Anyone who tries to walk on a single leg is sure to stumble, but walking on the two legs of academic studies and societal service enables me to stride forward. Studying History and Chinese at the University of Hong Kong, my undergraduate research deals with the Sino-British negotiations over the future of Hong Kong, an event with profound implications for the lives of generations of Hong Kong people. By using recently declassified British government records, I challenge existing claims regarding the roles of the Governor of Hong Kong and local elites in the fateful negotiations of the 1980s. I have also worked on a public history project to preserve and publicise knowledge about the declining local fishing industry, and have assisted underprivileged children in their studies as a voluntary teacher. In the MPhil Chinese Studies at Cambridge, I will research the history of Hong Kong-Commonwealth relations, thus adding a special perspective to the fields of Hong Kong’s and China’s foreign relations. I hope to help Hong Kong citizens understand their past and their identities, generate ideas for the future of our city, and encourage my future students to realise their potential and work for the benefit of others. It is definitely my honour to be a member of the Gates Cambridge community. I believe the common experience shared with my peers in the Gates community will empower us to serve people in need with greater ability and commitment.
University of Hong Kong