By Cheung King Fung, Chairman of HKIA
February 2010
Growth and Entrepreneurship
I was born in 1917 and grew up in Fujian province. At that time, poor living environment pushed people to strive for change. I determined to try my teen dream, i.e. invention, to improve our living. One day when I was in primary school, I picked up some rolls of movie films dumped by the roadside and thought how to project these films like the movie showing in the theatres. I made use of the natural sunlight with a magnifying glass to project the images onto the wall. I also made a frame to project the film, roll by roll. Many children of the village appreciated these home-made movies and were willing to watch.
At the early period of the War of Resistance Against Japan, I was about 14 years old, everyone concerned about the news of the war. I used a piece of silicon, some batteries, a small speaker and a capacitor to make a radio. In order to increase the volume of the speaker for public broadcast, I connected it with a 50 feet long antenna which was put on the roof as well as a 20 feet long vertical leading wire. I succeeded in making it very loud so that more villagers were able to listen to the news broadcast that the Japanese were marching into town.
At the end of the War, I just graduated from the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, I worked in an electricity company in Gulangyu (an island in Xiamen of China) as a vice-manager for three years. Then, I came to Hong Kong that opened a new chapter in my life.
Since I’ve got the bachelor degree in agriculture, I tried to apply for a post in Agriculture and Fisheries Department of Hong Kong. However, I failed as I did not know speaking Cantonese. One day, I saw some imported clothes which were displayed at the department store. An idea of competing with these expensive imported clothes was come up in my mind. Thus, I decided to design some woolen knitwear by myself and took my designs to a knitting factory and ordered several dozens of knitwear to be made according to my designs. I tried to sell the knitwear to various department stores like a salesman walking from shop to shop. That, indeed, was the turning point. About one year later, in 1953, I opened my own garment factory. When the woolen knitwear industry faced with a slow down following the 1966 boom, I switched industry to synthetic material garments. In 1967 when Hong Kong’s economy was shaken by the several months long riots, I spent about three years and a substantial amount of money to successfully develop the polyamide material. My friends had tried to persuade me several times to give up the idea, but I went on with full of hope and determination. I believe that success was not only by having assurance of product quality, but also by having keen market vision, courage and determination.
Inventions in my life
I am interested in science and invention. In 1972, the integrated circuit has not yet been applied, I used the semiconductor to invent a “mini-computer” which equipped with functions of data recording and analysis. Actually, my initial motive to invent this mini-computer was to record and analyze the racing information provided by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This invention could accurately compile all the past results of the long, middle and short distance races of each horse. I thought that my calculations were accurate, but I forgot that horse racing contained uncontrollable human factors, such as race-fixing between the jockey and the racehorse owner. At the end, nobody was interested in this invention. However, the high accuracy of the calculated results led me to win a prize in the International Invention Exhibition held in New York.
In 1976, I invented a “pen-touch mini electronic organ”. The most important feature of this organ was it could generate wonderful music by touching the keyboard with a special pen. At that time, I put this invention into production, it gained immediate popularity and purchase orders flew in from Europe and USA. But then I received a solicitor’s letter saying that this pen-touch technology had originally been designed and patented in the UK and I was ordered to stop selling my products. Yet purchase orders for my mini electronic organ kept coming in, I began to ponder a new approach to solve this problem. After two months, I improved the pen-touch technology into “soft-touch” that music could be generated by touching the keyboard by fingers instead of pen. As my new mini electronic organ was selling well in different parts of the world, my soft-touch technology was widely applied in elevators, computers, household appliances, mobile phones and numerous devices. While people thought that I was becoming a millionaire with my soft touch patent, I was suddenly awakened that my lawyer had written “for music usage” in my patent and not including other products such as electrical appliances, elevators or computers. I made a vital error that gave me a big lesson - one must write the patent application carefully and comprehensively. This error did not frustrate me. I invented the second-generation organ with better and higher commercial value later on. Now, my “soft-touch” invention is widely used in many devices. Although I have missed the chance to earn a fortune, I am pleased that my invention has made things more convenient and has improved our living standard.
Around 1970, many Chinese people felt that it was very complicated in wearing the ties. Thus, I invented a “waterproof zipper-tie”. Four to five months later, similar zipper-ties were found in the market. My design was stolen and the poor quality of these counterfeit ties affected the reputation of my “original goods”. However, my complaint was ignored by the imperfect patent system in China at that time.
Affiliated to Hong Kong Invention Association
After being chairman of “the Institute of Patentees, Inventors and Designers Limited Hong Kong” for four years, I decided to hand over the association to the younger generation in 1986. However, the association eventually became inactive. In 1995, Mr. Farag Moussa ( Chairman of the International Federation of Invention Association, Switzerland “IFIA for short” ) encouraged me to chair the association again and said, “You are an experienced and right person to dig out the wisdom of the inventors, and their wisdom is now similar to the precious gold burying under the ground. Do you really bear to stand by idly?” Without hesitation, I established Hong Kong Invention Association Ltd., former name Hong Kong Inventors Association Ltd., with a couple of friends and registered as a non-profit social service society in 1996.
