lack of government support for research at a time when scientific discovery was making it possible to develop new treatments and understanding of disease made the Faculty dependent on the generosity of donors. ‘These might include patients, pharmaceutical companies, other benefactors and international funds,’ he said. Things would start to change the year after his deanship ended, in 1991, when the Research Grants Council was established with HKUMed’s Professor David Todd (MBBS 1952, MD 1958) as its first chairman. However, there was a bright spot alongside the resource crunch because a door was opening – literally so – to Mainland China. The hinterland was keen to engage with the world and welcome visitors and exchanges. Professor Leong and Professor Chow Shew-ping (MBBS 1968, MD 1988, Dean 1995-98) were both among the early visitors. Engagements would expand throughout the 1990s. More urgent problems demanded attention closer to home during this time, though – in particular, the stress of the medical curriculum and the lack of sufficient physical space to grow and develop. Professor Felice Lieh-mak (Dean 1991-92), a psychiatrist, noted the need for a new teaching approach: ‘Teaching needs to be interactive and practical. Students and teachers have to adapt and adjust themselves to the changes and be emotionally stable and resilient.’ Professor Ma Chung Ho-kei (MBBS 1958, Dean 1992-95) planted seeds for future change when she launched a curriculum review and secured government approval for a site at 21 Sassoon Professor Felice Lieh-mak (Dean 1991-92) Professor Chow Shew-ping (MBBS 1968, MD 1988, Dean 1995-98) Professor Ma Chung Ho-kei (MBBS 1958, Dean 1992-95) 1990s Engagements between HKUMed with mainland China and the world expanded 5 HKUMed News Winter 2021
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