Becky Wong, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of INDEX GAME and INDEX ACADEMY, was invited to share in “SCOM Talk Series” organized by the School of Communication at Hong Kong Hang Seng University last Thursday (November 27th). She shared her insights on “New Era of Media” with the teachers and students, exploring how emerging technologies are serving as key forces driving innovation in cultural content, education, and news in the era of global media convergence.

Becky discussed how local Hong Kong enterprises are assisting local brands with AI and Web3 promotion, sharing practical insights on models for cross-sector collaboration. The necessary skills for the future media professional was identified. She emphasized that  students should leverage technology and creativity within global resource networks to effectively promote cultural exchange and content innovation. Becky encouraged students to strategically utilize technological tools such as AI, Web3, XR, and interactive platforms, combining an international perspective with local creativity to cultivate skills in cross-sector integration and global collaboration.

Group photo

Ms. Sandy So, a Registered Arts Therapist from So Creative Arts Psychotherapy & Consultancy, was invited to share her insights in the “SCOM Talk Series 55” organized by the School of Communication at Hong Kong Hang Seng University on 6 March 2025.

Sandy, who studied journalism as an undergraduate and later became a registered expressive arts therapist, shared during the talk how her experience in media and public relations has allowed her to integrate various communication skills into her new role and promote mental health education in the community through communication and media. She pointed out that expressive arts therapy is closely related to communication. Collaborating with media can more effectively promote expressive arts therapy and mental health while helping enterprises advance their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives. In the digital age, she advised that when reporting on information and news related to mental health, it is essential to focus on ethical foundations and media literacy.

Professor Scarlet Tso, Dean of the School of Communication, delivers a welcome speech to Ms. Sandy So, Founder of the So Creative Arts Psychotherapy & Consultancy

Ms. Sandy So shares her experience in media and public relations, highlighting how she integrates various communication skills into her new role and promotes mental health education.

Dr. Connie Chan, the moderator of the talk

I hope it flies your way; it doesn’t crash and break

Students participate in the Q&A section

Students with colourful paper airplanes

Dr. Peter Wong, Associate Principal Engineer in Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd. (ASTRI) was invited to share in “SCOM Talk Series” organized by the School of Communication at Hong Kong Hang Seng University last Thursday (November 28, 2024). He shared his experience on deepfake generation techniques with the teachers and students, covering the technical aspects and the various applications of head swapping, as well as the ethical considerations and challenges associated with this technology.

Dr. Wong highlighted the distinction between face swapping and head swapping through engaging demonstrations. He noted that head swapping techniques have extensive applications across multiple fields, including character development in the film and gaming industries, as well as creating virtual avatars in VR/AR environments. While deepfake technology offers innovative possibilities, it also presents significant challenges that society must confront to mitigate its potential negative impacts. There are ongoing discussions focusing on the regulations and guidelines to ensure the responsible use of this technology.

Dr. Wong also cautioned attendees about the risks associated with sharing personal photos on social media, emphasizing the importance of minimizing potential harm from malicious use.

Dr. Peter Wong shared his experience of deepfake generation techniques with the teachers and students of the School of Communication.

Professor Ronald Chiu, Associate Dean of the School of Communication, presented a souvenir to Dr. Peter Wong

A group photo of Dr. Peter Wong with the teachers and students

The significance of major sporting events for students in the School of Communication goes beyond just watching high-quality competitions. It is more important to understand how to bring a sporting event to the public, considering the various elements involved.

The Olympics, held every four years, attract global attention, with media outlets around the world broadcasting live coverage and producing various Olympic programmes. These programmes deliver selected events and the athletes’ joys, sorrows, and sweat directly to viewers. In fact, beyond the athletes’ efforts, there is the tireless dedication and meticulous planning of the production teams working behind the scenes to present the events to the audience in a timely and engaging manner—work that viewers often cannot see.

