Friday Beyond Spotlights is an all-new and all-star English talk show aired every Friday at 8:30 pm on Hong Kong International Business Channel (#76). The light-hearted and informative programme, hosted by Mr Patrick Tsang On-yip and Mr Nick Chan Hiu-fung, invites leading minds and game changers in Hong Kong to share their views and insights on topical issues, and their experience in grasping opportunities and tackling challenges.
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The fifth episode, hosted by Mr Tsang, features Professor Tony Mok Shu-kam, Chairman of Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professor of Clinical Oncology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mok elucidates the competitive advantages of Hong Kong in life science and medical research, as well as the opportunities for innovation and technology development in the Greater Bay Area. He also shares his trailblazing lung cancer research, the secrets to his success, and the friendships he developed along the way.
A medical breakthrough
At a time when Hongkongers were emigrating en masse in the mid-1990s, Mok did the reverse and returned from Canada after 20 years there – a move that has turned into what he calls “a fantastic experience”. Focusing on the relatively neglected field of lung cancer, he made a breakthrough in 2004 when he discovered a gene called EGFR mutation, and developed a target therapy that is more precise and personalized than the standard chemotherapy.
Mok stressed that Hong Kong provides “a fertile ground” in enabling him to transform the field of lung cancer therapy. His initial success has subsequently led to multiple research projects related to other areas like biomarker and chemotherapy. In achieving international recognition, he acknowledged the fruitful collaboration with his many xiongdi (brothers) in China, and also in Singapore and Korea.
Technological application in healthcare
Commenting on technological application in healthcare, Mok pointed out that the driving forces are computer power and genomic power. “We can now go down to the molecular level, the DNA, and right down to the protein level to understand the mechanism of the disease,” he explained. A prime example of making use of cutting-edge technology is the application of AI to read pathological slides to assess how likely the tumor will respond to immunotherapy. Mok is the advisor to this company which started five years ago with one and a half men, but is today a very successful multinational company in healthcare.
Look to the GBA
Looking to the future, Mok sees the wider Greater Bay Area as a prime location for medical research because of its much bigger scalability than just Hong Kong. There are high-quality research centers with top-notch talents and facilities, which benefit from strong funding and a supportive human resources policy from government.
There is plenty of room for growth for technology entrepreneurs. “We’re lucky to be living in a country with a large population, specifically in the biotech sector when you try to roll out new products or innovation,” Mok observed. But his advice is they should stick with their technical know-how, and find a young partner who can look after the business side of the venture.
Mok’s entrepreneurship and spirit of adventure have served him well, so it is not surprising that his advice to the younger generation is to use their imagination, and be bold enough to step out of the comfort zone.
Resilience in the face of adversity
Recalling his childhood, Mok revealed that his father was a true survivor, selling kerosene at age 12 to make a living during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong; he later started an import export business and managed to successfully raise ten children, all with more than one degree in their education accomplishment. From him, he has learned how to remain innovative and resilient in the face of adversity. Therefore, the most treasured item for Mok is the 75-year old typewriter that his father left him.
Aside from his medical profession, Mok is also an entrepreneur, a media personality and an author. He confesses to being able to make complex things simple, so it’s small wonder that he has so many admiring students whom he expects “to ask reasonable, sound, smart, and in-depth questions”. He has also been a regular columnist for the last 15 years. Besides the obvious medical and scientific subjects, he also writes about food, love and friendship. His columns have now been compiled into seven published books.
“Emotion has to be a part of the human experience,” he noted as he reflected on the compassionate qualities of a medical professional.
To watch the video, visit Friday Everyday YouTube Channel – Friday Beyond Spotlights Ep.5 l Tony Mok.
(from right) Professor Tony Mok Shu-kam, Chairman of Department of Clinical Oncology and Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professor of Clinical Oncology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Mr Patrick Tsang On-yip
“Hong Kong is a fertile ground for medical research.”
