So Chau Yim Ping

Mrs SO CHAU Yim Ping, BBS, JP

Honorary University Fellow (2015)

Mrs So Chau Yim Ping is a distinguished member of the printing industry and an exceptional entrepreneur of many brilliant achievements. She has been deeply committed to social welfare and charitable causes and has made significant contributions for many years.
 
Mrs So studied at Ying Wa Girls’ School in her teens but was interrupted from her studies when the Second World War broke out. In her early career she was involved in the construction, import-and-export, postal delivery and real estate business. In 1964, she founded New Island Printing Company Limited (New Island). With her perseverance and visionary entrepreneurship, the company, which started humbly with only five staff, gradually turned into a listed company with over 3 thousands employees. In the 1990’s, with the encouragement from the Hong Kong Government to develop local industries, New Island was relocated to a new factory building at Yuen Long Industrial Estate. In view of the rising manufacturing costs, Mrs So with her shrewd business sense noticed the opportunities offered by Mainland China. She led a delegation of industrialists in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island to visit Dongguan to assess the business viability of the area. Under her leadership, the Southern Area Industrial Zone was established at the Dalingshan Town of Dongguan. Her relentless effort had contributed in helping Hong Kong industrialists in setting up their foothold in the PRC.
 
With the expansion of her printing business, more new plants were set up in Dangguan and Shanghai. The company continued to adopt an innovative approach to business by introducing new technologies and facilities to meet the demands of customers. Under Mrs So’s capable leadership, New Island had emerged at the forefront of the printing industry both in the PRC and globally securing the confidence from internationally renowned brands.
 
Despite her busy schedule, Mrs So also devoted her valuable time engaging in public services and charitable causes. In 1985, she was elected District Council Member of Southern District serving the local community for a full decade. In 1988, she was elected to the Legislative Council (Legco) and was among the first women councillors entering into the Legco through election by an electoral sector. Mrs So now holds key position in a number of organisations including Honorary President of the Hong Kong Federation of Women and Hong Kong Employment Development Service, Trustee of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Member of the Former Directors Committee of the Hong Kong Community Chest and many others. She has been, for many years, a generous donor to various charities including the Community Chest of Hong Kong, the Hongkong Federation of Youth Groups, Church Ministry and other non-profit making organisations.
 
Mrs So’s distinguished contributions to public and social services have been widely recognised through numerous awards including in 1988 and 2001 when she was appointed Justice of the Peace and awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star respectively. In the printing industry, Mrs So’s accomplishments reached far and wide; she has been Honorary President of the Hong Kong Printers Association since 2005 and in 2009 she received the Distinguished Printers Award from the Association.
 
Over the past 30 years, Hong Kong Baptist University has benefited in many ways from Mrs So’s generous support. In 1993, Mrs So was Member of the Board of the then Hong Kong Baptist College. From 1993 to 2001, she was Member of the Council of the University and has offered us invaluable advice with her vast experience and relentless enthusiasm. She is now Honorary Trustee of the HKBU Foundation and her generous donations have contributed towards the University’s campus development and the setting up of exchange scholarships.
 
Mrs So Chau Yim Ping is an exemplary candidate for the Honorary University Fellowship for her devotion to social affairs and charitable causes, as well as her invaluable contribution to Hong Kong Baptist University.