On October 31, 2024, the School of Communication held the “SCOM Talk #53”, inviting Ms. Chirstine Yu, a executive producer responsible for sports programme production and live broadcasting at RTHK (Hong Kong Radio Television), to share her experiences of live broadcasting large-scale sporting events with students. She discussed how to plan and allocate resources, arrange production logistics, and promote the events effectively. She also shared her experiences and observations from the Paris Paralympics.

Ms. Yu first addressed the challenges of live broadcasting the Olympics, pointing out that the biggest difficulty is making choices about which events to broadcast each day among the numerous competitions. For example, at this year’s Paris Olympics, the broadcast organizer provided up to eighty signals to cover various events! How should the team select which events to broadcast? What should they do when event timings conflict? After careful consideration, Ms. Yu explained that the production team chose to broadcast events featuring the National and Hong Kong teams, while also selecting some lesser-known yet high-quality and exciting competitions. The goal was to engage the audience while broadening their perspective on world-class sports events.

Additionally, live broadcasts require hosts and commentators. Since the last Tokyo Olympics, various TV stations in Hong Kong have been competing to produce live programmes, all vying to hire professional commentators. Ms. Yu noted that due to the fierce competition, the production team quickly established a broadcast schedule and promptly invited hosts and commentators. Once suitable candidates were found, they began extensive research, including various competition formats, athletes’ progression pathways, and information about key athletes, such as their names in Chinese translation and past competition results. This information was meticulously compiled into a comprehensive reference book for the hosts and commentators to study in preparation for the broadcasts.

In addition, there are several technical issues that need to be considered, such as the production flow in the studio and coordination. Ms. Yu recalled that during the Olympics, her colleagues lived on Paris time zone but had to cater to the needs of the Hong Kong audience, requiring everyone to work day and night. Despite the difficulties, she said, “When you see Hong Kong athletes achieving good results in the control room, or even if they don’t achieve the best results but perform well, you feel happy for them, and you want to share that with the Hong Kong audience.” This sense of fulfillment among production staff arises from knowing that their hard work is worthwhile.

During the Olympics, Ms. Yu stayed in Hong Kong to oversee operations,but she personally traveled to Paris for the upcoming Paralympics. She noted that public interest in the Paralympics is significantly lower than that for the Olympics. RTHK, being a public broadcasting organization, is able to choose to broadcast events that other commercial TV stations may not show due to business considerations. She stated, “If you ask me about my feelings covering the Paralympics, I actually find it very moving.” Finally, she shared her reflections on the Paralympic athletes she encountered, expressing hope that broadcasting the Paralympics would deepen public understanding of these athletes and their stories, providing them with more recognition and encouragement.

Professor Ronald Chiu, Associate Dean of the School of Communication, delivers a welcome speech and presents a souvenir to Ms. Christine Yu, Executive Producer, RTHK.

Ms. Yu shares her challenges and experiences in producing live broadcasts of games of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Group photo

SCOM Talk Series #52

Becky Wong, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of INDEX GAME and INDEX ACADEMY, was invited to have a sharing in “SCOM Talk Series #52” organized by the School of Communication at Hong Kong Hang Seng University, on 1 February 2024. She shared her insights on “Metaverse and the Relationship with Future Brand Promotion” with the teachers and students, exploring the new direction of brand marketing in the digital era. 

Ms. Wong explained the origin of user loyalty and sense of belonging to brands through the concept of decentralization: “The biggest difference between Web3 communities and traditional communities is that brands are no longer controlled by the leaders. There are no pure participants, and every community member has a stake. In many NFT projects, community members can influence the direction of project development through voting, co-creating, and contributing to the community. This co-creation concept greatly enhances user loyalty and sense of belonging to brands.”

Ms. Wong also encouraged students interested in brand marketing and advertising to stay updated with new things, understand the development of new technologies and cultivate a keen market sense.

Dr. Keith Cheung, the moderator of the talk, has a chit-chat session with Ms. Becky Wong.

Ms. Becky Wong explains how the brand marketing strategy is changing nowadays.

Professor Ronald Chiu, Associate Dean of the School of Communication, asks Ms. Becky Wong about the legal regulations of the Metaverse.

Professor Ronald Chiu presents a souvenir to Ms. Becky Wong.

A group photo of Ms. Becky Wong with the teachers and students of the School of Communication.

The weather is not as expected! Even though it is already winter, everyone is still wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt. In September and October, despite that the peak of summer had passed, a Typhoon No. 10 and a Typhoon No. 9 attacked Hong Kong respectively, along with a record-breaking black rainstorm. Global warming has made the climate extremely unpredictable, and it is affecting our lives in various ways. It is crucial for us to understand climate change.

On 9 November 2023, the School of Communication held SCOM Talk Series #51. Two guests from the Hong Kong Observatory, namely Ms. Chan Man-yee, Chief Experimental Officer and Mr. Shum Chi-tai, Scientific Officer, were invited to be speakers of the talk to explain climate change to staff and students and share with them how the Observatory disseminates climate messages in practical ways.

The talk was divided into two parts. In the first part, Ms. Chan Man-yee explained the causes of global warming in detail using scientific data. She pointed out that human activities generate a significant amount of greenhouse gases, which are the main cause of the continual rise in temperature. She emphasised that the current emissions of greenhouse gases have reached a staggering level of 56.4 billion tons per year, which is equivalent to the weight of 17 million Boeing 747 airplanes. These numbers reflect that climate change has become severe. She also cited data about the increasing numbers of reports of rising sea levels, glacier melting, and extreme high temperatures. Coupled with the growing threats of intense tropical cyclones and storm surges, these phenomena are already impacting food production and contributing to the spread of global diseases.

Ms. Chan then proceeded to extrapolate future trends in climate change using data. When discussing mitigation measures, she cited examples of international cooperation and ongoing initiatives by governments and regions worldwide as efforts to address global warming. She encouraged individuals to contribute to the fight against global warming by making small changes in their daily lives to reduce carbon emissions and embracing low-carbon, green living.

The second part of the talk was presented by Mr. Shum Chi-tai, Scientific Officer, who shared with the audience the communication efforts of the Hong Kong Observatory. Mr. Shum stated that over recent years, the Observatory has been focusing on the use of various social media platforms to engage the public, and thereby disseminating climate and weather messages to them.

He mentioned, “When the Hong Kong Observatory delivers weather information to the general public, it is important to be ‘down-to-earth’, which means that we need to effectively communicate with the public and convey the information to them.” He emphasised the importance of communication with the public and provided examples of how the Observatory has been using social media to promote weather information in recent years. He remarked that the Observatory has recruited staff with academic backgrounds in communication to serve as social media editors. The purpose is to try to provide diverse weather information through more innovative approaches. Mr. Shum pointed out that the Observatory values the public’s feedback on the information it provides. Based on the public’s responses, the Observatory would tune the content of its messages, hoping that through such processes their communication effectiveness will continue to improve.

Both speakers mentioned that their backgrounds are in science and they used to be more involved in research and analysis of scientific data. However, with the widespread use of social media in recent years, they have significantly increased their interaction with the public. When asked if they feel pressured when receiving both compliments and criticism from the public about their work at the Observatory, the two speakers said that as long as they take that their work is being appreciated in a positive light, they feel relieved. After all, the safety of the public is the Observatory’s priority. The Observatory will continue to serve everyone by upholding the principle of basing their work on science.

It is worth mentioning that before the start of the talk, the School took the opportunity to arrange a visit to the School’s facilities for the group of six guests from the Observatory. During the visit, both sides had the opportunity to interact and exchange their experience and insights about the production of weather report programmes.

The guests visit the School’s facilities.

Professor Scarlet Tso, Dean of the School of Communication, delivers a welcome speech and presents a souvenir to Dr. Yeung Kwok-chung, Senior Scientific Officer of the Hong Kong Observatory.

