Press Release
HKBU confers honorary doctoral degree upon Dr Chow Yun-fat
Saturday, 07 Aug 2021
Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) conferred the degree of Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa upon Dr Chow Yun-fat at the Honorary Doctoral Degree Conferment Ceremony held today (7 August) for his outstanding professional achievements and remarkable contributions to society.
Dr Chow is an international superstar as well as the city's most beloved and popular public figure, and his fans span all generations. Born into a grassroots family on Lamma Island in Hong Kong in 1955, Dr Chow enrolled in a TV actor training programme at the age of 18, which led to an outstanding career in the entertainment business. In the 1970s and 1980s, Dr Chow shot to fame in Chinese communities around the world for embodying the compassionate and virtuous character of the underdog in the roles he played in a wide range of productions.
After his success on television, Dr Chow ventured into the movie industry in 1976. Over the following 45 years, he has worked with numerous eminent directors and starred in more than a hundred films, and he has won countless awards for his acting, including the Best Actor prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 1987, 1988 and 1990 and the Golden Horse Best Actor Award in 1985 and 1987. His career in those days chronicled the golden period of Hong Kong cinema, and his performances are regarded as the yardstick by which professional actors are judged. Dr Chow's passion for the film industry and drive for excellence also saw him venture into Hollywood. In 2020, Dr Chow was ranked as one of the Top Ten National Film Actors to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of new China.
Dr Chow loves Hong Kong. He cares deeply about the growth of students, and he has contributed to society at large in a number of different ways. He has also acted as an ambassador of Hong Kong to promote local businesses, notably the tourism industry. A dedicated philanthropist, Dr Chow has donated HK$100 million of his wealth to set up a charitable foundation to help vulnerable groups.
At the ceremony held today, Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, said that Dr Chow is an icon of Hong Kong and a popular figure overseas who has demonstrated the unyielding and fighting spirit of Hong Kong and shaped the golden era of the local film industry.
"Regardless of the good times or the bad, Dr Chow keeps on working assiduously and tirelessly, and despite his fame and fortune, he has never stopped challenging himself. Most importantly, he remains humble and grateful for what he has, and his perseverance and humility make him an excellent role model for the younger generation," said Professor Wai.
After the Ceremony, Dr Chow attended a sharing session and he spoke with some 200 HKBU students who sought inspiration and wisdom from his wonderful life journey. He shared the key of his success in acting: "I analysed each and every scene and made a lot of remarks on the script, and gradually catch the feeling that the director wants to express. Sometimes I rewrote the script according to the character, in order to made sufficient preparations." He pointed out that actors need to put aside their ego and assist the director with modesty. It is the actors' responsibility to help the director to succeed, and serve the character in order to touch the audience.
The other honorary doctoral degree awardees of HKBU in 2021 will be announced later this year.
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