Latest news with #University of Hong Kong
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hongkongers warned of legal liabilities ahead of ChatGPT-style AI tool launch
Using artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword, and users must accept full responsibility if they break the law, according to Hong Kong's technology minister, ahead of the release of a locally developed tool powered by mainland China's DeepSeek for free public use this year. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong issued the warning on Saturday in response to an incident in which a University of Hong Kong (HKU) law student allegedly used AI tools to create illicit pornographic images of female classmates based on publicly available photos and screenshots from social media. The university issued a warning letter and is reviewing the case, while Hong Kong's privacy watchdog has initiated a criminal investigation. The city's leader, John Lee Ka-chiu, has also pledged to explore international regulations and 'best practices' for AI governance. 'The use of AI is a double-edged sword as it will prompt many issues while providing convenience to the public and a boost to the economy. So the key is to have proper guidance and a comprehensive legal framework,' Sun told a radio programme. 'AI is just a tool. Eventually, the users have to be responsible for its application and bear the relevant liability.' Sun added that users should be aware of their legal responsibilities when using AI as Hong Kong prepares for the free public launch of 'HK Chat' in the second half of the year.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Same-sex bill is an acid test of Hong Kong's human rights protection
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@ or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification In 2023, the Court of Final Appeal ruled under Article 14 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights that the government has a constitutional obligation to establish a legal framework recognising same-sex partnerships, mandating legislation within two years. With the deadline now just three months away, the government has finally gazetted the Registration of Same-Sex Partnerships Bill and tabled it before the Legislative Council – without a prior public consultation. Predictably, it has drawn a fierce backlash from conservative lawmakers. These critics insist that LGBT+ rights are incompatible with traditional Chinese values, ignoring a 2023 joint poll by the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of North Carolina that showed 60 per cent of Hongkongers supporting marriage equality for same-sex couples, with only 17 per cent opposed. The court had already clarified in Leung Chun-kwong vs the Secretary for the Civil Service (2019) that while 'societal circumstances' may be relevant to the decision on equality for the minorities, 'prevailing socio-moral values of society on marriage' cannot justify discriminatory laws or policies. The court further emphasised that denying minority rights solely due to the absence of support from the majority is morally indefensible. Yet conservative politicians disregard both public opinion and judicial authority, with some proposing National People's Congress Standing Committee intervention to overturn the Court of Final Appeal ruling or vowing to block the bill. This risks undermining Hong Kong's constitutional order and leaving the government in breach of its obligations.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong rises 5 places to 17th in global ranking of top study destinations
Hong Kong has claimed 17th place and re-entered the world's top 20 study destinations in a global ranking, with the British assessor expecting the city to attract more global talent despite public funding cuts. In the latest ranking of student cities by UK-based education information firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) on Tuesday, Hong Kong rose five places from 22nd to 17th out of 150 cities and districts. South Korean capital Seoul topped this year's ranking, overtaking London, which had placed first for the previous six consecutive years. The UK capital fell to third place, largely due to a significant drop in the affordability indicator. Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, said that Hong Kong performed outstandingly in the firm's latest World University Rankings published last month and stood out as Asia's most improved higher education system. 'Five of its nine ranked universities are now placed among the world's top 70, and its flagship institution, the University of Hong Kong, is edging closer to breaking into the global top 10,' she said. 'The city also breaks into the global top 50 in the student mix indicator, reflecting its growing success in attracting international students, and enters the top 30 for desirability, signalling a rising appeal as a study destination.'
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Deepfake porn case in Hong Kong highlights need for vigilance on legal front
The growing use of artificial intelligence across different fields has created as many threats as benefits, raising questions over whether the technology should be more closely regulated. Even though the authorities in Hong Kong argue that online actions are generally covered by legislation enacted to address crimes in the physical world, there have been calls for wider reforms whenever something goes wrong. In the latest controversy , a law student of the University of Hong Kong was found to have fabricated pornographic images of dozens of classmates and other women using free online AI software. The more than 700 images were reportedly organised into folders named after the victims and stored on the student's personal laptop, where they were discovered by a friend of the student in mid-February. The case only came to light on Saturday after three alleged victims put up a social media post questioning whether the university had done enough to hold the student accountable. The institution responded that the student in question had received a warning letter and was asked to issue a formal apology to the affected classmates, adding that it would further review the case and take action when appropriate to ensure 'a safe and respectful learning environment'. The incident has raised concerns not just because it was apparently handled in a lenient way but also because of questions over the adequacy of AI regulations, with some lawmakers and advocacy groups calling for a ban on deepfake pornography . South Korea passed a law last September making possessing and viewing deepfake porn punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$21,740). The maximum prison sentence for creating and distributing non-consensual deepfake explicit images was also increased from five to seven years. Hong Kong does not have specific laws regulating AI. But the new technology does not fall outside the law. Officials say most legislations designed to prevent crimes in the physical world are in principle also applicable to the cyber world. The Crimes Ordinance was amended in 2021 to introduce offences related to the publication or threatened publication of intimate images without consent. These offences are also applicable to images altered by AI technology to depict an intimate body part or an intimate act of an individual, according to the government. Separately, various authorities have issued guidelines to promote responsible use of AI in different fields. The rapid uptake of new technologies has left no room for complacency when it comes to regulation. The authorities must keep a constant and close watch on whether the existing laws can effectively deal with adverse consequences.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Mondayitis Could Have a Deadly Effect On Your Body
Don't like Mondays? You might be at higher risk of stress-related health problems, including cardiovascular disease. Modern society has built up Mondays to be the least-liked day of the week. We've just come back from a relaxing weekend and now have to face all the responsibilities we've been ignoring, knowing there's the longest possible time before another weekend. Not only did a recent study by researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) identify a link between anxiety towards the first day of the working week and elevated levels of a stress hormone, the connection persisted even after retirement. While correlations do not equal causation, a jump in the stress signal cortisol is closely connected with risk of illnesses. Which could explain why a 2005 meta-analysis found that there's anywhere up to a 19 percent increase in cardiovascular events on Mondays compared to other days of the week. Related: In this latest study, researchers investigated a possible link between feelings of anxiety towards Mondays and physical health. The team examined 3,511 adults aged 50 years and over, taking part in the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA). Participants reported their levels of anxiety on different days of the week, while hair samples were also taken and analyzed for levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The study found that people who reported feeling particularly anxious on Mondays had cortisol levels around 23 percent higher than those who felt anxious on other days. This association seems to suggest that Monday anxiety affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body's main stress management system. But chronic stress can overstimulate the HPA axis and lead to immune system issues, metabolic diseases like cancer or diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This could be the biological mechanism behind the earlier findings of increases in cardiovascular events on Mondays, suggests the team on the new study. It might seem like an obvious work-related hazard, but strangely the study found that even retirees still felt higher stress levels on Mondays, along with the negative health effects. "Mondays act as a cultural 'stress amplifier'," says Tarani Chandola, sociologist at HKU. "For some older adults, the week's transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months. This isn't about work – it's about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end." Maybe Garfield was onto something. The research was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Cannabis Use Is Linked to Epigenetic Changes, Scientists Discover To Tackle Our Obesity Crisis, Experts Say Everything We Do Must Change Big City Lights Could Be Damaging Your Heart Health
