Chan Yik Hei

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Chan Yik Hei in Hong Kong Bookfair 2006

Chan Yik Hei (born 1989; Traditional Chinese: 陳易希, Jyutping: can4 yik6 hei1) is a science amateur in Hong Kong. He graduated from CCC Tam Lee Lai Fun Memorial Secondary School for his secondary education.

In 2004, he achieved a Second Award in Engineering Category of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his Total Equip, a robot for domestic security^[1] modelled after R2-D2.^[2] Therefore, an asteroid, 20780 Chanyikhei, was named after him by LINEAR^[3] under the Ceres Connection program ^[4], which name asteroids after winners of certain science competitions.

Back to Hong Kong, he was called "Son of the star" by the local media, and became increasingly famous and popular. A water rocket of his product was launched on the welcoming ceremony for Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, the Chinese astronauts of Shenzhou 6.

In May 2006, he was accepted by the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for a 4-year undergraduate study (including a 1-year preparatory course), making him a rare case to be accepted into university without finishing any public examinations in Hong Kong.

In July 2006, his autobiography Chan Yik Hei, young man who grabs the star (Traditional Chinese: 摘星少年陳易希) was published, and became one of the bestsellers on the Hong Kong Book Fair.

[edit] Controversies

As he became a celebrity, controversy raised over his admission into HKUST. In August 2006, when he at first refused to announce his HKCEE results, netizens expressed their dislike in local virtual communities like HK Golden Forum, HKEPC, and Miniforum. There was a rumour that he only got 3 grade points only in HKCEE, which was proved to be false. But, he only got F (Fail) in both Chinese and English, an E in Computer and Information Technology, D in both Mathematics and Chemistry, C in Physics and B in Graphical Communication. In total, he only got 12 points ^[5], just slightly above the median. Having said that he would like to "get a seat there through the EAS." ^[6], his HKCEE results disappointed many. Some people also doubted if he is ready to accept tertiary education.

In Oct 2006, he "invented" a water glass for blind people called "smart cup" (Chinese: 智能杯). The principle of his "invention" is when the water level reach the two metal strips, the water close the electric circuit, thus the buzzer sounds to warn the user the cup is full. The media in Hong Kong said this is a great invention. However, many netizens criticized he copied the design from a mainland inventor and copied from an exam project in HKCEE. Mr Chan declared he had never referred to the design by the mainland inventor. Moreover, Mr Chan did not consider the case of distilled water (pure water) and soft drinks. Distilled water is an electric insulator, it cannot make the circuit closed, thus the buzzer cannot warn the user. Soft drinks are weak acid, the two metal strips act electrodes, i.e. electrolysis occurs. The metal may also dissolves into the drink and harms the health of the users.