Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1997

The Honourable RosannaWong Yick-ming, CBE, JP CITATION T h e Honourable Rosanna Wong Yick-ming is a distinguished personality in Hong Kong's political and social service arenas. Born in Hong Kong of Fukienese descent, Ms. Wong completed her primary and secondary education at St. Stephen's Girls' College, where her mother taught. Brought up by broad-minded and liberal parents, she was already very active in voluntary work while still a secondary school student. Motivated by her genuine care for the underprivileged and empowered by her sincerity and ardour for service, she laid the foundations for the role she has been playing in welfare services. Upon graduation from the University of Hong Kong with a bachelor's degree in social sciences in 1975, Ms. Wong became a front line youth worker. In the ensuing 21 years, she has dedicated her time, energy, and more importantly, her intelligence and love to thousands of young people in Hong Kong. Ms. Wong believes that trust, respect, and sympathy for the way young people think and feel are prerequisites for engaging in youth service. To survive the rapid changes and fierce competition in Hong Kong, young people have to be persevering and optimistic. And in this ongoing struggle, Ms. Wong has been their comrade. As they mature together she deeply understands young people's joys and sorrows. She keenly feels the pulse of this society and the rhythm of life and living. It is precisely this sense of mission and commitment to Hong Kong that drove Ms. Wong to re-enter academia after gaining years of working experience. She managed to squeeze time out of her busy schedule to study for self-improvement, as a result of which she now holds three master's degrees —in social work, social policy and planning, and arts — from the University of Toronto, London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of California at Davis respectively. Ms. Wong's quest for knowledge and her perseverance make her an ideal mentor and example for young people. She was elected one of Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 1985, and named a Global Leader for Tomorrow in 1992. Apart from engaging in youth service full-time, Ms. Wong is heavily involved in public service. She was Legislative Councillor from 1985 to 1991, chairman of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee from 1988 to 1991, and chairman of the Commission on Youth from 1990 to 1991. In 1993, she became chairman of the Police Complaints Committee. She is currently executive director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, convener of the Executive Council, and chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Independent Commission Against Corruption Complaints Committee, and the Children's Thalassaemia Foundation Limited. Each and every one of these posts carries great responsibility and calls for total dedication and commitment. And each and every one of these duties Ms. Wong performs with admirable ease and efficiency, thanks to her outstanding abilities and vigour. Of all the years of Ms. Wong's career in youth service, which is the career of her choice, 1985 is the most memorable, for it was in that year that she became further involved in the local community by participating in Chinese University Bulletin Spring . Summer 1997 8