Creating your SPACE
Learning is a journey. For some, it’s a weathered path full of intriguing twists and turns; others welcome the stimulating trials and challenges; and many find exquisite joy in the blossoming flora they encounter along the way. As HKU SPACE celebrates its 60th anniversary, we are honored to have four alumni to share their journeys of learning with us, and talk about their experiences, and the beautiful scenery they encountered over the years.
Lam Chiu Ying, the former Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, takes us deep into the forest and contemplates the philosophical lessons he gained from bird watching. For Lam, learning is the most constructive form of leisure. Law Hiu Fung, a professional athlete and prominent Hong Kong rower, tells us how learning inspired him during a perceived impasse in his sporting career, and how the experience helped him to build a stronger sense of self. For world-class snooker player Ng On Yee, learning stimulates her intellectual and creative thinking, which in turn directly enhances her performance in competitions. And last but not least, Dr Ko Wing-man explains how he complemented his training in Western medicine with new knowledge from Chinese medicine, to build a truly person-oriented practice enriched with the subtle nuances of deep theories and traditions from the East.
Through their stories, we discover that each journey of learning is unique, with each voyage resulting in personal growth, intellectual and spiritual development, and an enriched personal space in which to thrive. Perhaps it’s now time to plan your own journey, and create and cultivate your own special space in which you can learn, grow, and flourish.
A Slice of Serenity
As we tread quietly through the dense woodland rich in flora and fauna, time seems to stand still. We find ourselves immersed within a serene oasis, tucked safely away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Who knew that the Hong Kong Observatory, located at the very heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, encompassed such a tranquil sanctuary of nature?
Built well over a century ago, the Observatory was established by Sir George Bowen, the 9th Governor of Hong Kong. Constructed in Victorian-Colonial style, the Observatory building is a declared Hong Kong monument, comprising a two-story plastered brick structure featuring arched windows and long verandas. In 1912, King George V designated the Observatory the “Royal Observatory, Hong Kong”, a title that reverted back to the “Hong Kong Observatory” on 1 July 1997.
Both meteorology and bird watching involve looking up into the sky. Lam Chiu Ying is not the only Director of the Hong Kong Observatory with a penchant for bird watching. The Observatory’s first Director after the Second World War, Mr Graham Scudamore Percival Heywood, was also an avid bird watcher, and often took friends on bird watching expeditions during his tenure in Hong Kong. Lam Chiu Ying once said: “It is lucky that the location of the Observatory provides a good environment for commonly found birds in Hong Kong to take a rest. Bird watching allows me to continue looking up into the sky; thus it is more or less like my job. But the main difference is that this time I am seeing living things, beautiful things, colourful things. It adds colour to my life.”
