Press Release

HKBU confers honorary doctoral degrees on four distinguished persons

Monday, 22 Nov 2021

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) conferred honorary doctoral degrees on four distinguished persons for their outstanding achievements and remarkable contributions to society at the Commencement and Honorary Doctoral Degree Conferment Ceremony held today (22 November). The University also conferred undergraduate degrees and higher degrees on around 7,700 graduates at its 62nd Commencement, which was held from 15 to 22 November.

Professor Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize laureate in Physics; Professor Ding Jian, a renowned expert in anti-tumour pharmacology; and Professor Alan B. Rickinson, a leading researcher on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), received the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa. Dr David Ho Tzu-cho, a respected philanthropist, received the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa. Please click here for the background information on the four honorary doctoral degree recipients. In addition, Dr Chow Yun-fat was conferred the degree of Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa earlier this year in August.

Speaking at the Ceremony, Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, commended the honorary doctoral degree recipients as they continue to push the boundaries and explore ideas from other areas. With their endless curiosity, generosity and nobility, they have reached the pinnacle of their fields and contributed in various ways to the betterment and advancement of humankind, he added.

Professor Wai said: "The success stories of the honorary doctoral degree recipients inspire us and show how we can reach even greater heights in our various pursuits, and they reveal the solutions to challenges with their braveness, perseverance and clarity of thought."

Professor Wai also encouraged the graduates, and he asserted that they are well-equipped to become future leaders who can shape the world with confidence, competence and commitment. He said: "Our heritage of a whole person education endows you with the requisite skills and knowledge. We also believe that it is the best way to prepare you for the unpredictable post-pandemic world that you are graduating into. Our transdisciplinary liberal arts education not only gives you the facts and knowledge that you need, but it also provides you with the necessary qualities, such as resilience, flexibility and creativity, to thrive and cope with whatever you come across in this new era."

Please click here for Professor Wai's full speech.

-END-