Dear Prof Wang, Mr Wong, Prof Shum, Prof Ang, Prof Tsang, Prof Fong, Mr Ng, Ms Chan, distinguished guests, colleagues and friends of the PolyU, good morning,
PolyU and I have a long and inseparable relationship. 45 years ago, I came to the then Hong Kong Polytechnic to undertake industrial training. And here I am today, to celebrate the establishment of the Research Centre for Assistive Technology, and witness the signing of Memorandum of Understanding, Master Research Collaboration Agreement and Project Agreement between PolyU and partners, local and afar.
In my university days, in special schools I served, there were kids suffering from mental and other illnesses. In the university hostel I stayed, there were fellow students with physical and visual impairments. While admiring their positive mindset and perseverance to overcome their lifelong challenges, I said to myself, something must be done.
During my final year study, I built a braille calculator. Two years after my graduation, I founded the Association for Engineering and Medical Volunteer Services with the mission to advocate, design and fabricate assistive devices for people with disabilities and eventually the older people.
A few years later, under the guidance of the late Prof Harry Fang whom we called “Hong Kong’s Father of Rehabilitation”, we managed to secure funding support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and a new Department of Bioengineering, together with the RehabAid Centre were born here in PolyU. Together with the Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, the PolyU is indeed the birthplace of rehabilitation sciences in Hong Kong. At those days, assistive products are not that readily available or affordable, and we came here often to brainstorm for possible alternative solutions.
We live in a time of rapid technological advancement, and the world is not what it used to be. Assistive Technology is now recognized as a life changer, with proliferate assistive products in all forms and functions. The Global Report on Assistive Technology jointly published by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund pointed out that more than 2.5 billion people require one or more assistive products, and the number is expected to grow beyond 3.5 billion by 2050 as the global population ages. It goes without saying that access to Assistive Technology deserves much greater attention now than ever before.
Given the establishment of the Research Centre for Assistive Technology, PolyU is poised to become the epic center in search for excellence in rehabilitation sciences and Assistive Technology. My warmest congratulations to all those who make a difference and make it happen. Thank you for everything you have done, and I earnestly look forward to more to come.
Thank you.
Ir. Prof. Frank Chan Fan GBS JP
Honorary Advisor of RCATech
