Rosanna initially intended to pursue legal studies. However, as law was not offered at CUHK at the time, she opted for the closest alternative—Government and Public Administration (GPA). "I hadn't considered politics, nor did I fully understand the curriculum of GPA. Since the programme seemed somewhat related to law and my academic results met the requirements, I decided to apply." She recalls that faculty members in the department were highly respected, and some were regularly invited to join policy discussions on television. "Prof. Byron S. J. Weng left a particularly strong impression on me. During the Student-Oriented Teaching (STOT) course in my fourth year, Prof. Weng led tours to help us observe how organisations operate in practice. The visit to the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch was especially eye-opening as it revealed that their work primarily involves liaison and analysis, which was quite different from my assumption of secrecy. It proved to be an enlightening experience. Another visit to the Office of the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils ('UMELCO')—now the site of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal—was also memorable. Walking through this British-style historic building and soaking up its atmosphere, I imagined how nice it would be to work there one day. Unexpectedly, much of my career later involved attending Legislative Council meetings in that very building."
Rosanna also holds great respect for Prof. Andrew Wong Wang-fat. "Already a Legislative Councillor at the time, Prof. Wong often shared his personal experiences at the Council during class, and I would raise questions about his public speeches. That kind of direct engagement sparked many new ideas for me." She also praises CUHK's general education: "The monthly college meetings often invited distinguished speakers, such as Prof. Arthur Li, then Chairman of the CUHK Department of Surgery. He shared that liver is the only human organ capable of regenerating after parts are surgically removed, and advised us not to hesitate when considering surgical approaches to liver issues. I still remember this clearly, after such a long time and it has been genuinely useful. At another meeting, the theme was 'Beginning of Time,' which tied into the topical discussion of the Big Bang theory. We were curious about the origin of the universe, and even with my Christian faith in later years, I found myself pondering whether God is the origin of the universe. General education encouraged me to critically examine all kinds of questions, reflecting the uniqueness of CUHK's approach—not just focusing on one's major, but embracing a broader intellectual journey."
During her third and fourth years, Rosanna lived in student hostels and spent considerable time in the Student Union and hostel common areas, enriching her university life. "Although I didn't participate directly in student organisations, I was close to fellow students involved in the Student Union. In my first year, I collaborated with students from other faculties on a small-scale project titled 'Cultural Review', where we held meetings at Adam Schall Residence to discuss how Hong Kong's popular culture influenced ideology. We didn't realise the seriousness or importance of those discussions back then—we were simply exploring theories in engaging ways, like examining the cultural impact of Pink Floyd's film The Wall. Looking back, that enlightening experience sharpened my awareness of cultural issues and has proven helpful in my current role at the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Also, as university students often stayed up late, we spent hours discussing, thinking, brainstorming—and sometimes even debating passionately. That kind of training was incredibly valuable."
After graduating, Rosanna joined the government and has remained in public service ever since. "I've never really considered leaving. My goal has always been clear—to serve the public and society, which is far more meaningful to me than making a fortune. After my studies, I mainly looked for government jobs. For the few management trainee roles I applied for, I was less prepared than my classmates because my focus was firmly on public service. Eventually, I was appointed as an Administrative Officer, and I'm grateful for a rather smooth career that has spanned areas like constitutional affairs, transport, housing, trade, and tourism. I've had a deep interest in these fields and have learned so much along the way. I feel fulfilled, and I'm confident I'll continue working in government until retirement." Having tackled complex issues and challenges across departments, Rosanna believes every challenge offers valuable lessons for the future. "For example, during the implementation of the free-flow tolling system HKeToll, our original plan didn't align with public expectations. While we had planned a series of pilot tests, the public preferred a full-scale launch. Once that feedback was clear, we committed to making it happen. The two-month postponement gave us extra time for communication and preparation. Every experience brings wisdom."
Reflecting on one of her most memorable experiences, Rosanna highlighted her role during the 6th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference held in Hong Kong in 2005. "Representatives from over 150 countries and territories gathered in our city. As a separate customs territory and founding member of the WTO, Hong Kong hosted the event. My work at the Trade and Industry Department focused on the WTO negotiation work. Apart from organizing the conference and preparing its agenda, I was also responsible for liaising with the Financial Secretary, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Director-General of Trade and Industry, Assistant Director-General colleagues, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva. I coordinated overseas visits, line-ups, and numerous logistical matters. Ultimately, the successful adoption of the 'Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration' was a truly remarkable milestone." She also recalls another achievement during the conference, joking that she slept only about 11 hours over the entire eight-day meeting: "Daytime was filled with meetings, so substantive negotiations began around midnight and continued until dawn. With so little rest, I quickly learned to maximize every opportunity to recharge. Even with just half an hour, I could fall asleep instantly, recover, and get back to work. That was a precious training."
The conference was also groundbreaking in its approach, including daily press briefings at 4 p.m. "Representatives responsible for venue arrangements and counterparts from departments like the Hong Kong Police Force and Transport Department attended the briefings, while I was tasked with providing updates on the status of ministerial negotiations." She acknowledges the difficulty of this task, as the public and media were not familiar with the subject matter at that time. "During the preparation stage in 2004, we began working closely with the media and offered workshops to educate journalists about the WTO, the Ministerial Conference discussions, and their significance for Hong Kong. I learned from this experience that we must strive to communicate with the public before rolling out large-scale policies or announcing major events—just like the ones I'm involved in now."
Each position presents its own unique challenges, and Rosanna's current role as Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism is no exception. "In recent years, development in these areas was severely hindered by the pandemic, and it took time to catch up even after things returned to normal. Meanwhile, 'sports' encompasses dozens of different sports, including emerging ones. Promoting sports in the community and nurturing new generations of elite athletes are equally important. Additionally, our country has outlined its vision for Hong Kong to become an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange in its 14th Five-Year Plan. Figuring out how to achieve that involves complex challenges."
Since assuming the role eight months ago, she has kept busy. "The smooth opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park marks a new landmark for performing arts and sports events. Thanks to the concerted efforts of our colleagues, operations are running smoothly. We've hosted nearly sold-out events that received critical acclaim and positive feedback. These boost Hong Kong's bargaining power, create business opportunities for local enterprises, and positively impact the local economy. In the cultural sector, by working with the Chinese Culture Promotion Office and collaborating with museums, we're able to showcase the richness of Chinese culture to visitors. Excellent resources like the West Kowloon Cultural District also contribute to cultural development."
On the sports front, Rosanna shared: "The results have been unprecedented—with two gold medals at the Paris Olympics last year, and three golds, two silvers, and one bronze at The World Games this year. Hong Kong athletes have delivered outstanding performances at world championships and Asian competitions. While their dedication is key, the improvements must also be attributed to the government's investment in sports development—such as enhancing facilities at the Hong Kong Sports Institute and completing the Kai Tak Sports Park which has given Hong Kong a stadium capable of hosting major events."
Public officials are typically reserved and rarely share personal interests. Rosanna, however, has remained true to herself and is known for speaking openly about her passions—from Manchester United and motor racing to idols, cooking, and Chinese opera. She notes that the term "officials" may feel distant to the public, but they are simply people who serve society. "The general public may not be interested in officials, so they never get to see our more interesting side. My previous roles at the Transport Department and the Housing Department were both closely tied to livelihood issues, so I had more chances to engage with the public. Today's media landscape also allows for more detailed policy explanations, helps build mutual trust, and occasionally opens the door to lighter topics. Being a frank and outspoken person, I naturally bring up personal interests during more relaxed interviews."
Indeed, Rosanna frequently discusses a wide range of topics in interviews. On social media, she shares personal updates that give a down-to-earth impression. She says she started using Facebook 18 years ago and has been sharing snippets of her life ever since. "In the early days, social media was mainly for connecting with friends. Seeing my friends post about food and travel, I followed suit. Over time, I realized the posts had a broader impact. For example, when I worked in the Housing Department, I often shared departmental updates. Or when there was news I wanted to share with citizens, I could do so in my own voice. Gradually, it became a habit."
People even joke that her RedNote (Xiaohongshu) account has become a "wishing fountain," where users leave requests for artists or performances they hope to see in Hong Kong. She calls it a happy coincidence: "I first heard about Rednote's popularity and was encouraged to explore the platform. I found it interesting and opened an account. While cheering for the Hong Kong team at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin this February, I posted a selfie of myself eating ice cream and wearing a thick hat in -20°C weather. That was my first post, and it received a great response—tens of thousands of views and thousands of likes. Once people realized who I was, it became a 'wishing fountain.' This became more common after the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park. People started leaving comments about which artists or bands they'd love to see perform in Hong Kong. I read the comments seriously, though I couldn't reply to each one. Still, it became a useful way to gauge public sentiment. If there's a large volume of requests for a particular singer or athlete, I'll discuss with colleagues whether we should make a greater effort to invite them to Hong Kong."
"CU Alumni Magazine" Video Interview: https://youtu.be/dlr4OauLhoM (Chinese only)
Published on CU Alumni Magazine Issue 123 by Alumni Affairs Office 2025
Read online: CU Alumni Magazine Issue 123 (Chinese Version Only)
PDF: http://www.alumni.cuhk.edu.hk/magazine/202509/pdf/CUAM_202509.pdf
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