Dr David T. W. Lau, Curator of the Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr David T. W. Lau is a botanist who has been researching plant taxonomy, herbal authentication and pharmacology. He is now a curator of the Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium in the School of Life Sciences at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and is responsible for managing the ‘Hong Kong Flora and Vegetation’ project. His research and education interests include plant taxonomy, biodiversity and Chinese medicine authentication.Hiu-Yan Wong, (Author, Editor & Botanical Illustrator), Research Coordinator, Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences The Chinese University of Hong Kong. After graduating as an Environmental Science major at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hiu-Yan Wong is now working at the Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her job duties include field collection, scientific illustration, botany education, intern training, specimen digitization and scanning electron microscopy imaging. She started working in the herbarium as an intern in 2018 and was astonished by the manuscripts left behind by two top botanical illustrators, Xiao-Lian Zeng and Ping Ma. In 2023, Ping Ma offered training to the team and refined the botanical plates, during which the team learnt advanced observation, analytical and illustration skills from him. She hopes the artisan spirit of the former illustrators will be passed on via this book.Man-Ching Li (Author & Botanical Illustrator), Research Coordinator, Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong KongMan-Ching Li graduated from the Master’s programme in Environmental Management at the University of Hong Kong. She is currently working at the Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where her major role is creating scientific illustrations. Last year, it was a great honour to have the top botanical artist Ping Ma demonstrate how to create a scientific illustration, and she felt great gratitude to Ping Ma for refining most of the botanical illustrations. She hopes this illustrated book can act as a medium to promote the Rare and Precious Plants of Hong Kong, as well as pass on the enthusiasm of the experienced taxonomists and illustrators in the field of plant taxonomy and scientific illustration.
