China News Agency, Hong Kong, January 20th: Interview with Hong Kong Legislative Council member Sun Dong: From scholars to members of the parliament, pragmatic focus on development

  China News Agency reporter Zeng Ping

  From the ivory tower into the chamber, from a scholar to a member, Sun Dong, a chair professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong and a new member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has just started his cross-border career.

"I hope to bring rationality and pragmatism, synergy and innovation to the Legislative Council, and the new Legislative Council should focus on development." The new member of the academic circle said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency recently.

Sun Dong, a new member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, recently accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Zeng Ping

  As a scientist, Sun Dong has been active in the front line of teaching and scientific research for more than 20 years. In recent years, he has studied how to deliver micro-robots carrying stem cells or drugs into the body for precision medical treatment. The future practical dream of this research includes the use of minimally invasive or non-invasive surgery to treat tumors.

  As a new Senator Sun Dong, he is gradually adapting to how to change from a low-key scholar who studies in meditation to a member who sometimes has to be high-profile because of the voice of society, thinking about how to seek development for Hong Kong in a practical and factual manner.

  "Are you satisfied with the status quo 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 Chinese University of Hong Kong in the early 1990s, and then went to Canada, where he lived and worked in peace and contentment after returning to Hong Kong in early 2000.

His children were born and raised in Hong Kong, and he has long regarded the city as his home.

Sun Dong, a new member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, recently accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Zeng Ping

  In Sun Dong's mind, the answer to the above question is undoubtedly no.

After improving the electoral system, and with the encouragement of all parties, he stood up with the mentality of wishing Hong Kong to become better.

A university president once said to Sun Dong: "We admire you for making sacrifices, and we will give you our full support."

  Is being an MP a sacrifice?

reporter asked.

Sun Dong replied that personal research will be put aside first, but from another perspective, in the past, it served Hong Kong on a small scale at the technological level, but now it serves Hong Kong at a higher level in an all-round way.

  At a time when Hong Kong is expected to open a new parliamentary culture under the new election system, he hopes to use practical actions to prove that it is correct for people with professional backgrounds to engage in public service.

  Sun Dong said with a smile that he is a mandarin-speaking Hong Konger, and his daily communication in Cantonese is easy, but he wants to express his meaning accurately in public, so he insists on speaking in Mandarin in the conference hall.

He once said that he had no reputation before the election, but he has been speaking Mandarin since the first day of his candidacy and was finally elected, which was unimaginable under the previous electoral system.

In his view, this is the charm of the new electoral system.

  The election process made Sun Dong feel "beneficial" and thoroughly understood the political, economic and public sentiments of Hong Kong.

He said that in the more than 20 years in Hong Kong, he has never had the opportunity to contact representatives of various sectors and fully understand all issues in Hong Kong. During the election period, he participated in nearly 75 meetings and found that the demands of each class and sector are different. Some are even the opposite.

  "This has laid a good foundation for the performance of duties in the next four years." Sun Dong concluded that one of the important gains from this is that he must listen to the voices of all parties in a down-to-earth manner, and as a member of the election committee sector, think about problems We must proceed from the overall interests of Hong Kong.

"I think it is more challenging for the Election Committee sector to have access to other fields in addition to its areas of expertise," he said.

  Sun Dong expects to do more work in the fields of higher education and science and technology in the future.

"The breakthrough for development lies in science and technology innovation." He affirmed the SAR government's desire to develop science and technology innovation in recent years, but believes that there is still room for improvement, including establishing a complete science and technology innovation ecological chain in Hong Kong, filling the shortcomings in the transformation of scientific research results, and providing young people. Provide more job opportunities outside the service industry, etc.

  "I will definitely keep in touch with the region in the future, and on the other hand, I will definitely focus on my expertise." Sun Dong is considering establishing an office in the region.

He said that the Legislative Council in the past 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.

And as a newcomer to the council, a lot is being learned, understood and adapted.

  The new Legislative Council has held two meetings in the conference hall. Seeing that many members have expressed their opinions and suggestions to the SAR government, Sun Dong believes that the Legislative Council will not be weak in monitoring the SAR government.

"Definitely not Yes man." He said.

(Finish)