Media

HKU weekly notice

07 Apr 2017

 

HKU marine ecologists discover and name the first endemic tree-climbing crab, Haberma tingkok, from Tolo Harbour

The Mangrove Ecology and Evolution Lab (the Lab) at the Swire Institute of Marine Sciences (SWIMS) and School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), has recently discovered, described and named a new species of mangrove-climbing micro-crab wuth the size of less than a centimetre long, from Tolo Horabour, Hong Kong, Haberma tingkok, and published the description in Zookeys, an international journal dedicated to animal taxonomy.

Dr Stefano Cannicci, who led the Lab, and his research team will meet the media to elaborate the details and importance of the discovery. Details of the media briefing are as below:

Date:   April 10, 2017 (Monday)
Time: 10:45 am to 12:00 noon
Venue: Conference Room, Room 6N-11, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building

Spokespersons:
Dr Cannicci, Stefano, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences

Dr Kevin Ho King-yan, SWIMS

Mr Steven Wong Ho-tin, Year 4 undergraduate student

Miss Cherry Cheung Cheuk-yiu, Research Assistant

Media enquiry:
Communication and Public Affairs Office Ms Rhea Leung (Tel: 2857 8555/ 9022 7446; email: rhea.leung@hku.hk) or
Faculty of Science Ms Cindy Chan (Tel: 3917 5286/ 6703 0212; email: cindycst@hku.hk)

Release of 2016 Hong Kong Altruism Index and launch of mobile application “Helppiness”

The HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will hold a press conference on April 12 (Wednesday) to present the latest survey results on altruism and well-being. A new mobile application ‘Helppiness’ for promoting altruistic acts in the community will be officially launched on the occasion.

CSRP released the first Altruism Index survey results in 2014, followed by another round of territory-wide survey in late 2016. Professor Paul YIP Siu-fai, Director of the Centre, will present the latest findings at the conference. He will be joined by a retiree and a young man to share their valuable experiences in helping others. In addition, CSRP has developed a dual platform mobile application – Helppiness, for searching, recording, and sharing helping opportunities. The new app will be officially launched at the press conference. 

The 2016 survey and the development of Helppiness are supported by the Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation. A representative from the foundation will share their visions and missions in promoting altruism and well-being at the press conference.

Details of the press conference are as follows:
Date:      April 12, 2017 (Wednesday)
Time:      2:30 pm (Media registration starts at 2:15 pm)
Venue:   Social Sciences Chamber, 11/F, the Jockey Club Tower. Centennial Campus, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong (Direction enclosed)
Language: Cantonese (English is available for Q&A session)

Program:
2:30 – 2:40 Professor Yip releases research findings on Altruism Index
2:40 – 3:00 Experience sharing by two guests
3:00 – 3:05 Launch ceremony of the mobile app “Helppiness”
3:05 – 3:10 Speech by representative from Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation
3:10 – 3:30 Q&A session

For media enquiries, please call Mr. Rickey YAU at (Tel) 2831 5232, or send an email to csrp@hku.hk.

The Stephen Hui Geological Museum to present the largest exhibition on private mineral collections in Hong Kong

Period:  Now till August 31, 2017

This exhibition will showcase over 200 precious minerals from 18 collectors from Hong Kong homes. Highlights are the infinite variety of minerals on display including one of the best gemmy single crystals of Tanzanite from Merelani Mine, a very rare large gem quality Aquamarine on Albite with large fluid inclusions from Balochi, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and a 18 cm large gemmy Rhodochrosite on Quartz from the famous Sweet Home Mine in Colorado, U.S.A.. The mineral display cabinet of the late Dr Stephen Hui Sze-fun with a selection from his private collection is also included.

Details of the Exhibition:
Venue:  1/F, Stephen Hui Geological Museum, James Hsioung Lee Science Building, Main Campus, the University of Hong Kong
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays, University and Public Holidays
Free Admission

Special Weekend Openings from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on:
April 22/23, 2017 (Earth Day, special program to be announced later)
May 13/14, 2017 (International Museum Day)
June 10/11, 2017
July 15/16, 2017
August 12/13, 2017
Stephen Hui Geological Museum website: http://www.earthsciences.hku.hk/shmuseum/
The Mineralogy Society of Hong Kong website: http://www.minsochk.org/ENG/home.php

General Enquiries:
Tel: (852) 22415472  / Email: shmuseum@hku.hk

Media Enquiries:
HKU Communications and Public Affairs Office Rhea Leung (Tel: 2857 8555/ 9022 7446; Email: rhea.leung@hku.hk)

UMAG exhibitions

1. Illustrious Illuminations II: Armenian and Georgian Christian Manuscripts from the Eleventh to the Eighteenth Century --- Exquisite manuscripts from the Caucasus

Period: Now till June 11 2017 (Sunday)

Armenian illustrated manuscripts are some of the most lavishly decorated codices of the Christian churches from the Middle East. The Gospels are paramount among these, primarily because of the Armenian community’s respect for the sacred texts, revering them in the same way that Greek and Russian Christians regard holy icons. Such texts were carried into war by Armenian rulers and individual copies of the Gospels were often given sacred names and believed to hold miraculous powers.

Few Armenian manuscripts predate the Middle Ages. Individual examples of manuscripts from the seventh century are among the earliest known. Since the eighth century, Arab domination within Armenia largely suppressed Christian artistic expression, and no work is known prior to the end of the Caliphate in the mid-ninth century. Although a few manuscripts survive from the later ninth and tenth centuries, extant Armenian illustrated manuscripts are not common until the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Examples from these early periods begin the exhibition’s chronological display, introducing the tradition of teaching the Gospel through both word and image. The show is then complemented by a set of Georgian Gospel leaves illustrating the Evangelists.

The UMAG is grateful to Robert McCarthy for his generosity in sharing these many fine works with the general public.

Venue: 1/F, Fung Ping Shan Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam

2. Louis XV’s Qianlong Tapestries and Battle Scene Prints at the Imperial Court in Beijing A crossover of Chinese and French Imperial Collections

Period: Now till May 28 2017 (Sunday)

This unprecedented exhibition highlights four of the magnificent chinoiserie tapestries of Chinese Emperor Qianlong and the print of the Conquests of the Qianlong Emperor. This exhibition is one of the events of Le French May this year.

Venue:  1/F, T.T. Tsui Building, UMAG, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam

Opening Hours:
09:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Saturday)
13:00 – 18:00 (Sunday)
Closed on University and Public Holidays

Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk
Admission: Free
Website: www.umag.hku.hk/en/

Media enquiries:
UMAG Communication Officer Miss Elena Cheung, Tel: (852) 2241 5512, Email: elenac@hku.hk.