Ms. Chan Man-yee, Chief Experimental Officer of the Hong Kong Observatory, explains climate change issues to students and staff.

Mr. Shum Chi-tai, Scientific Officer, shares with the audience how the Hong Kong Observatory communicates with the public.

Group photo

On 12 October 2023, the School of Communication hosted the SCOM Talk Series 50, Mr. Lau Tin Chi, the recipient of the Hong Kong Film Writers’ Association Honorary Award, to be a honorable speaker and share insights on “Creativity Decoding and Screenwriting Secrets” with students and faculty members.

Regarding creativity, Mr. Lau particularly emphasized the importance of “sensitivity.” As a creator, one should observe everyday objects and people with a highly sensitive perspective. He encouraged noting down observations and experiences in a notebook to be used as creative materials in the future. In terms of character development, he taught the “Projection Method,” which involves projecting the characteristics of acquaintances, friends, and family members onto fictional characters. This approach provides more reference points and suggests that positive characters shouldn’t be portrayed as solely perfect and kind, but should also have flaws and weaknesses. Similarly, negative characters should possess some redeeming qualities. Mr. Lau stated, “The most important aspect of screenwriting is structure: setup, development, twist, and resolution. Western films emphasize setup, development, and resolution, while Chinese-language films place great emphasis on twists, reversals, or turning points. The goal is to surprise the audience within the realm of reason, evoking strong emotions and allowing them to experience the protagonist’s predicaments, eliciting laughter, tears, fear, and so on. That’s what makes a good screenplay.”

The students responded enthusiastically and raised various questions, such as the popularity of time-travel themes or open-ended conclusions in contemporary films. Mr. Lau patiently addressed each question in detail and suggested that students analyze classic films, such as works by Akira Kurosawa and Alfred Hitchcock. The lecture sparked a strong interest in creative writing and screenwriting among the students, leading to fruitful learning outcomes.

Professor Chiu Ying Chun, Ronald, Associate Dean of School of Communication, take photo with Mr. Lau Tin Chi.

Dr. Sobel Chan Ka Lok, moderator of the talk, has a chit-chat session with Mr. Lau Tin Chi.

Mr. Lau Tin Chi inspired students on how to unlock the code of creation.

Student actively raises a question for Mr. Lau Tin Chi.

Sharing views on story creation by Dr. Wong Ka Yee, Janice.

Sharing views on scriptwriting by Dr. Luk Koon Yung, Fred.

Sharing views on scriptwriting and interpretation by Dr. Wu Jing, Clio.

The Scom talk received an enthusiastic response, and the students were deeply inspired.

A group photo of Mr. Lau Tin Chi and the teachers and students of School of Communication.

SCOM Talk Series #49 

On 23 March 2023, the School of Communication hosted the SCOM Talk Series 49 with Mr. Yeung Wing Cheung, Senior Manager of Production Department of TVB Co., Ltd.: Information, Culture and Education, sharing his extensive experience in television informative, cultural, educational, as well as documentary programs spanning over 40 years. Mr. Yang highlighted the revamped infotainment program “Scoop”. It has become a channel to help ordinary citizens to solve problems encountered in their daily life, and pursue justice. Citizens would say: “Report to Scoop”, which has become a catchphrase in the city. “Scoop” is full of media concerns and social responsibility, and it has achieved the highest cross-platform live broadcast ratings of 23.7 points (1.52 million viewers), ranking first in the ratings list.

Mr. Yeung said: “Because too many people reported their cases that the one-and-a-half-hour “Scoop” could not meet the needs of all citizens, that’s why “Scoopplus.TVB” was conceived and established.” Through extended airtime, audience grievances would get more exposure and attract more attention. He pointed out that people’s emotions need to be released, and if they are suppressed, it could turn into social outrage. He will also consider opening up to other people who are interested in making video content, or KOLs, and to provide them a chance to showcase their productions.

