Wilfred Y W Wong

Mr Wilfred Y W Wong, GBS, SBS, JP

Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa (2013)

Mr Wilfred Y W Wong is a leader and champion for the political, economic, and cultural development of Hong Kong and China.  Sometimes fondly described by the media as the “king of public service”, he is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hsin Chong Construction Group Limited and Chairman and Executive Director of Synergis Holdings Limited.  In addition to holding other senior non-executive roles he is also Chairman of the Pacific Basin Economic Council.

Mr Wong has a truly outstanding record of public and private sector leadership.  With degrees from the University of Hong Kong and Harvard, and 17 years of service for the Administrative Officer Grade of the Hong Kong Government, he has had significant impact on policy formulation, community building, and the promotion of industry and technology across Hong Kong, China, and the Pacific Basin.  He contributed to the drafting of the Basic Law, and advised the PRC on transitional matters relating to the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR Government.  Since being elected as Deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC) in 1997, Mr Wong has provided advice to the PRC Government on the direction of national policies on environmental protection, economic development, the judiciary system and copyright issues.  For his dedicated service to the community, Mr Wong was appointed Justice of the Peace in 2003, and awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2007 by the HKSAR Government.

Of course, as Shakespeare reminds us: “one man, in his time, plays many parts.”  In addition to being a successful entrepreneur, a leader who brings wisdom and vitality to Hong Kong and the nation’s political and economic development, Mr Wong is also a champion for Hong Kong’s social welfare, educational and cultural development.  With devoted service as the President of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Chairman of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee and, at Hong Kong Baptist University, as Deputy Chairman of Council and Court from 2002 to 2006 and Chairman from 2007 to 2012, he has built a formidable reputation for inspiring and nurturing young people as citizens of the globalized age.  Under his stewardship HKBU witnessed an unprecedented phase of continuous growth.  This included the physical expansion of the University in Kowloon Tong, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Changshu, the successful transition to a four year undergraduate degree, the phenomenal growth of research at the University, and the founding of the Academy of Film.  Acting both personally and through his professional networks, Mr Wong made and helped secure donations and pledges exceeding $100 million to make such growth possible.

Mr Wong is equally passionate about the city and region’s cultural development: as he recently said “a city without arts and culture is a city without soul and character”.  To champion arts and culture development, he has been Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council since 2011, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society since 2004, Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, and Convener of the Film Development Fund since 2007.

Chair, on behalf of the students, staff, and alumni of the Hong Kong Baptist University, it is a great privilege to present this citation for Mr Wilfred Y W Wong, and to reflect publically upon his outstanding achievements in the public and private sectors, his untiring commitment to public and community services, and his visionary leadership for the development of the University.