86th Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees

CUHK held its 86th Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees on 29 November. The Honourable Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chancellor of CUHK, presided at the congregation. Three distinguished persons were conferred honorary degrees in recognition of their outstanding contributions to community welfare, scientific research, and the promotion of educational and financial affairs: Dr. Ip Sik-on Simon, Prof. Qiu Yong and Professor the Honourable Yam Chi-kwong Joseph. A total of 451 doctoral degrees were conferred on the occasion. These included three Doctors of Medicine, 429 Doctors of Philosophy, 10 Doctors of Education, six Doctors of Nursing, and three Doctors of Psychology.

Dr. Ip Sik-on Simon was the former President of the Law Society of Hong Kong and a member of the Legislative Council representing the Legal Functional Constituency. He served as the Founding Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Institute of Education from 1994 to 2003. Apart from his remarkable contribution to the law and education fields, Dr. Ip demonstrated his charitable endeavours through his work with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, where he served as the Chairman from 2014 to 2018. Under his leadership, the Club’s Charities Trust adopted a more proactive approach to its role in the betterment of society. CUHK has also been a major beneficiary of the Club, with donations including the $1.3 billion gifted in 2014 to support the establishment of the University’s new teaching hospital, the CUHK Medical Centre. In light of his outstanding public service, Dr. Ip has received honours and awards over the years, including Justice of the Peace, the Gold Bauhinia Star, and honorary degrees from several universities in Hong Kong. The University confers upon Dr. Ip the degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa for his outstanding contribution to and leadership in the Hong Kong community.

Prof. Qiu Yong is an expert on optoelectronic materials and devices and currently the President of Tsinghua University. His main research interests focus on organic semiconductors, fundamental theories of organic electronics, and organic light-emitting materials and devices. He has won countless accolades for his scientific innovations, including Distinguished Young Scholar by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Education Changjiang Scholar, the National Model Teacher, the State Technological Invention Award—First Prize, and was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is a member of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress, Vice-Chairman of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress, and a deputy to the 13th National People’s Congress. Since he took office as the President of Tsinghua University, Professor Qiu has led two delegations to visit CUHK to enhance academic collaboration, including the opening of the Joint Research Centre for Chinese Economy. In 2017, CUHK appointed him to be Honorary Professor of the Faculty of Science. CUHK confers upon him the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa in recognition of his exceptional contributions to academia and society. 

Professor the Honourable Yam Chi-kwong Joseph was the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He is currently a non-official member of the Executive Council, HKSAR and Executive Vice-President of the China Society for Finance and Banking. He helped develop the linked exchange rate system and implemented other reform measures, contributing to Hong Kong’s development into an international financial centre. During the Asian financial turmoil in 1998, Professor Yam successfully defeated international speculators and defended Hong Kong’s currency and stocks. He was named the ‘Central Bank Governor of the Year’ in 1998 by Asiamoney. Professor Yam has been honoured with many awards, including the Gold Bauhinia Star, the Grand Bauhinia Medal, and the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers’ The Banker of the Year Award. He has also received many honorary doctorates from various local universities. He has been especially close to CUHK, where he has served as an Honorary Professor of the Faculty of Business Administration since 2006, and a Distinguished Research Fellow of the Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance since 2010. CUHK confers upon him the degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa, in recognition of his contribution to Hong Kong’s monetary and financial development.

J. Lau

This article was originally published in No. 529/530, Newsletter in Dec 2018.

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Congregation Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees honorary degrees Ip Sik-on Simon Qiu Yong Yam Chi-kwong Joseph