Professor Michael C.F. TONG, Chairman of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, is specialized in the fields of otology, neurotology and skull base surgery. Paralleled with that, his interest has extended to the broader field of medicine – epidemiology and public health especially in elderly health. Having led the clinical research team, he has numerous successful grants and over 300 publications, which has resulted in a national and international reputation of his Department in the field of general otology, cochlear and auditory brainstem implantation and nasopharyngeal cancer research. With reference to this workshop, he is also leading a research team of clinicians and speech pathologists/ therapists in the study of pathophysiology and treatment of patients with swallowing difficulties. Development of new techniques of minimally invasive surgery in ORLHNS has also been his recent interest. Professor TONG is also regularly visiting regional centres in the past fifteen years to share his clinical and surgical experience in hearing implants. He has organized a number of international conferences and co-founded the Chinese Academy of ORLHNS that runs biannual meeting in different cities in greater China. Apart from teaching, research and clinical work, Professor TONG advocates community service to educate the public on health issues related to ear, nose and throat. As Founder and Chairman of a non-profit organization, the Hear Talk Foundation, he enlists voluntary service from the professionals offering service to the underprivileged. The Foundation operates regular charitable missions to mainland China to provide free medical and surgical treatment to the poor.