Dear Friends and Classmates,

It is with extreme sorrow that we inform you of the tragic loss of Weiwei GE at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on Nov. 9, 2007.

Hailing from the countryside of Nantong in Jiangsu Province, Weiwei was the only child of his parents. Having amassed a stellar academic record in middle and high school, including having won the first prize in the 1997 Jiangsu Province’s Chemistry Contest for High School Students, Weiwei was admitted in 1998 into the Department for Intensive Instruction at Nanjing University (NJU), waived of the National College Entrance Exam (such a waiver is considered a top honor for high school students). After receiving a B.Sc. with honors in 2002, he continued his academic endeavor in the Department of Chemistry at NJU and graduated in 2005 with a M.S. in Chemistry. He then went on to HKUST in pursuit of a doctoral degree.

During his seven years at NJU, Weiwei had impressed every one of us with his energy and enthusiasm. He was voted the best debater in the 2002 NJU Debate Competition, served as the Chairman of the University Science Association, was an active participant of “Bringing Science to Rural Communities”, a college student summer camp, and was on the Bronze Prize winning team of the National College Student Business Plan Competition (the Gold Prize Winner in Jiangsu Province). After his arrival in Hong Kong, he also took an active role in various extra-curricular activities and on-campus services. He was the Vice-Chairperson of the Mainland Student and Scholar Society (MSSS) at HKUST, the organizer and active player of the MSSS soccer team, the coordinator and co-host of the 2006 Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration held for mainland students, and one of the managing editors of “A Practical Guide for New Students and Scholars”, a survival kit for the mainland students and scholars at HKUST. He had brought convenience and pleasure to the lives of many around him with his knowledge and warmheartedness, and had received tremendous respect and love thereby.

The email message from the president of HKUST claimed that Weiwei was under medical treatment for depression and committed suicide. Till this day we still cannot link the word “suicide” with Weiwei who had such an ebullient passion for life. And we are trying to understand, as much as we could, in what time and under what circumstances the pain and burden of depression had started to inflict upon Weiwei? Had he ever been exposed to any kind of unreasonable pressure, harsh treatment, or even abuse? What role had his academic advisor, Dr. Bing XU, had in this tragic event? We want to know each and every underlying cause of it…

We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of such an enthusiastic person and a wonderful friend. At present HKUST are working with Weiwei’s family members through the funeral affairs. We will keep this website, http://www.neverworried.info, updated in a timely manner, and truly wish that you could join us in helping Weiwei’s family get through the darkest time of their lives.

May you have a peaceful journey to Heaven, Weiwei, as flowers will keep themselves booming all your way!

If you know Weiwei, or want to help support his family, please check out the donation page or contact us at contact@neverworried.info.