Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) will confer honorary doctorates on four distinguished individuals in recognition of their valuable achievements and exceptional contribution to society.
The recipients are Prof. Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Dr Roy Chung Chi-ping, Mr Daryl Ng Win-kong and Mr Michael Wong Yick Kam. The conferment ceremony will be held on 12 December (Tuesday).
Following are brief profiles of the four recipients:
Prof. Sophia Chan Siu-chee, GBS, JP (Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa)
Prof. Sophia Chan Siu-chee is the former Secretary for Food and Health of the HKSAR Government, where she made significant contributions to Hong Kong through the formulation and successful implementation of numerous pivotal policies on health, food and environmental hygiene, as well as in agriculture and fisheries. She currently holds the position of Professor in Nursing and Senior Advisor to the President's Office at The University of Hong Kong.
Prof. Chan is one of the leading nurse scientists locally and internationally, widely recognised as an authority on public health and tobacco control initiatives. She embraced a new challenge in 2012 when she left her university teaching post to join the HKSAR Government, where she served for 10 years as Under Secretary and then Secretary for Food and Health. Demonstrating unwavering dedication to safeguarding and advancing public health, she implemented a number of policies and initiatives, including the establishment of District Health Care Centres to provide primary healthcare services across all 18 districts, the establishment of the first Children's Hospital, and the steering of the development of the first Chinese Medicine Hospital. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof. Chan was tasked with making numerous arduous decisions pertaining to the prevention and control of the virus, such as preventing the importation and spread of the virus through travel restrictions, vaccination strategies, social-distancing measures and quarantine arrangements.
Prof. Chan's exceptional accomplishments have garnered her numerous distinguished accolades. She was bestowed with the distinguished titles of Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. She was the first nurse in Hong Kong to become a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
Dr Roy Chung Chi-ping, GBS, BBS, JP (Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa)
Dr Roy Chung Chi-ping is an extraordinary industrialist and philanthropist. He has brought hope to the underprivileged, nurtured future pillars of society, and inspired positive change in diverse sectors.
Regarded as a legendary figure in Hong Kong industry, Dr Chung co-founded Techtronic Industries Company Limited and led the company to become a fast-growing world leader in the production of cordless power equipment for domestic and industrial use. In recent years, he has dedicated more time and energy to serving the community. He previously served as Chairman and currently holds the position of Honorary President of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. He passionately advocates for innovation and technology, as well as the exploration of business opportunities in mainland China and around the world. In various capacities, he has actively contributed to shaping the vision and development of a number of organisations, including the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong Design Centre and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
Dr Chung is committed to fostering young people's healthy development. He is the former Chairman of The Boys' & Girls' Club Association of Hong Kong, where he helped set the Association's strategic direction. He is also the Founder and Chairman of the Bright Future Charitable Foundation, which was founded in 2010. Through supporting the development of education and various social services for underprivileged individuals, young and old, the Foundation aims to unlock a brighter future for the younger generation in Hong Kong and the mainland.
Mr Daryl Ng Win-kong, SBS, JP (Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa)
Mr Daryl Ng Win-kong, Deputy Chairman of Sino Group, has led the Group's efforts to Create Better Lifescapes. Established in Hong Kong in 1971, Sino Group is one of the leading real estate developers in Hong Kong. Its growing portfolio covers residences, offices, industrial buildings, shopping malls and hotels in Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore and Australia.
Mr Ng is a committed advocate of sustainability, driving the integration of sustainability into the business and operations of Sino Group. He chairs the ESG Steering Committee, which he set up in 2010, and is deeply involved in important schemes, such as decarbonisation, carbon neutrality, the deployment of renewable energy, and plastic reduction. He is also a staunch advocate of good causes, actively participating in youth development, volunteering, green initiatives, innovation, heritage conservation, and arts and cultural projects to build a better community. Keen to foster creativity in young minds and help Hong Kong groom the next generation of scientists, Mr Ng initiated the Hong Kong Science Fair for primary and secondary students to showcase their inventions. The independent fair attracts over 400 applications a year.
The Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, established by the Ng family, has donated to over 300 local non-governmental organisations, universities and social enterprises. The foundation established the Ng Teng Fong Scholarships to provide financial aid for outstanding secondary and university students from underprivileged families in mainland China and Hong Kong.
The HKSAR Government awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star to Mr Ng in 2021 in recognition of his contributions to the community, in particular his work on heritage in Tai O and overseas. He received the Jinghua Award from the Beijing Municipal Government in 2020 for his contribution to international cooperation and the development of Beijing as a world-class city. He was honoured with the Insignia of Knight in the National Order of Merit by the French Government in 2021 in recognition of his contributions to heritage conservation and youth development. Mr Ng was conferred an Honorary University Fellowship by HKMU in 2016 in recognition of his contributions to Hong Kong.
Mr Michael Wong Yick Kam, SBS, MH, JP (Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa)
Mr Michael Wong Yick Kam joined the HKMU (formerly The Open University of Hong Kong) Council in 2008, initially as a member and later as Treasurer, Deputy Chairman and Chairman (2016 – 2022). Under Mr Wong's outstanding leadership, the University made great strides in key areas, such as teaching, learning and research. He also played a significant role in the renaming and rebranding of the University.
Mr Wong devoted almost his entire career to Sun Hung Kai Properties, leading the Group to consistently receive accolades thanks to his exceptional management expertise. Since stepping down from his full-time post, he has focused on public and community service, taking on leadership and advisory roles in a number of public organisations and voluntary agencies. He is also dedicated to education and nurturing young people.
Mr Wong is also deeply committed to cultural work. During his nine-year tenure as Chairman of the Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association, he spearheaded the revitalisation of Mei Ho House in Shek Kip Mei under the Government's “Revitalising Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme”, transforming the Grade Two Historic Building into a vibrant youth hostel and a museum, called Heritage of Mei Ho House. In recognition of its achievements in heritage conservation, Mei Ho House received an Honourable Mention in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2015.
