CUHK held its 75th Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees on 6 December. Dr. Vincent H.C. Cheng, Chairman of the University Council, presided at the congregation. Four distinguished people were conferred honorary degrees in recognition of their outstanding contributions in their respective areas of achievement to culture, education, scientific research, and social advancement. They were: Prof. Andrew D. Hamilton, Prof. Yang Fujia, Dr. Ronnie Chan Chichung and Dr. Katie Yang Leung Yin-fong ( alias Fong Yim-fun). A total of 375 doctoral degrees were also conferred. These included 4 Doctors of Medicine, 349 Doctors of Philosophy, 13 Doctors of Education, 1 Doctor of Music, and 8 Doctors of Nursing.
Prof. Andrew D. Hamilton is a renowned synthetic organic chemist and currently Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Organic Chemistry of the University of Oxford. He received the Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award from the American Chemical Society and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 2009. Under his leadership, the University has developed a comprehensive strategic plan, received some remarkable philanthropic donations, made progress in diversifying the student population, and set in train a massive programme of digitizing the university's operation and information systems. In recognition of his tremendous contributions to education and scientific research, the University conferred upon Professor Hamilton the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa .
Prof. Yang Fujia is a distinguished nuclear physicist. He is the President of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. In 1965, Professor Yang returned to China from Denmark where he pursued postgraduate studies on nuclear physics. Under his persistent effort and leadership, China's first accelerator-based atomic and nuclear physics laboratory was built. He was the first Chinese being appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Nottingham in the UK. In 2004, he spearheaded the establishment of China's first Sino-foreign collaborative university, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, which is a partner university between the city of Ningbo and the University of Nottingham. Professor Yang helped created a new model within China's education system with the intent of bringing Chinese higher education to the world stage. The University conferred upon Professor Yang the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa , for his distinguished achievements in physics research and contributions to education in China and the world.
Dr. Ronnie Chan Chichung is a prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist, chairman of Hang Lung Group Limited and Hang Lung Properties Limited. He is devoted to the promotion of education and the nurture of talent. In addition to making generous donations, Dr. Chan also keeps a vibrant speaking schedule, delivering more than a hundred lectures every year around the globe. In 2006, Dr. Chan, together with his brother Dr. Gerald Chan Lok-chung, donated over 100 million dollars through the Morningside Foundation and the Morningside Education Foundation to help CUHK set up a new college. He also participated in the college planning process. Dr. Chan frequently appears in local and international forums and publishes widely in the West and the East, commenting on economic and political affairs with clarity and exceptional insight. The University conferred upon Dr. Ronnie Chan the degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa , in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the education and the community at large.
Dr. Katie Yang Leung Yin-fong ( alias Fong Yim-fun) is a famous Cantonese opera artist and philanthropist. She was taken to the Kwok Sing Theatre to learn Cantonese opera at a very young age. Since achieving fame in the 1950s, the Fong style has become a standard for Cantonese opera actresses, attracting numerous followers. In 1984, Dr. Yang and her friend Dr. Lee Tseng Chiu-kwan founded the Kwan Fong Charitable Foundation to promote charitable causes and sponsored the establishment of the Sage Kwan Fong Nim Chee Home for the Elderly under the Hong Kong Society for the Aged, a school for retarded children in Hong Kong, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Child Care Centre, and Kai Chi School. In 2012, Dr. Yang sponsored Shaw College of CUHK in promoting Cantonese opera through the Art of Fong Yim-fun Sustainability Project. In recognition of her lifelong contributions to culture and education, the University conferred upon Dr. Katie Yang the degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa .