Thursday, October 27

Hong Kong Economic Journal

Hong Kong Economic Journal 蘭 芳
2005-10-27

怎樣幫助科技創業公司

  同文狄高上周曾報道兩間剛在第一屆香港無線科技傑出獎獲獎的新公司,其中一間處理相片的科技公司,技術其實發展自中文大學的研究項目,然後分拆成立公司推廣,其在手機上處理相片的軟件確實做得不錯。

  筆者上月底參觀創新科技節的展覽,其中不少大專院校也有參展,筆者發覺其實大專院校裏也有不少不錯的科研項目,但一直以來,它們的科研項目商業化似乎 沒有做出什麽成績,未能像美國大專院校如史丹福一般,若談到成為造就科技創業公司的搖籃,更是相去甚遠。那麽,究竟香港的問題是什麽?

大專院校官僚

  筆者並非在大專院校工作,但在一些業界會議閒談中,曾聽聞一些大專院校指出香港應用科技研究院(ASTRI)頻頻向他們招手,希望「代理」大專院校的 科研項目,並將之商業化,但卻並未獲得大專院校歡迎,因為他們看不到ASTRI能為它們帶來很大的增值,事實上,不少大專院校都已成立專責部門去協助校內 研究項目商業化。這是否資源錯配,缺乏協調所致?

  另一個筆者的觀察,是現在創新科技署有一些專為業界與大專院校合作的基金,供業界和大專院校申請,但據筆者朋友的經驗,是大專院校較官僚,這些基金獲 批後,一般由大專院校作為對口管理,但校內處理的手續繁多,令業界卻步,因為與大專合作會增加不少行政管理成本。對於業界而言,若非大專院校參與屬必要, 否則寧願自行開發,自行申請創新科技署的其他資助計劃。那麽,政府的原意希望業界能多和大專院校合作是否能達到?

  同文狄高的訪問中,也提到兩間新進公司面對其中一大困難是開拓海外市場,特別是大陸市場。大陸從來不是一個容易應付的市場,連大型公司也頻頻觸礁,更遑論新進公司。

要有專人輔助

  其實對於協助扶持本港科研項目,筆者認為光是資金資助並不能解決所有問題,例如市場開拓等商業化問題就不能單靠資金來解決。筆者認為,要協助這些剛起 步的科研項目,最好能成立科研項目商業化的培育計劃(Incubation),這個培育計劃不光是提供低廉或免費辦公地方和資金資助,更重要是成立一個專 家小組包括人力資源、有經驗的創業家、過渡CEO、財務及市務推廣專才,協助有潛質的科研項目由開始階段提供意見,協助計劃,而不是像現在不少大專院校的 科研項目,不少在開始的一兩年靠創新科技署的資金支持,等到資助將完時才急於去想商業化的可能性。

  至於這個培育計劃專案小組應由大專院校負責主導,或是政府主導(但可以外判),還有不少細節尚待研究,關鍵是能夠好好運用現有資源,發揮其最大作用。

To vaccinated, or not to vaccinated?

That's the question.

Wondering any difference between the mentioned flu drug and flu vaccine...

[Hong Kong Economic Times] 防禽流感 重衞生戒亂服藥 20051027

..
市民自亂陣腳 反添疫潮風險

因歐美對禽流感高度警戒,特別是內地多處再爆疫潮,市民開始緊張,卻無所適從,究竟應否先打流感疫苗、應否購備抗流感特效藥等,坊間莫衷一是,部分市民為防萬一,紛打疫苗針以至搶購特效藥。

搶購造成混亂與緊張,但問題還不嚴重,要緊的是市民若動輒服用抗流感特效藥,可能令身體產生抗藥性,一旦不幸有疫症時,再服用已無效,這不但增加染疫機會,禽流感在人體內洗牌變成人傳人的風險,亦隨之增加。換言之,想防疫卻反助疫病擴散。

阻遏流感傳播 個人衞生首要

對此,港府必須做好抗疫的宣傳教育工作。其一,是發出清晰指引,教導市民防範禽流感,而非市民各自忙亂,令防疫事倍功半,甚至反增風險。

..
[South China Morning Post] - Editorial 20051027

Public needs clear message on flu

The importance of preparing the public for an outbreak of bird flu cannot be overstated. Sensible advice is needed - and the message must be clear. Unfortunately, this has not been the case this week with the question of whether individuals should stock up on the drug Tamiflu. A World Health Organisation official and the Hong Kong government have disagreed as to what is the right approach.

Peter Cordingley, the WHO's spokesman for the Western Pacific region, said on a Hong Kong radio programme that the organisation encouraged households to stock up on the anti-flu drug, which can ease symptoms of the disease and potentially save lives. But Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is discouraging people from obtaining their own supplies. It has pointed out that the WHO does not advise people to do so on its website. A CHP expert has reinforced a warning against self-medication, saying inappropriate use of Tamiflu would be wasteful and could cause resistance in the human flu virus. There is much to commend this view.

People have the right to buy the drug and in the present climate of fear it is understandable if they want to do so. But the government has good reasons to discourage them from stocking up.

Supplies of Tamiflu will be rationed globally for a long time. Its sale has been suspended in Canada to ensure adequate stocks for the peak flu season. Hopefully, in the event of a human bird-flu outbreak in Hong Kong, there will be enough to meet the needs of victims and people at risk or in essential occupations. But there may not be if there is panic buying now. This could undermine planning for an effective emergency response.

