China News Service, Hong Kong, 20 January Title: Interview with Hong Kong Legislative Council Member Sun Dong: From scholars to parliamentarians, pragmatically focus on development
China News Service reporter Zeng Ping
From the ivory tower to the chamber, from a scholar to a parliamentarian, sun Dong, chair professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong and the new member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has just begun his cross-border career. "I hope to bring rationality and pragmatism, synergy and innovation to the Legislative Council, and the new Legislative Council will focus on development." The new lawmaker from academia said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency recently.
Sun Dong, the new member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was recently interviewed by a reporter from China News Agency. Photo by Zeng Ping, a reporter from China News Service
As a scientist, Sun Dong has been active in the front line of teaching and scientific research for more than 20 years, and in recent years has studied how to deliver micro-robots carrying stem cells or drugs into the body for precision medicine treatment, and the future practical dream of this research includes the treatment of tumors through minimally invasive or non-invasive surgery.
As a new Member of parliament, Sun Dong is gradually adapting to how to change from a low-key scholar who studies quietly to a high-profile member who sometimes has to express the voice of society, thinking about how to seek development for Hong Kong in a realistic way.
"Are you satisfied with the current situation in Hong Kong?" This is the question Sun Dong asked himself before he became a member of parliament. Born in Beijing, he studied at Tsinghua University and the University of Chinese in Hong Kong in the early 1990s, before returning to Canada in early 2000 and living in peace and contentment. His children were born and raised in Hong Kong, and he has long regarded the city as his home.
In Sun Dong's mind, the answer to the above question is undoubtedly negative. After improving the election system, with the encouragement of all parties, he stood up with the mentality of hoping that Hong Kong would become better. A university president once said to Sun Dong: "We admire you for making sacrifices, and we will fully support you." ”
Is being a parliamentarian a sacrifice? The reporter asked. Sun Dong replied that the personal research will be put aside first, but from another point of view, in the past, it served Hong Kong on a small scale at the scientific and technological level, and now it serves Hong Kong in an all-round way at a higher level.
At a time when Hong Kong is expected to usher in a new parliamentary culture under the new electoral system, he hopes to prove with practical actions that people with professional backgrounds are right to engage in public service.
Sun Dong joked that he was a Mandarin-speaking Hong Konger, and that Cantonese had no obstacles to daily communication, but in public he wanted to express the meaning accurately, so he insisted on speaking in Mandarin in the conference hall. He once said that he had no visibility before the election, and that he had been speaking Mandarin since the first day of his candidacy and was eventually elected, which was unimaginable under the previous electoral system. In his opinion, this is the charm of the new selection system.
The election process made Sun Dong feel "greatly benefited" and thoroughly understood Hong Kong's political, economic and public sentiments. He said that in more than 20 years in Hong Kong, he has never had the opportunity to contact representatives from various sectors and fully understand all issues in Hong Kong, and during the election period, he participated in nearly 75 meetings and found that the demands of each class and sector are different, and some are even opposite.
"This lays a good foundation for the next 4 years of performance." Sun Dong concluded that one of the important gains gained from this is to listen to the voices of all parties in a down-to-earth manner, and as a member of the ELECTION Committee sector, he should think about the issues from the overall interests of Hong Kong. "I think it should be more challenging for the EC sector to have access to a wide range of other areas, in addition to having access to areas in which it is good." He said.
Sun Dong hopes to do more work in the field of higher education and science and technology in the future. "The breakthrough in development is in science and technology." He affirmed the SAR Government's desire to develop science and technology innovation in recent years, but believed that there is still room for improvement, including the establishment of a full set of science and technology innovation ecological chains in Hong Kong, filling the shortcomings in the transformation of scientific research achievements, and providing young people with more job opportunities other than the service industry.
"I will definitely maintain access to the region in the future, and on the other hand, I will definitely focus on my expertise." Sun Dong is considering setting up an office in the region. He said that in the past, the Legislative Council had a bad impression due to political disputes, and now it is necessary to integrate their respective forces, seek common ground while reserving differences, and focus on development. As a newcomer to Parliament, many things are being learned, understood and adapted.
The new Legislative Council has held two meetings in the conference hall, and seeing a number of legislators express their opinions and suggestions to the SAR Government, Sun Tung believes that the Legislative Council's efforts to supervise the SAR Government will not be weak. "Definitely not Yes man." He said. (End)
Edit: Zhenglong
Source: China News Network