Autumn Issue, 2017

“ In 1970, I was head-hunted and appointed by Professor Brian Lofts to be an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, with the stated task of commencing the teaching of marine biology here. And, before I knew it, I had students, I was in love with the place, the people and the University. ” Professor Brian Morton is a world-renowned scholar specialising in marine biology, marine ecology and malacology. He spent almost 34 years working at HKU, virtually his entire academic career, retiring in 2003 as Emeritus Professor of Marine Ecology in the School of Biological Sciences. He was the Founding Director of the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) of HKU. Professor Morton carried out pioneering investigations that revealed the life history and ecology of Hong Kong’s local marine fauna and flora, and published extensively on the marine biology and ecology of Hong Kong, Mainland China, the Azores and the Gulf of Mexico. His well-known book, “The Sea Shore Ecology of Hong Kong”, is a must-read for those who would like to learn more about Hong Kong’s local marine organisms and their ecology in different coastal habitats. During his tenure at HKU, Professor Morton supervised 39 PhD candidates, 23 MPhil students, and 14 MSc students in the field of marine ecology and biodiversity conservation; many of them now are distinguished scholars and researchers, including the current Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Dr Leung Siu-fai 梁肇輝 (BSc 1986; PhD 1992), the current Director of the Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Joe Lee 李成業 (BSc 1982; MPhil 1985; PhD 1989), and the former Director of School of Biological Sciences of HKU, Professor Rudolf Wu 胡紹燊 (BSc(Sp) 1972; MPhil 1974). He also first proposed and was instrumental in helping to establish marine conservation in Hong Kong, including the creation of various Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Mai Po Nature Reserve, the Cape d’ Aguilar Marine Reserve and Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre, as well as The Swire Marine Laboratory opened in 1990 and renamed to SWIMS in 1994. On the Edge – of the Sea Professor Brian Morton Happy reunion at the book launch on June 9, 2017: “A Life Spent on the Edge – of the Sea: Genealogy and 1942-2003” 74 Class Notes