Students begin preparing to apply for the university programs of their choice once the Diploma of Secondary Education examinations are over.
In recent years, medicine been the most sought after discipline, with the medical school at the Chinese University of Hong Kong taking in quite a few top students. The admission situation for the coming academic year will become clear shortly.
Universities offer a variety of scholarships, so elite students don't have to worry about finances. A scholarship is additional encouragement for those who have been successful in gaining admission to their dream program.
Bursaries for CUHK were seen to be particularly abundant last year, and one of them was set up by Ian Huen Chung-yuen, the son of banker Huen Wing-ming and a himself a graduate of the university.
The younger Huen has revealed he's a staunch supporter of the Chinese University's medical school because his father had been infected during the SARS epidemic.
I understand his scholarship does not place a limit on the total number of recipients but is given to every student admitted. So the aggregate amount of the awards has been very substantial.
While his father is a prominent banker, the younger Huen has impressive credentials too. He founded Aptorum Group, which engages in biomedical and drug research. The company develops and acquires innovative medical and pharmaceutical therapeutics with the idea of commercializing and marketing them internationally. It was listed on the Nasdaq two years ago.
Aptorum is currently developing about 10 different drugs, and Huen has indicated he hopes to float the company on the local stock exchange eventually.
He has also penned a column for Headline Daily to let more people know more about Aptorum's work. That's a fine demonstration of the hands-on approach of successful entrepreneurs.
Siu Sai-wo is publisher of Sing Tao Daily
