Press Release
HKBU to confer Honorary University Fellowships on eight distinguished persons
Sunday, 11 Aug 2019
Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) announced the conferment of Honorary University Fellowships on eight distinguished persons in recognition of their outstanding contributions and support to society.
The eight Honorary University Fellowship recipients are: Ms Mabel Chan Mei-bo（陳美寳）, Mr Cheng Chak-kuen（鄭澤權）, Mr Hung Kwong-yee（洪光椅）, Mr Kenneth Kwok Ka-ching（郭家政）, Ms Cecilia Lee Sau-wai（李秀慧）, The Hon Ma Fung-kwok（馬逢國）, Mr Warren Mok Wah-yeun（莫華倫）and Dr Herman Yau Lai-to（邱禮濤）.
Ms Mabel Chan Mei-bo
A practising certified public accountant, Ms Mabel Chan founded Mabel Chan & Co. She is also the Deputy Managing Partner and National Head of Outbound Market Development at Grant Thornton Hong Kong Limited.
Ms Chan started her own business just five years after graduating from City University of Hong Kong. In 2016, Ms Chan decided to merge her company with Grant Thornton, an international accounting firm, to capture the growing trend and influence of information technology, e-commerce and the need for internationalisation.
Ms Chan is a trailblazer in her profession, and she has revolutionised the accounting industry in Hong Kong. She has contributed to the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants for more than a decade and served as its president in 2017, thus becoming only its third female president. She was also named President of the Society of Chinese Accountants and Auditors in 2010, and was the Founder and President of the Association of Women Accountants (Hong Kong) Limited.
Ms Chan served as a member of the HKBU Council for six years, during which time she also sat on the Council's Audit Committee, Finance Committee and Standing Committee.
Mr Cheng Chak-kuen
Renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr Cheng Chak-kuen is Chairman of Dongguan Xingye Trade Development Company Limited. For many years, he has been doing good deeds, shouldering social responsibility and promoting cultural education.
Mr Cheng holds a variety of public service roles. He is a Hong Kong member of the Guangdong Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, President of the Federation of Hong Kong Guangdong Community Organisations and Vice-President of the Dongguan Humen Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Cheng is philanthropic and has been greatly benevolent throughout his lifetime, making tremendous contributions to the community. He generously funded the establishment of the Xindu Cultural and Art Museum, and also established a number of hope primary schools in the Mainland. He has also made generous donations in support of HKBU’s development, including the establishment of the Mr Cheng Chak Kuen Local Students Bursary and the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology Development Fund.
Mr Cheng is fond of the artistic works of Professor Jao Tsung-i and serves as the Honorary Director of the Development Committee of the HKBU Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology.
Mr Hung Kwong-yee
Distinguished entrepreneur Mr Hung Kwong-yee is the Founder, Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ten Pao Group Holdings Limited. Under his able leadership, the Group has expanded from a small transformer plant to become a multinational conglomerate with a workforce of more than 6,500 people. According to the Ipsos Report, it was also ranked in the top 10 Chinese manufacturers of switching power supply units.
On top of his successful business, Mr Hung never forgets to contribute to society through public service. He is a member of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PRD Council's Huizhou Chapter under the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, President of the 7th council of the Huizhou City Huicheng District Foreign Investment Enterprise Association, Executive Vice President of the 7th council of the Huizhou City Foreign Investment Enterprise Association, Chairman of Huizhou Ganghui Love Foundation, Executive Vice President of Huizhou Overseas Chinese Enterprises Association, and Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Shine Tak Foundation. In addition, he has supported the education of rural girls in Guizhou for many years.
Mr Hung has provided generous support to HKBU for a number of developments, including the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology, the work of the Lions and HKBU Chinese Medicine Charity Foundation and the establishment of the Ten Pao Group Holdings Limited Scholarship. He is an Honorary Permanent President of the HKBU Foundation and an Honorary Court Member of the University.
Mr Kenneth Kwok Ka-ching
Mr Kenneth Kwok is a successful entrepreneur and the Director of Eagle Wide Limited, as well as a representative of the Kwok Chung Bo Fun Charitable Fund. He graduated from the University of Toronto in Canada and entered the banking industry in Hong Kong, later joining the family business in property development, jewellery retail, and toy design and manufacturing.
Due to his family upbringing and Christian faith, Mr Kwok and his brothers devote much of their time and significant resources to community advancement. This includes the establishment of the Kwok Chung Bo Fun Charitable Fund, which supports a broad range of meaningful initiatives.
The Kwok brothers have been staunch supporters of HKBU for many years. Besides being the Honorary Permanent Presidents of the HKBU Foundation, they have made substantial donations to several University initiatives, including the establishment of the Mr Kwok Yat Wai and Madam Kwok Chung Bo Fun Graduate School Development Fund, the Faith ‧ Hope ‧ Love Endowment Fund and the Kwok Yat Wai Endowed Chair of Environmental and Biological Analysis in the Faculty of Science. In addition, they have generously supported the advancement of the School of Chinese Medicine, as well as the Campus Master Plan.
Ms Cecilia Lee Sau-wai
A distinguished business leader, Ms Cecilia Lee is a partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Economics and a master's degree in Commerce, and was once the youngest Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia – Hong Kong Group.
Ms Lee has consistently contributed to the development of the community with her professional knowledge. Her public service includes being a member of the Education Bureau's Advisory Committee on Gifted Education; Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Student Finance, which is part of the Government's Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency; a panel member of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Appeal Board; Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority; and a member of the Financial Reporting Council. Ms Lee was also appointed as Justice of the Peace by HKSAR Government.
Ms Lee has been closely connected with HKBU for many years. She has made valuable contributions to HKBU as a member of the Council, its Audit Committee and Finance Committee from 2005 to 2010. She also rendered support to the HKBU Foundation as a member of its Board of Governors from 2009 to 2014. Furthermore, she served as a School Manager of the HKBU Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School from 2006 to 2018.
The Hon Ma Fung-kwok
The Hon Ma Fung-kwok is a member of the HKSAR Legislative Council for the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication constituency. He is the Independent Director of the Travel Industry Council and the Director of the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
An engineer by training, Mr Ma began his career in film distribution and promotion, and became the Executive Director of Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd. He was the founding Vice-Chairman of Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association Limited and led the launch of the first film registration and copyright authentication system in Hong Kong.
His contribution to Hong Kong's creative hub has been demonstrated by his various prestigious positions. He was Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government.
A long-time supporter of HKBU, Mr Ma was a member of the Council and Court from 2011 to 2016. Currently an Honorary Consultant for the HKBU Academy of Film, Mr Ma has regularly shared his insights and experience with young talents in the disciplines of broadcasting, film and journalism.
Mr Warren Mok Wah-yeun
World-renowned operatic tenor Mr Warren Mok is the Founder and Artistic Director of Opera Hong Kong. As one of "China's Three Tenors", and a marvelous artist who can perform in Cantonese, German, Italian, French, English and Putonghua, Mr Mok has performed all around the world with his operatic repertoire over 60 roles.
As the Artistic Director of the Macao International Music Festival, as well as the Fujian Grand Theatre and the Zhuhai Huafa Grand Theatre, Mr Mok has won a number of awards internationally, including Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy and Knight of the Star of Solidarity of Italy by the Italian Government, Knight of the Order of Art and Letter by the French Government, Medal of Honour by HKSAR, and the World Outstanding Chinese Award. Most recently, he was made a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Mr Mok is not only a performing artist, as he is also an enthusiastic music educator who holds teaching roles at various institutions, including the Academy of Opera at Peking University, Xinan University, the Shanghai Music Conservatory and South China Normal University. Opera Hong Kong has also been offering scholarships to talented local young people, enabling them to participate in music training.
Having developed a long-standing relationship with HKBU, Mr Mok has performed with the HKBU Symphony Orchestra and at the Beijing Normal University-HKBU United International College in Zhuhai.
Dr Herman Yau Lai-to
Dr Herman Yau is a renowned film director, cinematographer and writer. As a film-maker for more than 30 years, he has contributed to over 100 productions. In the 1980s, a golden era of Hong Kong cinema, Dr Yau, at age 26, became one of the youngest directors to be involved in a full-length feature film.
Known in particular for The Legend Is Born: Ip Man, The Leakers, Shock Wave and From The Queen To The Chief Executive, his famous films have won a number of regional and international awards.
Dr Yau is highly respected by his peers and has played an important role in nurturing young talent through his engagement with universities and organisations related to film and culture. Dr Yau was a member of the jury panel for the Hong Kong Arts Centre's Incubator for Film and Visual Media in Asia awards for seven years. He has also been a film and media arts advisor for the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
An HKBU alumnus, Dr Yau has provided generous support to HKBU's Academy of Film as an adjudicator, advisor, consultant, workshop host and guest lecturer.
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Photos of the eight HUF recipients can be downloaded from below.
Media enquiries:
M S Fung of the Communication and Public Relations Office (3411 5261/ hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk)
