Encounters with Alumni from Greater China
Jade Lai (2000, Oriel) is the Vice-Chairman
of Renaissance Foundation Hong
Kong, an NGO that works towards creating a culturally vibrant and
creatively sustainable Hong Kong. She is the Hong Kong Judging Panel
Member of the Rhodes
Scholarship and the Judging Panel Member of Lee Hysan Foundation's Overseas
Boarding Schools Scholarships. Previously, Jade worked as the Deputy
Director of Hong Kong United Foundation and the Director of Advocacy of the
Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in
Social Science with First Class Honours from Chinese University Hong Kong and was
selected as the Rhodes Scholar for Hong Kong in 2000, studying English and
Sociology at Oxford and obtaining an MPhil. She was also the recipient
of several other scholarships including the Sir Edward Youde Memorial
Scholarship. She has extensive media experience, having co-hosted a number of
RTHK programmes including ‘Open Line, Open View’, worked for the Asia Bureau of
Britain’s ITN Channel as well as the World Channel of Hong Kong Asia Television
News. She has lectured at and developed programmes for various local and
mainland tertiary institutes.
What are your most cherished memories of Oxford?
Life at Oxford was full of poetry. As I look back, it was the little things that I missed the most: whether it was punting with friends on the Cherwell in the summer, reading Chaucer at the Radcliffe Camera, experiencing a last-minute anxiety attack (for not having done enough) just before the one-on-one tutorial, pub-crawling with friends and dons until the small hours, or listening to music while walking through the Christ Church Meadow.
What did being a Rhodes Scholar mean to you? How did it shape you as an individual and in your career?
What are your most cherished memories of Oxford?
Life at Oxford was full of poetry. As I look back, it was the little things that I missed the most: whether it was punting with friends on the Cherwell in the summer, reading Chaucer at the Radcliffe Camera, experiencing a last-minute anxiety attack (for not having done enough) just before the one-on-one tutorial, pub-crawling with friends and dons until the small hours, or listening to music while walking through the Christ Church Meadow.
What did being a Rhodes Scholar mean to you? How did it shape you as an individual and in your career?
Jade with Lord and Lady Christopher Patten as an intern for ITN in 1997, just before the Handover of Hong Kong's sovereignty.
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My Rhodes experience started when I was chosen as the Rhodes Scholar-elect in 2000. It was most intensive during my Oxford years, but it definitely did not end there. The education, the networking and socialising continue, and the impact has lasted until today. Since it was such a blessing and privilege to become part of the Rhodes community, I always feel the need to strive for excellence in what I do, and to set my goals on things that are slightly above mere self-interest, as a way to give back. That's part of the reasons why I tend to dedicate my time to NGO, media and education works. All in all, the Rhodes experience has left an indelible imprint on me. |
How did Oxford nurture your talents and interests? You studied English as well as sociology there - did the courses live up to your expectations?
Oxford provides us, especially those who have a thirst for knowledge, with an ideal environment to learn and thrive. The college life, the lectures and the one-on-one tutorial system serve to nurture a spirit of independent learning. The days I spent there were important for my character building.
Oxford provides us, especially those who have a thirst for knowledge, with an ideal environment to learn and thrive. The college life, the lectures and the one-on-one tutorial system serve to nurture a spirit of independent learning. The days I spent there were important for my character building.
Jade hosting RTHK's phone in programme 'Open Line, Open View' in 2006, with current affairs commentator Ng Chi Sum
What is your proudest achievement and what is your most humbling moment?
It's probably overstating it a little to say that I have many great achievements at such an early stage of my life. But the experience of building things from scratch to serve a social purpose seems to be giving me a very strong sense of satisfaction.
For example, I assisted Dr. Deanna Lee Rudgard of the Lee Hysan Foundation to setup a scholarship scheme in Hong Kong four years ago. (It is now known as the Overseas Boarding Schools Scholarships). The scheme brings bright thirteen and fourteen year-old students from families of moderate means to receive whole-person boarding education at the UK's Rugby School and at Australia's Geelong Grammar School. Our aim is to give talented youngsters from humble background the opportunities and means to broaden them to the fullest, so as to bring positive change into their lives and the lives of those around them. Today, we are not only sending more students overseas, but most importantly, we see how each and every one of our students are making tremendous progress and how amazed their families, friends and former school teachers are by such changes.
