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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Third Party, First Class


FADE IN

  1.  

  2. Act 1 

  3.  

  4. INT. STUDY - 21:30

  5.  

  6. Having read a string of remarks in a WhatsApp chatgroup, PETER's gaze drifts to the window.


  7. FLASHBACK


  8. INT. SHAW AUDITORIUM - 10:00 (23 Nov 2024)


  9. HKUST congregation 2024. On stage, Peter sits right behind the PRESIDENT. He reads the order of proceedings in a brochure.


  10. PETER (V.O): The honorary doctorate degrees will be awarded to four candidates...

  11.  

  12. Peter glances the three CANDIDATES robed in crimson, sitting in the front row on his right.


  13. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): They're Jensen Huang, Tony Leung and Michael Levitt...but David Mufford isn't here.


  14. We see three honorary doctorate awardees speaking to the AUDIENCE in turns. And then, a pre-recorded video of David Mufford is shown on screen.

  15.  

  16. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, he remarks: "HKUST is the MIT of China"!


  17. Act 2  


  18. INT. SHAW AUDITORIUM - 11:15


  19. Foyer. Media interviews. Dozens of PEOPLE, including Peter, watching. We hear Jensen remarking "...HKUST is the MIT of China..."


  20. PETER (V.O): That enhances credibility.


  21. EXT. WALKWAY TO SHAW AUDITORIUM - 13:00


  22. Peter catches up a PROFESSOR walking slightly ahead of him.


  23. PETER: Why your 87-year old mentor couldn't come?


  24. PROFESSOR: He has a family emergency...


  25. PETER: But his remark that "HKUST is the MIT of China" does make a difference.


  26. INT. SHAW AUDITORIUM - 13:30

  27.  

  28. Full house. The 800 AUDIENCE, including Peter, follow intensely the firechat between the Council CHAIR and JENSEN on stage.


  29. PETER (V.O): His way to make the AI results trustworthy is to ask AI bots to reason with him...Instructive!


  30. Later, we hear Jensen's remarking "HKUST is the MIT of China", and a big round of applause.

  31.  

  32. INT. BEDROOM - 22:10


  33. Peter checks WhatsApp chatgroup messages.


  34. PETER (V.O): It's from the President...Yes, to share joy and bonding about today's events...


  35. Peter types his reaction on screen: I love the soundbite: HKUST is the MIT of China.


  36. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM, HKUST - 09:30 (Earlier)


  37. Among OTHERS, Peter is attending a meeting on campus development. Then, he sees an incoming WhatsApp message.


  38. PETER (V.O): Oh, the professor has reacted to my remark...


  39. Peter reads the message.


  40. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Yes, his mentor did coin "HKUST is the MIT of China".


  41. Pausing.


  42. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's a bold statement from a distinguished American mathematician.


  43. Recalling.


  44. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I even came across a media report with a twist: HKUST is the MIT of Asia.

  45.  

  46. Typing on screen.


  47. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Let me share the facts with my colleagues.


  48. Finishing, Peter tries to refocus on the meeting business, having eye contact with the PRESENTER.


  49. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Her work might not have covered what has happened to HKUST in the past few days.


  50. Peter sees incoming WhatsApp messages.


  51. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I can't resist the temptation to check them.


  52. Peter sees a string of responses following his.


  53. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, my remarks have got traction again...


  54. Pausing.


  55. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): HKUST - the MIT in Asia? It actually makes sense...our programs, our research, our entrepreneurship...its all top-notch.


  56. Peter poses questions to the presenter.


  57. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It has never occurred to me that my voluntary HKUST work isn't sequential but parallel, like AI's paraellel computing.


  58. RETURN TO PRESENT


  59. Act 3

  60.  

  61. INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS

  62.  

  63. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Third Pary, First Class..." to a draft in his laptop.

  64.  

  65. PETER (V.O): Third party endorsements can significantly enhance an institution's reputation, positioning it as leading in its fields.


  66. Thinking.

  67.  

  68. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Being first class, institutions must strive to sustain its standards to meet and to exceed the high expectations of others.

  69.  

  70.  Reflecting.

  71.  

  72. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The process involves a shared vision and dedication from all members of the institutions. I've been playing my due role as a HKUST Council Member.

  73.  

  74. FADE OUT

  75.  

  76. THE END



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