For young students who are interested in entering the media industry, Mr. Yeung advised that the most important thing is to foster interest in social affairs and human relationships. There must be enthusiasm and persistence in their work. Not surprisingly, students are most interested in joining the “Travel Program”, as everyone likes to combine work with leisure.

Professor Scarlet Tso, Dean of School of Communication, presents a souvenir to Mr. Yeung Wing Cheung.

Dr. Sobel Chan Ka Lok, moderator of the talk, has a chit-chat session with Mr. Yeung Wing Cheung.

Mr. Yeung Wing Cheung taught students to have humanistic care and a sense of social responsibility when creating media content.

Student actively raises a question for Mr. Yeung Wing Cheung.

A group photo of Mr. Yeung Wing Cheung and the teachers and students of School of Communication.

SCOM Talk Series #48

 Mr. Gabriel Pang, Chairman of Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA), Managing Director of Firedog Creative Company Ltd., and CTO of V360 Limited, was invited to share his valuable experience with students of the School of Communication at SCOM Talk Series #48 on 2 March 2023. He talked about his more than 20 years’ experience in gaming and VR in the Hong Kong gaming industry. Apart from introducing the status of the digital entertainment industry in Hong Kong, Mr. Pang also highlighted the efforts made and activities organised by HKDEA in supporting the industry.

Mr. Pang briefly introduced the various sectors of digital entertainment industry including gaming, animation & special effects and interactive design. He also enlightened students by pointing out the current opportunities and threats faced by the industry. Despite the vast market potential in the Mainland China, Hong Kong and foreign companies face significant obstacles when operating in the region due to cultural differences and policy limitations.

Mr. Pang also provided insights into the 31-year history of computer gaming development in Hong Kong. In this connection, he shared his experience of collaborating with Japan’s Success Corporation to develop and operate his company’s XBOX and PS2 games, “Cupid Bistro”.

Students all found the talk very insightful. They gained a better understanding of the requirements for entering the fast-developing gaming industry and learned about the various forms of support available for those looking for possibilities for developing their own games or companies. They expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from Mr. Pang’s extensive experience in the industry.

Dr. Keith Cheung, School of Communication, presents a souvenir to Mr. Pang.

Dr. Keith Cheung, the moderator of the talk, has a chit-chat session with Mr. Pang.

A student raises a question for Mr. Pang.

SCOM Talk Series #47

 Mr. Chu Kang Ki, Assistant Creative Director of Television Broadcast Limited was invited to speak to students of the School of Communication at SCOM Talk Series #47 on February 23. He shared his 30 years of experience as a renowned and veteran scriptwriter in the film and television industry. At the talk, Mr. Chu enlightened students with the techniques of pitching story ideas to television management and actors. He also highlighted the characteristics of drama series distributed on streaming platform.

Mr. Chu explained the workflow in detail on how to complete a 20-episode TV drama series. The team would determine the theme and genre of the story and then establish the character relationship table and the main storyline and conduct research to determine the scene breakdown of each episode of the script. Each scriptwriter would then write their own part, and the script supervisor would revise and unify the coherence of the scripts.

During the sharing session, Mr. Chu explained the way to pitch the story ideas to senior management. He would tie the story to current social issues and about the community concerns and went in line with market trend. When pitching the story to actors, the writer should understand the actor’s life history first and their previous acting roles. He joked that writing the biography of drama characters for actors to accept playing was like writing a ‘love letter’ to impress lovers.

The students found the talk beneficial, especially in regard to job interview skills for scriptwriters. They expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from Mr. Chu’s extensive experience in the industry.

Professor Trevor Y T Siu, School of Communication, presents a souvenir to Mr. Chu.

Dr. Sobel Chan Ka Lok, moderator of the talk, has a chit-chat session with Mr. Chu.

Mr. Chu shares the technique of pitching ideas to the senior management of television station and veteran actors.

Student raises a question for Mr. Chu.