Members of Hong Kong Invention Association ( HKIA ) come from all walks of life, including university professors, specialists, housewives, taxi-drivers, retired people and students. I often encourage our members to join the invention seminars, exhibitions and competitions in order to increase the exposure of their inventions through the mass media that may in turn promote the cooperation between inventors and enterprises and help to convert inventions into commercial applications.
The shortage of financial support deterred the association’s development. We could only employ a part-time staff to deal with the routine clerical work in a tiny office. In 2004, operation and achievement of the association were broadcasted in the TV program of ATV that aroused public concern. Many people were willing to help. Kerry Logistics Company generously provided us a larger office with four computers and some infrastructure.
By 2010, a new team of three vice-chairmen and seven committee members will be elected. I believe that our new team members will lead HKIA to take up all the challenges in the future.
I have a wish
I have a wish that one day there is an “Invention and Innovation Museum” built in Hong Kong, the first in the world. One of its main themes is “Technology & Civilization - the past, present and the future”. Exhibits cover the early human civilizations including cave-dwelling, raw-eating, fire-cooking, farming, fishing, weaving, tools-making, house-building, vehicle-making and the “Four Great Inventions”…… up to the computer and outer space explorations.
This “Museum” showcases all the inventions of the world. This will serve as a platform for SMEs to develop unique new products, open up the market, and become a pillar of Hong Kong’s economy. Besides, this “Museum” can also serve as a tourist spot to enhance the development of Hong Kong tourism. It can also inspire the general public to develop an interest in scientific inventions, thereby making Hong Kong a truly international invention center.
I believe that encouraging public innovation, stimulating technological development and creating high value-added products, therefore, are the only way leading to Prosperity and Strength in the 21st century. I hope our Government will set up some policies to develop innovative technology and creative industries. I also hope to get philanthropist’s support to make my wish come true !
* For details about the objectives of this “Museum”, please read another article, namely “I have a dream”.
走過發明之路80年
香港發明協會 張景豐會長
2010年 2 月
成長與創業
“敢於探索和認真鑽研，成功永遠有希望。”
我生於1917年，在福建長大。窮鄉僻壤，物質生活匱乏，但是，窮則思變，這反倒讓小小年紀卻充滿發明夢想的我，可以大膽去嘗試。