Being a university and college lecturer was a humbling experience for me. To me, teaching is about being able to inspire and to co-learn with your students through the teaching process. No matter how smart you are as a teacher, respect from students only comes when you put your heart into communicating with them. I was really happy to see some of the seemingly difficult students come out of my classes, with an urge to finish reading all the items on the book list immediately.
It's probably overstating it a little to say that I have many great achievements at such an early stage of my life. But the experience of building things from scratch to serve a social purpose seems to be giving me a very strong sense of satisfaction.
For example, I assisted Dr. Deanna Lee Rudgard of the Lee Hysan Foundation to setup a scholarship scheme in Hong Kong four years ago. (It is now known as the Overseas Boarding Schools Scholarships). The scheme brings bright thirteen and fourteen year-old students from families of moderate means to receive whole-person boarding education at the UK's Rugby School and at Australia's Geelong Grammar School. Our aim is to give talented youngsters from humble background the opportunities and means to broaden them to the fullest, so as to bring positive change into their lives and the lives of those around them. Today, we are not only sending more students overseas, but most importantly, we see how each and every one of our students are making tremendous progress and how amazed their families, friends and former school teachers are by such changes.
Being a university and college lecturer was a humbling experience for me. To me, teaching is about being able to inspire and to co-learn with your students through the teaching process. No matter how smart you are as a teacher, respect from students only comes when you put your heart into communicating with them. I was really happy to see some of the seemingly difficult students come out of my classes, with an urge to finish reading all the items on the book list immediately.
Jade with her husband Dylan Ho at her son Andrew's one year birthday
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How do you
balance the multiple dimensions of your life – being a social advocate, a
volunteer, a mother, a wife?
I try to manage my time. I would also look at it this way. Having the multiple dimensions actually help me strike a better balance when dealing with each aspect of my life. Being greeted by my 23 months old son when I return home from a hard day's work puts life in good perspective, that no matter how busy, tedious and frustrating, work is only one part of my life. Diving into the high demands of work, on the contrary, gives me a sense of progress that domestic life cannot bring. Volunteerism is more for self-actualization and giving back, and is therefore also rather indispensable for me. |
As a member of the selection committee of various scholarships, you meet many of Hong Kong’s brightest students. What advice would you give them? And what is the best piece of advice you’ve received yourself?
I've seen so many different kinds of truly talented and bright young students with strong aspirations. To us interviewers, we always prefer to speak to a genuine person who speaks one's mind than to listen to well crafted memorized answers. So, the advise for going for scholarship interview is to speak your mind and be yourself.
Professor Wong Suk Ying of the Chinese University of Hong Kong used to share with me a wise understanding about different stages of one's life which is most invaluable to me: talent and passion for life is necessary but insufficient for one to have a meaningful life. Lots and lots of hardwork are indispensible. Then, as one matures and becomes wiser, one would finally come to his or her own world view and refine judgements, not easily affected by others.
Interviewed in September 2013
Ms Jade Lai was appointed Political Assistant to the Secretary for Welfare and Labour by the Hong Kong SAR government, effective 1 November 2013. Ed
I've seen so many different kinds of truly talented and bright young students with strong aspirations. To us interviewers, we always prefer to speak to a genuine person who speaks one's mind than to listen to well crafted memorized answers. So, the advise for going for scholarship interview is to speak your mind and be yourself.
Professor Wong Suk Ying of the Chinese University of Hong Kong used to share with me a wise understanding about different stages of one's life which is most invaluable to me: talent and passion for life is necessary but insufficient for one to have a meaningful life. Lots and lots of hardwork are indispensible. Then, as one matures and becomes wiser, one would finally come to his or her own world view and refine judgements, not easily affected by others.
Interviewed in September 2013
Ms Jade Lai was appointed Political Assistant to the Secretary for Welfare and Labour by the Hong Kong SAR government, effective 1 November 2013. Ed
