CityUHK announces Honorary Fellowships for two eminent persons
Two stalwart members of Hong Kong society will be conferred the title Honorary Fellow in recognition of their significant contributions to the development of, and service to, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and the local community. They are Dr Eugene Kin Keung Chan, SBS, BBS, JP and Mr Zhang Bo. The Honorary Fellow Presentation Ceremony will be held in September.
Dr Eugene Chan is a dental surgeon and community leader dedicated to promoting professional services for the benefit of society. Over the years, he has been actively involved in public affairs and has been appointed to numerous public positions by the HKSAR Government, including serving as a member of the Central and Western District Council, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Gifted Education of the Education Bureau, President of Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum, member of the Action Committee Against Narcotics, the Legal Aid Services Council, the Fight Crime Committee, and the Social Development Expert Group of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit. He has been elected as the President of the Association of Hong Kong Professionals and is a Past President of the Hong Kong Dental Association.
Dr Chan has made significant contributions to public affairs, having held key positions such as Chairman of the Radio Television Hong Kong Board of Advisors, member of the Independent Police Complaints Council and the Quality Education Fund Steering Committee, and Convenor of the Overseas Working Group for the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. Dr Chan is also heavily engaged with current affairs, leveraging his professional expertise to foster public dialogue across various media platforms and advocating for economic and livelihood issues for the HKSAR Government. He currently hosts the weekly English current affairs programme “Straight Talk” on TVB.
Dr Chan is committed to education and has been a strong supporter of CityUHK’s development. From 2019 to 2024, he was a member of the CityUHK Council, where he also served as Chairman of the Community Relations Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee, contributing significantly to building stronger links between the University and the wider community. With his professional expertise, leadership, and spirit of selfless service, Dr Chan has become a driving force in Hong Kong’s social development. In recognition of his contributions, he was appointed as a Justice of the Peace (JP) in 2011 and subsequently awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) in 2016 and the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in 2021 by the HKSAR Government for his outstanding public service in security, broadcasting, education, and youth development. Dr Chan was also the awardee of the Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 2004. He served as the Executive Director of the China Overseas Friendship Association and he was a member of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Mr Zhang Bo is an outstanding entrepreneur and serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the listed company China Hongqiao Group Limited. With his exceptional vision and remarkable leadership, he has led the group to become a global leader in the aluminium industry. He is renowned for his keen business acumen and strong commitment to social responsibility. With over 18 years of deep engagement in the aluminium sector, Mr Zhang has actively promoted green production and technological innovation, striving to lead the industry towards sustainable development while also dedicating himself to enhancing social well-being.
Mr Zhang strongly believes that innovation and education are key drivers of social progress. He emphasises that successful enterprises should not only focus on business growth but also take it as their duty to give back to society and contribute to its advancement. His vision aligns with CityUHK’s pursuit of applied research and innovative development. In recent years, he has generously supported CityUHK’s research projects and, through the CityUHK Endowment Campaign, established the “Hongqiao Endowed Fund for Community Care” to foster various community projects, expand educational opportunities, and promote sustainable development. He also serves as Honorary Patron of the CityUHK Foundation and Honorary President of the CityUHK Industrial and Business Leaders Circle, actively fostering industry-academia-research collaboration.
Mr Zhang is dedicated to philanthropy and leads by example, setting a model of caring for society and giving back to the community. He has actively contributed to charitable projects, including providing learning materials to underprivileged students in Yunnan, donating warm clothing to children in Tibet, and supporting earthquake relief efforts in Yushu, Qinghai. These actions reflect his compassion for vulnerable groups and his strong support for the development of education in mainland China. In 2010, he was named a “National Model Worker” by the State Council. Mr Zhang has also served as a member of the 12th Shandong Provincial People’s Congress and the 14th National People’s Congress, and he holds leadership roles in several professional associations and charitable organisations.