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(Hong Kong, 7 September 2007) Dr Li Ka-shing said today at the opening of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences that his gifts to the institute are dedicated to all the men and women who have committed to the defense of health and to the well- being of mankind.

In addition to the HKD100 million given to the institute in 2005, Li Ka Shing Foundation also announced today the establishment of the second Li Ka Shing Professorship. The first was held by Dr Dennis Lo who also serves as the Director of the Institute. CUHK Vice-Chancellor has nominated Professor Hsiao-chang Chan, Professor of Physiology and Director of Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre to be the endowed professor for this HKD20 million new professorship.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Dr Li called for seamless collaboration between academia, industry and government if we want to capitalize on the momentum of fast pace development in biotechnology.

He said, "The innovative nature of drug research and development to decipher and utilize advanced knowledge from the broad spectrum of life sciences research relies heavily on intense collaboration between industry and academia. It depends on far-sighted investments as well as resources and policy support from the government."

He quoted 19th century renowned scientist Louis Pasteur's appeal to Napoleon III "Physicists and chemists without laboratories are like soldiers without arms on the battlefield."

He also shared the famous sad story of the chemist-healer with the 10-year-old Louise Pelletier to articulate the importance of empathy to the patients. He said being ill can be a very lonely journey and no one can truly understand the isolation, uncertainty of illness and the unyielding pain.

"We must strive to be intuitive and empathetic, bringing relevance and courage in a time of weakness and vulnerability," said Dr Li. "It is my hope that we see compassion as something beyond feeling - that we couple it with a sense of duty to each other. In this way, we will be more aware of others - of their perspective - and strive to do what is appropriate and right."

Also speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Lawrence J. Lau, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, said, "The Chinese University is very honoured to have received this generous support of our clinical and health science research from Dr Li Ka Shing and his Foundation. This donation affirms the achievements of our medical team and injects tremendous momentum into their research efforts. The Foundation has agreed to fund the second Li Ka Shing Professorship. On behalf of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, I would like to thank Dr Li once again and I look forward to receiving his continuous support and advice."

Professor Hsiao-chang Chan is a leading authority in epithelial cell-related multidisciplinary research and has contributed significantly to a number of important discoveries, including a cell shrinkage-activated cation channel, a novel defensin molecule in the epididymis for sperm maturation and the role of a cell membrane protein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), in fertility and infertility.

These discoveries have not only shed lights on the understanding of how epithelial secretions affect our bodily functions, reproduction in particular, but also provided leads to the development of new strategies for diagnosis and treatment of infertility as well as for contraception. Professor Chan has received a number of prestigious awards including National Natural Sciences Award of China in 1997, Distinguished Young Investigator Award by the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2000 and Croucher Senior Research Fellow 2007-2008.

A distinguishing feature of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences is the innovative and interdisciplinary approach emphasizing research projects that aimed at translating advances in basic and molecular sciences into tests and treatments that will benefit patients and promote health.

Also attending today's ceremony were Council Chairman of CUHK Dr Edgar Cheng, Chairman of the Hospital Authority Mr Anthony Wu, Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority Mr Shane Solomon, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK Professor Tai-fai Fok and Director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences Professor Dennis Lo.

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1. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Dr Li Ka-shing urges medical workers to be intuitive and empathetic, bringing relevance and courage in a time of weakness and vulnerability.

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2. Professor Lawrence J. Lau, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, and Dr Li Ka-shing congratulate each other at the unveiling ceremony of Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences.

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3. Dr Li Ka-shing shares a relaxing moment with Dr Edgar Cheng, Council Chairman of CUHK, after the opening ceremony, while Mr Anthony Wu, Chairman of the Hospital Authority (second from the left) and Professor Tai-fai Fok, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK, look on (far right).

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4. Professor Tai-fai Fok, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK, presents a souvenir to Dr Li Ka-shing to thank his support for medical education.

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5. Dr Li Ka-shing receives a paper fan with an inscription "Knowledge reshapes destiny, scientific research constructs people's livelihood" from a group of medical students of CUHK.

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6. The Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences is housed in the Li Ka Shing Medical Sciences Building at Prince of Wales Hospital.

Chairman Wu, Chairman Cheng, Vice-Chancellor Lau, Dean Fok, Director Lo, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you. It is an honor to be here with men and women dedicated to the defense of health and to the well-being of mankind. I read in an article that Louis Pasteur once appealed to Napoleon III that, "Physicists and chemists without laboratories are like soldiers without arms on the battlefield."

What was true then, is even more important now. As a result of rapid progress in biotechnology, a restructuring process is underway worldwide, setting the stage for competition and advancement in the health sciences and health care industries.

The innovative nature of drug research and development to decipher and utilize advanced knowledge from the broad spectrum of life sciences research relies heavily on intense collaboration between industry and academia. It depends on far-sighted investment as well as resources and policy support from the government.

These factors are critical if we want to capitalize on the momentum in this industry and participate in the global competition.

I know that the research work now underway at this institute will play a role in advancing effective treatment for challenging illness. There are genius and innovation, here. But saving a life takes more than that. It requires knowledge and an empathy for those who are ill. There is an understanding that being ill is a lonely journey. Even when a friend or relative says to the patient, "I know how you feel," we know that in reality no one truly understands the isolation and uncertainty of illness. No one can truly empathize with the unyielding pain.

We must strive to be intuitive and empathetic. We must try to understand. We may know how to diagnose and what to prescribe, but do we know how to explain it? We can treat the symptoms and the illness, but do we feel the needs of the patient? We can recite scientific terminology, but can we communicate in a way that the patient understands - bringing relevance and courage in a time of weakness and vulnerability?

Louis Pasteur is recognized as a man whose works improved life's lot for generations. Amongst his numerous stories, this particularly touches the heart: when news of Pasteur's effective antidote for rabies swept the world, out of the 350 cases he successfully treated, Pasteur still made an effort for a ten-year-old little girl whose case was too advanced for a cure. Against hope, Pasteur looked for a miracle, but his efforts were in vain.

As the little girl died, the scientist held her hand, and with tears in his eyes told her parents, " I did so wish I could have saved your little one."

It is my hope that we see compassion as something beyond feeling - that we see it coupled with a sense of duty to each other. In this way, we will be more aware of others - of their perspective - and we will strive to do what is appropriate and right.

No doubt, this is a much heavier burden, but there is no more important work than serving others. And nothing is more fulfilling. You have done well and I am sure that together we will do even better.

Thank you.

About Li Ka Shing Foundation

The Li Ka Shing Foundation was established in 1980 to nurture a culture of giving. Dr Li believes that this can be accomplished by focusing on capacity empowerment through education and the building of a caring society through medical and healthcare projects. The Li Ka Shing Foundation and other private charitable foundations established by Dr Li have supported numerous philanthropic activities with grants, sponsorships, and commitments of over HK$8.4 billion.

For further information, please visit: www.lksf.org

For media enquiries, please contact:

Li Ka Shing Foundation
Mr Jeremy Lau
Phone : (852) 2128 1207
Fax : (852) 2128 1766
Email : Jeremyl@hwl.com.hk

Faculty of Medicine, CUHK
Ms Bobo Lai
Phone : (852) 2632 2887
Fax : (852) 2649 0208
Email : bobolai@cuhk.edu.hk

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