Unexpected path, lasting impact: hearing loss setback leads to decades of teaching

Ivan Fung Wing-hong, born with a hearing impairment, faced initial difficulties finding employment after graduating from high school in Hong Kong. His struggles with language subjects at school were due to his hearing loss, while subjects like mathematics and art came more naturally to him. Fung pursued building-related subjects at what was then City Polytechnic of Hong Kong, which later transformed into City University of Hong Kong (CityU) in 1994.

Despite applying for a job on a sewage treatment project, his hearing impairment raised concerns about safety risks on construction sites, leading to unsuccessful job applications. Encouraged by his father, Fung considered teaching, but job applications to secondary schools also fell through. Eventually, a former lecturer suggested he take up a junior academic role at CityU, where he had studied.

Over the course of 20 years, Fung taught at CityU, supervising postgraduate students along the way. His work has led him to become a finalist for the Spirit of Nurturing Award in this year's Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, co-organised by Sino Group and the South China Morning Post.

Fung's teaching has extended far beyond the university, helping younger children with art and other subjects at his wife's tutorial centre. He has also taught postgraduate engineering students in mainland China and provided lessons and talks to professionals and elderly individuals. His philosophy of "receiving help, helping oneself, and then helping others" guides his community work, including initiatives with the Paradise Home Foundation and its Chinese culture education centre.

Recent activities range from Chinese cultural education to digital literacy, including hanfu design activities for students and older participants, as well as projects where primary and secondary pupils use artificial intelligence to create short videos. Fung has also helped elderly people understand the risks posed by AI, such as AI-generated images, videos, and cloned voices used in scams.

He urges them to verify suspicious messages or calls, even when they appear to come from relatives or friends. The Paradise Home Foundation notes that his academic background allows him to explain the uses and risks of AI in terms that older people can understand.

For Fung, the nomination for the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards affirms that his unexpected career path has been worthwhile. "It gives me a sense of recognition and tells me that the path I chose was the right one," he said. Established in 2013, the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards recognise society's unsung heroes and organisations whose work may otherwise go unnoticed.