Press Release
HKBU receives HK$10 million from Pecan Foundation to celebrate its 70th anniversary and advance translational medical research
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has received a generous donation of HK$10 million from Professor Justin Chiu Kwok-hung, Founder, and Mrs Rita Chiu, Chairman of Pecan Foundation Limited in celebration of the University’s 70th anniversary. Of the total amount, HK$7 million will be designated to support the cutting-edge research projects of HKBU’s newly established Frontier Translational Medical Research Institute, while HK$3 million will be allocated to a research project focused on the mental well-being of Hong Kong tertiary students led by HKBU’s School of Continuing Education.
Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the HKBU Foundation, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the Pecan Foundation’s generous support. He commended Professor Justin Chiu Kwok-hung for his ongoing dedication, describing Professor Chiu as a distinguished alumnus, an exceptional industry leader and an inspiration to young people. “This significant gift reflects Professor Chiu’s deep-rooted affection for his alma mater and his unwavering commitment to societal well-being,” Dr Wong remarked. “His benevolence will provide vital momentum to the newly established Frontier Translational Medical Research Institute, accelerating the translation of medical research into practical applications. Equally important, this gift will help address youth mental health issues, bringing lasting benefits to the wider community.”
The HKBU Frontier Translational Medical Research Institute is home to a world-class research team comprising Professor Sir Michael Houghton, Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, and Dr Robert J Spiegel, a drug development expert. The Institute drives promising discoveries by focusing on innovations and translational research in medical devices, diagnostics, vaccines, integrative medicine, Chinese medicine and other biomedical sciences.
The research project, titled “Beyond Sports and Games: Preventing Suicide and Promoting Mental Well-Being of Hong Kong Tertiary Students”, led by HKBU’s School of Continuing Education will implement peer-supported, and sport- and game-based engagement strategies at self-financing tertiary institutions across Hong Kong. It enhances students’ motivation to seek help and their overall mental well-being, thereby addressing the pressing societal issues facing young adults, including rising suicide rates and their worsening mental health.
Established in 2007 by Professor and Mrs Chiu as a family charitable foundation, the Pecan Foundation is dedicated to advancing educational and philanthropic causes. Professor Chiu is currently the Executive Director of CK Asset Holdings Limited and he has consistently given back to his alma mater through the Pecan Foundation, supporting a wide variety of the University’s initiatives. These include the research project on the “Strategic Plan for Intellectual Asset Protection of Traditional Chinese Medicine” and the “Village CARE Campaign”. Professor Chiu also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of the HKBU Foundation. In recognition of his remarkable contributions to the University and to society’s advancement, he was named an Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences in 2012 and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from HKBU in 2015.
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