記得我讀小學時，有一天，撿到被人丟棄的電影菲林片，於是，我便開始構思如何才能像影院一樣把影片放映出來。結果，我就 利用天然的陽光加上放大鏡，將影像投射到牆上，我還做了一個框架，把菲林逐條播放。村裡的許多兒童都願意去看這自製的電影，我還向入場的觀眾一人收一塊錢 呢！
抗日戰爭初期，當時我約14歲，人人都關注戰況的最新發展。我就用了一顆小小的矽(Silicon)，配上電池、小喇叭 和電容器，做出一部最廉價的收音機。我把一條50尺長的天線放在屋頂，再加上一條20尺長的垂直引線，就成功提高音量，變成公眾廣播，讓所有人都可最快地 獲得戰況的消息。
大學畢業時，已經是抗日戰爭的尾聲。我在廈門鼓浪嶼的一家電力公司當了3年副經理之後，便來到香港發展，從此，翻開了我人生新的一頁。
雖然我取得了農業學士學位，要找到一份工作並不困難，但因為當時的我不會說粵語，以致投考漁農處和教職都沒有被錄用。既 然打工不成，便惟有另尋出路。在一次偶然的機會，我在百貨公司的櫥窗裡看到展示的進口服裝。這些進口服裝雖製作精美但卻價格昂貴，這使我萌發了要與進口服 裝競爭的念頭。於是，我大膽設計並找人做了一些服裝樣品，並親自到百貨公司去推銷。結果，由於物美價廉，許多百貨公司都願意與我簽訂單。生意越做越大之 後，於1953年我便開始自行建廠，做得非常成功，就連當時的英文報紙《虎報》也來訪問我。後來我亦從事不同的行業，深深體會到除了產品的品質要有保證 外，勇氣、決心及對市場有敏銳的觸覺也是十分重要的。
一生醉心發明
“「發明」二字並不高深，只要有不滿現狀的動機、肯探究改良，尋常百姓都可以是明日的愛迪生。”
我非常醉心於發明，自小已為科學著迷。1972年，在積體電路還未出現前，我就利用半導體發明了一部 “迷你電腦”。這部電腦具備了資料記錄和分析功能，計算出來的結果準確度十分高，並在紐約舉辦的國際發明展上獲獎。這個發明當時是從香港賽馬資訊中得到靈 感的，這部迷你電腦能準確統計每匹賽馬過往的長、中、短途成績。我自以為計算精確，可是忽略了一些不能控制的人為因素，如騎師和馬主『造馬』，結果此發明 無人問津。
於1976年，我發明了“筆觸式迷你電子琴”。這種電子琴最大的特色是擁有筆觸式琴鍵。只要用特製的筆在琴鍵上一按，便 可發出美妙的音樂。當時我把這項發明投入生產，在歐美大受歡迎，曾經掀起一股購買熱潮。不過，原來有關設計在英國早已有人構想出來並說我的產品所用的筆觸 方式侵犯了他們的專利，要我停止生產，但訂單依然蜂擁而至，為了避免麻煩，我開始苦思新的方法。終於，兩個月後，我把筆觸式的電子琴改良為“輕觸式 (soft-touch)琴鍵” — 用手直接按在鍵上，便可發出樂音，比用筆觸式技高一籌。一位日本商人前來簽單，並表示希望商討將此原理應用於其他方面的合作時，我才猛然想起律師替我申請 專利時，在技術的應用上只寫著用於音樂樂器，而不包括其他產品，如電器、電梯及電腦等。後來此輕觸方式被廣泛應用於升降機的按鍵、電腦、家庭電器、手機等 其他產品上。雖然已追悔莫及，但同時，也總算得到一個教訓，就是在書寫新發明申請專利時一定要全面、謹慎。我並沒有因此而氣餒，不久，我又鑽研出第二代產 品 — 能發出雙聲的電子琴，它比第一代產品更具備商業和應用價值。現在，全世界的人都用我的發明，雖然沒有讓我賺到錢，但眼見自己的發明能夠方便大眾、貢獻社 會，我也感到心滿意足！
在70年代，我當時從事紡織生意，有感於穿制服（如軍服）時繫領帶的步驟太複雜，因此，我發明了 “防水防污的拉鍊領帶” 以方便穿戴。四五個月後，在我還未找到合適的合作廠商時，國內市場上卻出現了同類領帶，設計被人盜用，劣質貨品影響了「原裝正貨」的聲譽，又由於當時的專 利管理制度並不完善，結果投訴亦無功而返。
與發明協會結緣
“這是為發明家服務的神聖任務。”
1986年，我在香港發明專利協會當過兩屆會長後，就將協會交予年輕一輩。可惜，不到兩年，協會日漸沉寂。1995年，我本來計畫退休，離開商界，安享晚年。但國際發明聯盟組織（IFIA）會長Farag Moussa勸我把香港發明家們再次組織起來，並說道：“如果不把發明家的智慧挖掘出來，就等於把金礦埋在地下。你這樣富有經驗和號召力的人怎能忍心袖手旁觀？” 聽了這番話，我立即找來幾位志同道合的朋友，正式成立非牟利機構 — 香港發明家協會 (現已更名為 “香港發明協會”)。
協會的會員來自社會各階層，包括大學教授、專業人士、家庭主婦、的士司機、退休人士以及十幾歲的學生。此外，協會還吸納 了世界各地的發明家。在協會的多年工作中，我體會到有創意的發明一定要靠展覽、比賽和傳媒才有機會將發明品曝光，故此，我時常鼓勵會員多參加各地研討會、 展覽會以及比賽，積極與國外發明組織進行聯絡交流。希望能幫助發明家們與生產企業、廠商聯手，共謀生產計劃。
一直令我困擾的問題就是協會的經費不足。協會成立之初，連辦公的地方也找不到，我就騰出自己的辦公室閣樓給協會。而且，日常文書工作，也只聘請一位兼職員工來處理。
2004年，亞洲電視播出對協會的訪問，並向廣大市民講述協會的運作和發明成果，引起了良好的社會反應，申請入會人數不斷增加。與此同時，很多有心人也願意給予幫助。嘉里物流公司慷慨地提供了大面積的辦公場所，並提供4部電腦和一些基礎設施。樂善支援，社會尊敬。
香港發明協會漸漸為大眾所認知，我希望能繼續努力為會員謀求福利，把發明創新事業發揚光大，為香港智慧產業播下種子。2010年，協會將選出新一屆3名副會長及7名理事，共同推動協會發展。
我有一個願望
“在香港成立全世界第一個發明創新博覽中心。”
我的心裡一直有個願望，就是在香港成立全世界第一個「發明創新博覽中心」。主題之一為 “科技文明話古今”，展品可由遠古穴居、茹毛飲血時代開始，歷經創造工具器皿、生火煮食、漁耕織布、建屋造車及四大發明，直至今日的電腦及探索太空時代，一一包容。
這個「發明創新博覽中心」可徵集全球的創新發明，為中小企建立一個平台，發展獨特的新產品，開拓市場，成為香港穩健的經濟支柱。除此之外，該中心也可以成為景點，促進旅遊業的發展，更可提高市民對科學發明的興趣，令香港成為一個名副其實的國際創意工業中心。
我堅信提倡發明創新的基礎教育和發展群眾智慧致富是 21 世紀發展經濟繁榮社會的主流，期望我們的政府能重視及訂立政策推行。我亦期盼善長仁翁們能伸出援手支持我們，一起推動這項香港歷史偉大的工程！
*有關創立「發明創新博覽中心」的建議和目標，請參閱另一篇文章，題目為 “我有一個夢 ”。