London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The agreement will strengthen collaborative global health research between the two institutions and will also provide opportunities for faculty and student development.

Professor Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, signed the agreement in Hong Kong at an event attended by 40 guests including Prof Sophia Chan, Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Constance Chan, Director of the Department of Health, Dr Mak Sin-ping, President of Hong Kong College of Community Medicine and Dr Leong Che-hung, Chairman of the Council at Hong Kong University.

The University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health has a long and distinguished history in public health education and high impact research. It is a leading research hub on influenza research, control of infectious and non-communicable diseases, tobacco control, air pollution, psycho-oncology, behavioural sciences, life-course epidemiology, health economics research, and health services planning and management, and its work has informed international, national and local public health policies.

There are historic links between the two institutions dating back 126 years to Sir Patrick Manson, founder of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Together with Sir James Cantlie and Sir Ho Kai, he established the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese in 1887, from which the founding father of modern China, Dr Sun Yat-sen, graduated. The College was later renamed the Hong Kong College of Medicine and evolved to become the Faculty of Medicine when the University of Hong Kong was officially opened in 1911.

The University of Hong Kong compiled a special video presentation showcasing Sir Patrick Manson’s contributions to medical science and education and his links to the two institutions, which was shown at the beginning of the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Peter Piot said: “The signing of this agreement is an opportunity to renew the commitment to the relationship between Hong Kong University and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Researchers and public health practitioners in both institutions will join forces to identify public health problems in today’s globalised world, and devise solutions to address them together. I look forward to a fruitful collaboration in both teaching and research to enhance global public health.”

Professor SY Leung, Acting Dean of Medicine, signed the MoU on behalf of Hong Kong University. She said: “This signing carries great symbolic meaning and signifies the longstanding collaboration in teaching and research between the two institutions which was initiated many years ago. We hope to build upon the legacy of Sir Patrick Manson and work with the bright minds in London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to take forward Manson’s passion for public health, tropical medicine and medical education.”