6. Practical Training Course on Recombinant DNA Techniques
Recombinant DNA techniques lie at the heart of the astonishing advances now being made in molecular biology and through it in medical research and the broad field of biotechnology. Comparatively little work is being done in this whole field in Hong Kong and it is most desirable that this be remedied as soon as possible. The Trustees therefore welcomed the proposal that a short training course of 3-4 weeks should be held in Hong Kong under the auspices of the International Council of Scientific Unions which would supply the specialist teachers. In response to a request from Drs. Tam and Lam of the Biochemistry Department, University of Hong Kong, (which would be host to the training course) a grant of HK$110,000 was made towards the cost of the course.
7. Grants for Needy Students
The attention of the Trustees was drawn to the serious predicament in which able students in a university or similar institution can find themselves through the unexpected loss of the family breadwinner or other similar family disaster, and they felt that they would like to offer help in such cases. Accordingly they agreed to give the sum of HK$100,000 to each of the two universities in Hong Kong and to the Hong Kong Polytechnic, and HK$60,000 to the President of the Baptist College, to be used by them at their sole discretion to help such needy students during the academic year 1982-83. The head of each institution was asked to report on the working of the scheme at the end of the academic year and if it proved of real value the Trustees would consider extending the scheme to future years.
8. International Summer School of Physics
An application was received from the Chinese University for financial help to operate its First International Summer School of Physics which it was proposed to hold in August 1982. As the subject (Optoelectronics) was important and the main participants very' prominent in their fields, the Trustees decided to make a grant of HK$100,000 towards the expenses of overseas participants. They understood that if this first summer school was successful the University might seek to make it into an annual event; the University was therefore informed that although the Trustees might entertain applications for a summer school from time to time there could be no question of the Foundation underwriting the summer school on a regular basis.
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