The advice of CHP consultant Yuen Kwok-yung, of the University of Hong Kong, seems sound and responsible: if you feel you must stock up, seek the advice of your family doctor first.

But the difference of opinion between the WHO official and the government has left the public confused and unsure of what to do. A clear statement of the WHO's official position would be helpful.

During the Sars outbreak in 2003, there were times when WHO statements caused some confusion. Given that so little was known about the disease at the time, this was understandable. As more became known, it began to speak with a single, authoritative voice.

But last June the organisation's Vietnam office appeared to take a different view to the Western Pacific regional office as to the likelihood of a bird flu pandemic.

The WHO is a United Nations agency which has grown in importance with the emergence of diseases such as Sars and bird flu. Its edicts and actions are crucial to the health and well-being of people all around the world. As we face up to a possible pandemic, it is important that the organisation sends clear messages on how the public should prepare.

Copyright (c) 2000. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

【太陽報專訊】- 八個步驟成笑柄 兩項措施判高低 20051027

雖然,政府官員不斷站在傳媒面前,信誓旦旦地強調政府防預禽流感的決心,套一句俗語來說,那只是齋 (talk)。例如衛生署呼籲市民預防流感大流行的來臨所採取的八個基本步驟來說,就是講了等於沒講的廢話。

這 八個基本步驟是: 一,時刻做好防範;二,接種流感疫苗 (Simon: According to SCMP the government recently not advice citizen not to stock up vaccine or drug(?));三,保持雙手清潔;四,正確使用口罩;五,認識流感徵狀;六,有效護理發燒;七,實行健康生活;八,認識社區資源。

這八個所謂基本步驟當中,其中一、七、八項屬空洞的口號二、三、四、五、六項屬幼兒級的基本常識,難道說,香港醫療系統人才濟濟,就只能想出如此低水平的東西?....

雖然,連日來我們對政府在防疫方面的表現大加撻伐,但並非有意針對他們,相反,我們是恨鐵不成鋼,正是「苦口良藥利於病,忠言逆耳利於行」。...

故此我們再次呼籲,特區政府應馬上採取行動,踢走防疫不力的庸才,任用有專業知識和有魄力的人組成新的防疫指揮部,立即制訂有效的防疫措施,為香港築起一條牢不可破的防疫長城。

請這些公僕記住,這不是懇求,不是期望,而是七百萬主人的命令!

Tuesday, October 25


The secret society, commonly known as the Three, was helding a secret meeting on the some flat's roof at Lamma. Reported by Simon, live at Lamma.

Be careful about the bird flu! Stay away from them!

Cyberport - Amenda - Dead plant - Lamma

  • Believe it or not, I met another Amenda in cyberport. She is my CIVIL classmate at HKUST.
  • The cyberport office isn't really like an office place. We have got free XBox games, cinema, Bel Air on the peak and a circus tent at sea front!
  • My plant is dead. I forgot to move it to a safer location and it dried out becoz of the sun. Heart broken...
  • I can see my home-island from here - Lamma !
By the way, check out the Lamma Fun Day web site here!

Monday, October 24


The new Google Reader is here! Well, another Google toy for me to play with. Yeah!

Wednesday, October 19

夢劇院


有了新的 iPod Mini , 我可以找尋封存以久的 mp3. 我近來聽緊乜 ? 夢劇院是也 .

夢 劇院是由李敏和劉文娟成的二人女子組合,走清純的校園少女路線,兩人以夢劇院的名義合作填詞,詞風清麗動人,是八十年代中期樂隊熱潮中的一陣清流,代表 作有天生一對遍霧遍雨窗外不想化粧等。兩人分開發展後,劉文娟曾推出個人大碟,後轉任電視主持,而李敏則以寫作為主,是九十年代的多產詞人。

Tuesday, October 18

7 种 Bug 的解法

一个Bug有7种解法:
  • By Design - 就是这么设计的,无效的Bug
  • Duplicate - 这个问题别人已经发现了,重复的Bug
  • External - 是个外部因素(比如浏览器、操作系统、其他第3方软件)造成的问题
  • Fixed - 问题被修理掉了。Tester要尽可能找到这种Bug
  • Not Repro - 无法复现你这个问题,无效的Bug
  • Postponed - 是个问题,但是目前不必修理了,推迟到以后再解
  • Won't Fix - 是个问题,但是不值得修理了,不管它吧

Tuesday, October 11

Monday, October 3


Digital Weapon... contempoary and cheapy version.

An upgradable digital music player... I felt like I am getting old already.

Saturday, October 1

感光禁食提醒豬 Who want one?


「會叫的造型豬,想偷吃馬上發出警告聲喔!」
  • 可愛造型豬,是採用「感光原理與豬叫聲電子模組」,您可將豬放入冰箱或抽屜等愛藏吃的地方,當打開冰箱門或抽屜時,豬豬會立即以感應到光以「連三聲豬叫 聲」提醒您少吃一些。似真的豬叫聲,搭配可愛的外型與貼心的禁食貼紙舉牌,想要偷吃,小心被抓到喔。亦可放於黑暗處,只要接觸光線即會馬上發出豬叫聲。
  • 獨創設計,精緻可愛:獨家台灣新上市,深受各年齡層喜愛。加上可愛的外包裝豬頭設計,與研發多年的造型豬彈性材質與可愛造型,讓人愛不釋手。於日本深受歡迎,獲日本媒體的創意商品推薦報導。