Five distinguished persons conferred honorary doctorates by CityU

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) conferred honorary doctorates on five distinguished persons in recognition of their significant contributions to education and the well-being of society. This year’s ceremony conferred honorary doctorates for 2019 and 2020.

The 2019 Honorary Doctorates:

• Professor Michael I. Kotlikoff, Provost of Cornell University;
• Dr the Honourable Edward Leong Che-hung, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong AIDS Foundation and President of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society.

The 2020 Honorary Doctorates:

• Mr Harry S Banga, Chairman and CEO of The Caravel Group Limited;
• Mr Norman Chan Tak-lam, GBS, former Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority;
• Mr Wong Chun-hong, BBS, Chairman of Top Spring International Holdings Limited.

Mr Lester Garson Huang, CityU Council Chairman, presided over the ceremony, which was held on 30 October. President Way Kuo of CityU was also in attendance.

“Throughout their careers, all five recipients have balanced a passion for knowledge with a strong commitment to administration, policy and leadership, all in the spirit of the same values that we cherish at CityU,” said President Kuo in his speech.

Professor Michael Kotlikoff and Dr Harry Banga addressed the congregation on behalf of the honorary graduates.

Professor Kotlikoff said he felt privileged to accept this honorary degree and that the establishment of CityU’s new College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences in collaboration with Cornell University is vital to the world.

CityU is an institution committed to spanning divides for the pursuit of larger goals and one that possesses the “Start-Up” spirit that is distinctive in academia. “It is that spirit that led to this bold experiment and terrific achievement,” he said.

Dr Banga said leading universities and business leaders need to work together on the challenges facing our world today. “With the trust and faith that have been placed on the three of us today by CityU in the conferring of these degrees, we will be sure to leverage this honour and do what we can to help shape business discourse for the betterment of society,” he said.

Media enquiries: Eva Choy (Tel: 3442 9325 or 9787 7671), Bobo Lo (Tel: 3442 6304 or 5519 4463), CityU Communications and Public Relations Office