June 9, 2008--The Hong Kong Optical Engineering Society (HKOES), formerly the Hong Kong Chapter of SPIE, has been launched as of April 11 as a new, independent professional society, organizers have announced.
The HKOES will focus on optics promotion in schools, establishing linkages between industry and education, and presenting optics seminars and training courses to foster professional development in optics, said Chi-Man Fok, chairman of the board of directors. A new membership structure has been proposed to build up a larger membership and to include companies.
The new society has strong ties to SPIE (Bellingham, WA), as many of the HKOES founders were leaders in the SPIE Hong Kong regional chapter. SPIE has been transitioning its regional chapter program over the past few years, enabling the networks and activities established by the regional chapters to develop more effective, locally based organizations while maintaining close connections with SPIE.
One collaborative project under discussion is an "Optics for Kids" project, which could launch as soon as this summer. The project would result in a one-day event to introduce local primary school students to the wonders of optics, and would be hosted at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education.
"I greatly look forward to an enjoyable and productive relationship between the new Hong Kong Optical Engineering Society and SPIE and to our continued collaboration," said SPIE past president Brian Culshaw, of the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland).
"SPIE has long been honored to enjoy the leadership and participation of members of the former Hong Kong Chapter of SPIE in our activities promoting optics and photonics throughout the region and the world," said Eugene Arthurs, CEO of SPIE. "We congratulate the new Society, and look forward to future collaborations."
Along with Fok, who is with Diffractive Optics Ltd./Aspheric Optics, the founding board of directors includes:
§ Vice chairman Jeremy Tsz-Kong Chang, Edmund Optics, China
§ Honorary secretary Derek Chi-Hang Louie, Hong Kong Productivity Council
§ Honorary treasurer, William Wai-Kit Wong, Kirin Optics Ltd.
§ Executive director Andrew Yuk-Sun Cheng, Ample Link International Holdings Ltd.
§ Sidney Shiu-Hin Ho, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education
§ Anthony J. P. Mannion, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education
§ Chiu-Ngai (Ricky) Cheung, Chung Yat Optics Co., Ltd.
In addition to the eight founding directors, the new Society invited four academics from local universities to serve as directors with the aim of strengthening the academic side of the new Society:
§ Kok-Wai Cheah, Hong Kong Baptist University
§ Aaron Ho-Pui Ho, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
§ Chao Lu, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
§ Nelson Sze-Chun Chan, City University of Hong Kong.
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The board of directors of the new Hong Kong Optical Engineering Society includes (from left) back row, Chiu-Ngai (Ricky) Cheung, Anthony J. P. Mannion, Sidney Shiu-Hin Ho, Aaron Ho-Pui Ho, Nelson Sze-Chun Chan, Chao Lu, Derek Chi-Hang Louie; front row, Kok-Wai Cheah, Chi-Man Fok, Jeremy Tsz-Kong Chang, and Andrew Yuk-Sun Cheng; William Wai-Kit Wong is not pictured.