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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) held its 21st Honorary Fellowship Presentation Ceremony today (29 May 2023) on campus. Six distinguished people, listed below in alphabetical order by family name, were appointed honorary fellows in recognition of their exceptional achievements within their professions and their outstanding contributions to the University, and the wider community.

Dr Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu, group managing director of Fook Tin Group Holding Limited, has been chairman of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation since 2018, and has been chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries since 2021. After graduating with a BSc from the Rochester Institute of Technology in the US in 1988, Dr Chai completed the Executive MBA Programme at CUHK in 2007, and was awarded a Doctor of Engineering degree by the City University of Hong Kong in 2010. Since taking over the family business more than three decades ago, he has successfully developed it from a small lighting and general merchandise factory into the world’s leading manufacturer of scales, earning himself the nickname “king of scales”. In the 1990s, he made several overseas acquisitions to help master top-of-the-line scale manufacturing technologies and successfully developed a range of medical, industrial and automotive scales. In 2004, he received the Young Industrialist Award of Hong Kong. Dedicated to serving the community, Dr Chai has taken on various public roles, including member of the CPPCC National Committee, member of the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers, member of the Advisory Committee on Attracting Strategic Enterprises, chairman of the HKSAR’s Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme Vetting Committee, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee, and the Advisory Board to CUHK’s Faculty of Engineering. In, 2018, Dr Chai was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of innovation, technological development and industrial advancement in Hong Kong, and was also conferred a University Fellowship by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He was appointed as a Justices of the Peace in 2021, and was conferred an Honorary Fellowship and the Distinguished Alumni Award by the City University of Hong Kong in 2022.

Professor Jack Cheng Chun-yiu is an eminent paediatric orthopaedics specialist. He graduated from The University of Hong Kong in 1976 and was awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree by CUHK in 1999. Since joining CUHK in 1983, Professor Cheng has made significant contributions to the University and the Faculty of Medicine by serving as the chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, associate dean of the Faculty of Medicine (Education), University Dean of Students and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and has participated in several major University policy committees. He was also a member of the University Grants Committee from 2008 to 2013 and the Research Grants Council from 2014 to 2016, and is a former Director, Joint Planning Office and senior advisor for The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) School of Medicine. Professor Cheng was awarded Choh-ming Li Professor in Orthopaedics and Traumatology in 2015 and an emeritus professor upon his retirement in 2018. He has published over 400 articles in peer-reviewed international journals, given over 500 conference presentations, contributed to 19 book chapters and received more than 40 research related awards. He serves on the editorial boards of a number of international professional journals. He was president of the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association, and a fellow and member of over 20 prestigious local and international professional and medical organisations including the International Pediatric Orthopaedic Think Tank IPOTT as one of the only two from Asia amongst the 100 international members in 1998.

Mr Stewart Cheng Kam-chiu is the chairman and executive director of New Times Energy Corporation Ltd., and managing director of Cheung Hung Development (Group) Co., Ltd. He holds a bachelor degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley; and a master’s in business administration from CUHK. A professional engineer with extensive experience in property development and construction management, Mr Cheng is also a member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. He has taken an active role in urban construction in both Hong and his hometown of Shunde, with his rich knowledge and extensive practical engineering management skills. Inheriting a charitable spirit from his father, he has made continuous donations for public welfare locally and in Shunde, which has earned him the title of honorary citizen of Shunde District. He joined the Board of Trustees of CUHK’s Shaw College in 2011 and subsequently became the second vice-chairman of the Board. Over the years, Mr Cheng has donated or pledged to donate over HK$14 million to Shaw College and the University to support the education of younger generations and breast cancer research. He serves as a member of the University Campus Planning and Building Committee, providing valuable advice to the University.

Mr Joseph Cheung Wang-ngai graduated with First Class Honors in Business Administration (Accounting Major) at CUHK in 1979. He was awarded the prestigious Sir Run Run Shaw Postgraduate Scholarship to pursue further legal graduate studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He obtained PCLL from the University of Hong Kong and qualified as a solicitor of the Supreme Courts of Hong Kong and England and Wales respectively in 1983 and 1986. He had been a partner of the law firm Messrs. C. Y. Kwan and Co for almost twenty years before founding an asset management company, Oasis Investment Management Company Limited. He is currently the CEO of the company, a legal consultant to a law firm as well as a founder and director of iIDEAS, a biotech company specialising in innovative AI and robotic medical devices. Mr Cheung is qualified professionally in law, accounting, and finance in various jurisdictions. He holds master’s degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Warwick, University of London (University College), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and New York University Stern School of Business. He has served on various public and government committees, including the HKSAR Passports Appeal Board, the Inland Revenue Board of Review and Users’ Committee, the Guardianship Board, and as Honorary Legal Adviser to Diocesan Boys’ School and the Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal Panel appointed under Section 45 of the Buildings Ordinance. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Master of Science in Quantitative Finance Program at NYU Shanghai and NYU Stern. Over the years, Mr Cheung has been a staunch supporter of the development of United College and the Faculty of Law at CUHK, making generous donations to various causes, including academic research, and exchange scholarships, student activities, mentorship programs, and academic staff research awards. He is presently a member of the Board of Trustees of United College and the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Law, giving invaluable advice to the College and Faculty.

Mrs Janice Choi is an advisor and legal director of Sunwah Group, a consultant for a law firm and a non-executive director of Sunwah Kingsway Capital Holdings Limited. She graduated from the Law School at the University of Hong Kong in 1976 and has qualified as a lawyer in Hong Kong, the UK, Australia and Singapore. Mrs Choi is passionate about music and spares no effort in nurturing local musical performers and creative talents. In 2002, she was appointed as a member of the General Committee of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society and served as its honorary legal advisor. She has been vice-chairman of the Society since 2014 and is the longest-serving member of its Board. Mrs Choi has also held various public positions, such as chairperson of the Hong Kong Development Council’s Appeals Tribunal Panel (Buildings), vice president of Hong Kong Girl Guides Association, vice patron of the Community Chest and advisor to its Flag Day. She was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government and a Bronze Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR government in 2019. Mrs Choi and her family have also been long-term supporters and benefactors of CUHK. Currently a trustee of United College, Mrs Choi and her husband, Dr Jonathan Choi, generously contributed HK$50 million from the CKY Education Charitable Trust and the Choi Koon Shum Education Foundation Limited, enabling United College to build a new student hostel.

Professor Takanori Kitamura is a veteran diplomat who worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for nearly four decades and was awarded “The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon” in 2021. An adjunct professor in CUHK’s Department of Japanese Studies since 2015, Professor Kitamura graduated from the Nagasaki University with BA in 1969. He joined the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1972 when he was studying for his MA in economics at the Keio University. In 1976, he obtained an MA from the Harvard University. In addition to his two assignments to Hong Kong, Professor Kitamura was posted to the Chinese Mainland, the United States (United Nations Headquarters in New York), the Philippines and Greece. He was appointed Consul-General to Hong Kong in 2004 and Ambassador to Greece from 2006 to 2010. During his tenure as Consul General to Hong Kong, Professor Kitamura enthusiastically promoted the establishment of a scholarship scheme to encourage Japanese students to enroll MBA programme at CUHK. Professor Kitamura served as senior research fellow of CUHK’s Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies and professor (by courtesy) at the Department of Japanese Studies from 2010 to 2015. With his extensive network, Professor Kitamura successfully organized two large-scale international conferences. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the department in 2012, Professor Kitamura procured 20 cherry trees from Japan and donated them to the New Asia College for planting on the campus, which have since become one of the iconic features for University visitors. Professor Kitamura further provided seed funding to establish the Research Centre for Comparative Japanese Studies at the University and serves as its honorary director. He also facilitated the running of an annual two-way academic and cultural exchange programme for students of CUHK and the Saga University from 2015 to 2020.