to his students as he led a canine friend into the classroom. “I want to share with my students that human-animal interactions are more powerful in our lives than we think,” he said. Dr Wong studies how well-trained therapy animals can help people who have difficulties dealing with modern life. He is particularly concerned with Hong Kong’s estimated 20,000 to 40,000 “socially withdrawn youth”, who lock themselves at home due to social fears. Dr Wong works with a non-profit social service organisation to use therapy animals to bring these youth out of their shell. Man’s Best Friend Today, when you buy an all-natural, locally-bred Kamei Chicken 嘉美 , you can have HKU innovation to thank. In 1997, Professor Daniel Chan 陳鑛安 (BSc 1962; MSc 1965) a zoologist and Emeritus Professor, worked to develop a new local breed called Kamei Chickens, a collaboration with the Kadoorie Agricultural Research Centre, now known as the Kadoorie Centre of The University of Hong Kong in Yuen Long. The chickens have relatively low fat content, are rich in collagen, and are free of added hormones, antibiotics and harmful chemicals. “Kamei Chickens were first introduced to the market in 2001 and fully commercialised in 2003. The production and marketing operations are carried out in Hong Kong by Vital-Health Livestock Development Ltd, a spinoff company from the University, which uses pure breeding technology,” explained Dr S C Kim , Director of the Technology Transfer Office. “Kamei Chicken has been well received by customers. Health-conscious consumers find it an excellent choice to satisfy both their appetites, as well as their food- safety needs.”