Press Release

HKBU confers Honorary University Fellowships on five distinguished persons

Wednesday, 16 September 2026

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) held its 21st Honorary University Fellowship Conferment Ceremony today (16 September). Honorary University Fellowships were conferred on five distinguished persons, namely Mr Paulo Pong Kin-yee (龐建貽先生), Mr Ivan Wong Siu-kei (王紹基先生), Professor Edward Yau Tang-wah (邱騰華教授), Mr Tony Yue Kwok-leung (余國樑先生) and Ms Zhou Chunling (周春玲女士), in recognition of their outstanding contributions to a wide variety of areas and their support of society.

Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, and Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, officiated the conferment ceremony. Other Council members who attended the ceremony included Dr Sunny Chai, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, and Mr Kevin Liem, Treasurer of the Council and the Court.

Professor Alex Wai praised the five Honorary University Fellows for their outstanding contributions in various fields and professions, including public service, business, sports, culture and the arts, and community advocacy. He also commended them for fully demonstrating the perseverance to stay undaunted in face of challenges. In addition to their professional achievements, the Honorary University Fellows have also made tireless efforts to support different sectors of society and uplift the community.

Professor Wai remarked: “Our new Honorary University Fellows have no doubt come far in their respective journeys, showing us that behind every success story is a conviction powerful enough to turn obstacles into opportunities. Their character’s strength and resilience mirror the aspirations of HKBU, and remind us that education is not measured by achievement alone, but by the passion we sustain, the purpose we serve, and the perseverance we carry towards our goals.”

Professor Wai also noted that the year 2026 marks HKBU’s 70th Anniversary, and reaching this important milestone is thanks to the dedicated efforts of every member of the HKBU community. He believes that for the University to achieve steady and long-term development, everyone must work together with unity and put the University motto and mission of “Faith and Perseverance” into practice. He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all HKBU colleagues and encouraged everyone to join hands to lead HKBU forward and advance even further.

Speaking on behalf of the other four Honorary University Fellows, Professor Edward Yau Tang-wah expressed their sincere thanks to the University for conferring upon them this great honour: “This recognition confers not just an extraordinary honour, but a profound bond and a shared responsibility. It is a bond rooted in the common values this University upholds, and a responsibility to pass on the torch of learning and service, ensuring our shared faith resonates within both the University and the wider community.”

Professor Yau shared that public service itself gifted him with a lifetime of rewarding exposure as well as treasured learning. Since the mid-1990s, he has been promoting inclusive education and, in recent years, has served as the Chairman of Hong Chi Association. He believes that true inclusion requires building more stages and bridges, and that HKBU has provided the most extensive and enthusiastic support. Over the past two years, the Hong Chi Association and HKBU have collaborated on 14 projects, allowing University students and Hong Chi service users to learn from each other. Recently, both parties renewed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding, which will enable this common path to continue expanding and bring greater opportunities for joint research and community collaboration.

Please click here for more information on the five Honorary University Fellowship recipients.

Please click here for the full version of Professor Alex Wai’s address.

At HKBU’s 21st Honorary University Fellowship Conferment Ceremony: (from left) Mr Kevin Liem, Treasurer of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Honorary University Fellows Mr Paulo Pong Kin-yee, Mr Ivan Wong Siu-kei, Professor Edward Yau Tang-wah, Mr Tony Yue Kwok-leung and Ms Zhou Chunling; Dr Sunny Chai, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; and Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU. At HKBU’s 21st Honorary University Fellowship Conferment Ceremony: (from left) Mr Kevin Liem, Treasurer of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Honorary University Fellows Mr Paulo Pong Kin-yee, Mr Ivan Wong Siu-kei, Professor Edward Yau Tang-wah, Mr Tony Yue Kwok-leung and Ms Zhou Chunling; Dr Sunny Chai, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; and Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU.
At HKBU’s 21st Honorary University Fellowship Conferment Ceremony: (from left) Mr Kevin Liem, Treasurer of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Honorary University Fellows Mr Paulo Pong Kin-yee, Mr Ivan Wong Siu-kei, Professor Edward Yau Tang-wah, Mr Tony Yue Kwok-leung and Ms Zhou Chunling; Dr Sunny Chai, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; and Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU.