Honorary University Fellow (2023)
A vigorous character who always strives for advancement, Mr Arthur Lee Kin has proven himself as an invaluable asset to society. With a strong belief in himself, Mr Lee evolved from an information engineer to a distinguished figure in the accounting and corporate governance fields.
After graduating with a first degree in information engineering at a time when Hong Kong has just begun to develop its information technology infrastructure, Mr Lee soon realised there was mismatch between his training and the jobs available at the time. While exploring other possibilities, he received offers from several renowned accounting firms. With a strong belief in himself, he opted to embark his career journey in one of the global accounting firms. From a humble beginning to such a decorated career, Mr Lee’s life motto, “If you think you can, you can," certainly rings true.
Mr Lee is the Assistant President and Company Secretary of the CGN New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd (CGN). Since he joined in 2007, he has made it his goal to publicly list the company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. To achieve this goal, he pursued a Master programme in corporate governance, which demonstrated his unceasing quest for advancement. Thanks to his tremendous efforts, CGN successfully completed its initial public offering in 2014 which was oversubscribed by a massive 500 times.
The can-do spirit has guided Mr Lee to exceptional achievements in his endeavours in serving the community as well as the professional sectors. As his first-ever public service, he served as the President of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Northeast from 2012 to 2013. As the Club was operated by volunteers and the resource was limited, Mr Lee, with no prior experience in running societies during his school years, found the task challenging yet rewarding, as he got to understand how the Club is run, from service planning and delivery to fundraising and event management.
Mr Lee was the Chairman of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Hong Kong from 2015 to 2016, and was elected a member of the ACCA Global Council from 2016 to 2022. He was also the District Treasurer of Rotary District 3450 from 2016 to 2018, and a Council member of The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute (formerly known as The Institute of Chartered Secretaries) from 2018 to 2020. In 2021, he was appointed as an Accounting Advisor (Hong Kong) by the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China. In addition, Mr Lee is a founding member and Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Accounting Advisors Association. Not only did these public services help to expand his knowledge and network, they also bolstered his can-do spirit. In recognition of his contribution to the community, particularly in the accounting profession, Mr Lee is awarded a Medal of Honour by the HKSAR Government in 2023.
With a wealth of experience in different aspects of administration and governance, Mr Lee is determined to give back to society by grooming the next generation of talents in Hong Kong. Hence, he was happy to accept the invitation to become a member of the Council of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) in 2017.
Although Mr Lee had no prior affiliation with HKBU, he found himself at ease right from the beginning. Soon after he began working with the University, he came to realise that he shared a lot of common beliefs and values with HKBU. In particular, he appreciated the favourable culture that is conducive to student learning.
In his six-year tenure as a Council member, Mr Lee has witnessed a number of major milestones of the University. Most notably, Mr Lee, as a member of the Search Committee for the President and Vice-Chancellor, saw the appointment of Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong, a distinguished scholar who he believed to be the right steward to steer HKBU to greater success. He was also involved in the development of the Chinese Medicine Hospital, which further cements HKBU’s leading position in Chinese medicine education and research in Hong Kong. Furthermore, he has played an instrumental role in enhancing the risk management framework across the University, as he served on various committees under the Council, including the Audit Committee which he chaired from 2019 to 2022. Mr Lee is currently an Honorary Court Member of the University.
While he has stepped down from the Council, Mr Lee is keen to develop the young students by sharing his rich professional and personal experience. Coming from an information engineering background, he has acquired knowledge in accounting, financial control and corporate governance. Recently, he also obtained the People’s Republic of China Legal Professional Qualification and completed the Graduate Diploma in English and Hong Kong Law. His tireless effort in the pursuit of knowledge has defined his accomplished career. From a student who rarely takes part in social activities to an energetic senior executive who dedicates his expertise and extensive network to benefit the professional community and society at large, Mr Lee’s transformation has demonstrated the possibilities that one can achieve with a strong belief in oneself. With a thirst for seeking out new knowledge and skills, Mr Lee is primed for new possibilities in the future, while making his greatest contributions to society.