On December 29,2025, the Hong Kong Institute of Environmental Engineers and the Military Relics Conservation Association held a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Cooperation at the Hong Kong Police Sports and Recreation Association. Dr. Tommy Ho, President of  the President of the Institute should be read, "the President of Hong Kong Institute of Environmentalists, along with CPPCC members, institute representatives, and international guests, attended the event. Dr. Perry YK Ip, Chairman of Huiyuan Cowins Technology Group Co., Ltd. served as the witness for the signing.
After the signing ceremony, the Association presented their degree programs, and Dr. Ip's speech proposed three research topics for their curriculum.


1)Do not do what is forbidden.
Before the invasion of Hong Kong on December 8, 1941, British intelligence and diplomatic channels had received intelligence about Japan's military buildup in South China, though this information lacked precise invasion dates or operational plans. Despite knowing the defensive challenges in Hong Kong, Prime Minister Churchill refused to reduce troop numbers, fearing that a retreat would undermine imperial prestige and demoralize Chinese forces.
As a research topic, students could explore how British troops of Chinese descent, despite knowing the futility of their efforts, still fought with blood and sweat.

2)Those who share the same desires will prevail.
Before the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), the Qing court and public opinion widely believed the Beiyang Fleet would prevail. However, this optimism was primarily based on the fleet's early advantages in scale and equipment, overlooking systemic, training, and financial vulnerabilities that ultimately led to a disastrous defeat. The failure was attributed to three main factors: 1) Insufficient financial support, with naval funds frequently diverted for projects like the Summer Palace construction; 2) Loose institutional discipline; and 3) Japan's rapid technological progress, aided by British advisors. The defeat's causes were complex, involving systemic flaws in the Qing court's administration, fiscal mismanagement, military training deficiencies, and strategic shortcomings. The conflict between Li Hongzhang and Weng Tonghe further strained the Beiyang Fleet's finances. During his tenure as Minister of Revenue, Weng Tonghe imposed excessive restrictions on naval funding, even resorting to the notorious practice of "cutting military rations." These measures left the Beiyang Fleet without adequate resources for sustained maintenance and training before the war.
As Sun Tzu's Art of War states:' Victory belongs to those who share the same desire. 'Therefore, as a research topic, students could cite historical examples of China's wars where such unity of purpose led to victory.

3)Coal Mountain Self-tying
In April 1644, Li Zicheng captured Beijing, last Emperor of Ming Dynasty hanged himself on Coal Hill. Li declared himself emperor in Beijing, founding the Dàshùn regime. By June, after merely two months, the Qing forces, led by Wu Sangui, breached the Great Wall and crushed Li's forces at Shanhaiguan. Forced to retreat, Li's regime collapsed within 42 days of his imperial proclamation. This demonstrates that the Ming Dynasty did not fall to foreign invaders.
During the late Ming Dynasty, the Ming government procured and replicated the Red Barbarian cannons (Portuguese-style or European-style muzzle-loading smoothbore guns) from Portuguese merchants in Macau. These cannons were primarily deployed along the Liaodong (northern China) defensive line to counter the Later Jin (the precursor to the Manchu Qing dynasty). The Battle of Ningyuan (1626): Yuan Chonghuan defended Ningyuan City using 11 cannons purchased from Macau (some directly acquired from Portuguese merchants or through technical expertise), inflicting heavy casualties on Nurhaci's forces. Nurhaci himself was wounded by the cannons and died shortly thereafter. This marked the first critical role of Red Barbarian cannons in northern campaigns against the Manchus, demonstrating their superior firepower compared to traditional Ming artillery. While the Ming army relied on these cannons for city defense, the Later Jin/Manchu forces rapidly replicated and repurposed them through capturing Ming gunners and equipment. For instance, during the Battle of Songjin, the Qing army already possessed a substantial number of Red Barbarian-style cannons, which were used to demolish Ming military fortifications.
The question posed to the trainees as a research topic is: a) Had the Ming army been able to deploy a large number of Red Barbarian cannons early to repel the enemy, would Emperor Shizong of Ming have still attempted to commit suicide at Coal Hill? b) Can the surviving artillery fort ruins in Macau provide insights into the Red Barbarian cannons of that era?
Huiyuan Cowins is actively involved in ESG initiatives, and our Chairman also provides research topics for military heritage conservation and historical education.