e-Bulletin December 2025

As the year of 2025 comes to a close, much is overshadowed by our need to reflect on the tragic loss that Hong Kong experienced in the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

Amid this grief, we have also witnessed remarkable courage, generosity, and solidarity. Many members of our own School community rushed to volunteer their talent to aid the survivors. The mental health challenge for surrounding residents will remain with us for a long time, and I know that the expertise of our School will help residents process the sense of trauma.

As teachers, students, and researchers, our profession has a responsibility to advance all-hazards preparedness—whether for fires, heat waves, typhoons, pandemics, or emerging threats. New understanding of the biological, social, and physical causes of public health threats is essential for progress. Ways to execute strategies based on known facts are just as important. A cornerstone of preparedness is the cross-sectoral relationships and linkages we build before crises occur. Our School’s Reverse Research Day Mixer on December 9, 2025 was a vivid example of our School teaching and doing the work of convening multi-sectoral partners. Over 50 members of Hong Kong’s public health research and practice community gathered to foster new connections across disciplines and partners. These relationships strengthen our collective resilience and capacity to safeguard the health of Hong Kong. Attendees were able to make new connections for work on infectious diseases, aging, mental health, families, tobacco, and NCDs. Hundreds of new links were formed as a chain of new connections shared ideas about how they will work together to make Hong Kong healthy. The art of convening is a basic tool in public health. We rely on others to help us write the story of how we will work together. The photos in this issue of e-bulletin testify to our success and commitment to building groups that share strength. Partnerships are going forward with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute, WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, the International Psycho-Oncology Society, the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of the City University of Hong Kong, and our School’s 200 new MPH and RPg alumni from the class of 2025.

There is no silver lining to a tragedy, but the truth is that sometimes darkness helps the goodness of the human heart shine brighter.

Professor David Bishai
Director and Clinical Professor
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong