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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) conferred honorary doctorates upon the following four distinguished persons at the 94^th Congregation for the Conferment of Honorary Doctoral Degrees today (13 November), in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective areas of achievement in literature, global health, physiology and neuroscience, and financial services. They are:

(In alphabetical order by family name)

Ms Deng Xiaohua (Can Xue)

Ms Deng Xiaohua, originally named Deng Zemei and internationally acclaimed under the pen name Can Xue, is a renowned contemporary Chinese novelist and literary critic. Born in Hunan, she developed a deep love for reading from an early age, particularly classical literature from both East and West, as well as philosophical texts. Since 1985, she has published nine novels, 300 short stories and novellas, 7 works of literary criticism and 5 essay collections, amounting to over 8 million words in total. Early works such as The Cabin on the Mountain, Old Floating Cloud, and Dialogues in Paradise pioneered a new avant-garde literary and artistic trend, and led to a new literary movement. Ms Deng’s works have been translated into numerous languages and published in overseas journals and magazines, including Bungei Shunjū and Quarterly Chinese Modern Fiction in Japan. A literary study centre, Can Xue Research Society, has even been established in Japan, along with the launch of academic journal Can Xue Studies.

She won the “Best Translated Book Award” in the United States in 2015 and the American Award in Literature in 2024, the first Chinese writer to claim either of those honours. She also received “Big Other’s 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award” in the United States, and Malaysia’s “Huazong World Chinese Literature Award” in 2022. Weaving together the threads of Eastern and Western cultures within her literary tapestry, she has cultivated a unique literary style and presence, bringing a distinctive quality to the global literary world. In recognition of her lifelong commitment to literary creation, CUHK has conferred upon Ms Deng the degree of Doctor of Literature, honoris causa.

Professor Victor Joseph Dzau

Professor Victor Joseph Dzau is currently the President of the United States National Academy of Medicine (NAM), Vice Chair of the National Research Council, and Co-Chair of the G20-European Commission High Level Scientific Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response. He moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong at the age of five, studying in Hong Kong and overseas. He later became one of the world’s pre-eminent scientist-clinicians in the field of cardiovascular diseases, achieving multiple research breakthroughs such as isolating proteins that cause hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure. That work laid the foundation for lifesaving drugs now used to treat those conditions. He also pioneered gene therapy for vascular disease, and was the first to introduce DNA decoy molecules in humans in vivo, among many other innovations.

In recognition of his leadership and contributions to global health, as well as his determination to focus the best minds on global health challenges, Duke, McGill, and Harvard universities have established Victor J. Dzau distinguished lectureships in global health. There is also a distinguished lecture in cardiovascular medicine in his name at Stanford, and a professorship of medicine at Harvard. In 2018, with the encouragement and support of Dr Edgar Cheng Wai-kin, CUHK’s former council chairman, Professor Dzau launched NAM’s first ever International Health Policy Fellowship Program, which enables outstanding CUHK scholars to gain experience in the academy’s policy-shaping operations.

CUHK has conferred upon Professor Dzau the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa for his outstanding scientific achievements in cardiovascular disease research, and his vital leadership in promoting public health.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell is a distinguished physiologist and neuroscientist, currently serving as Professor Emeritus and Ambassador for the University of Manchester. She was Vice-Chancellor of the university from 2010 to 2024. During her tenure, student numbers, research income, and the university’s infrastructure all saw substantial growth. She also spearheaded efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2038. Under her leadership, the University of Manchester consistently ranked among the top three higher education institutions globally for social responsibility and sustainability.

Professor Rothwell’s pioneering research revealed that the interleukin-1 (IL-1) protein contributes to brain injury and disease, leading to the patenting of IL-1 inhibitors for preventing acute neurodegeneration. She built a large multi-disciplinary research team exploring stroke and related disorders.

Professor Rothwell’s advocacy has earned her numerous honours, including being elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society and appointment as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Last year, Professor Rothwell led the University of Manchester and CUHK to establish a range of teaching and research collaboration, including the launch of a study option allowing students from CUHK’s School of Biomedical Sciences to earn both a CUHK BSc degree and a University of Manchester Master of Science in four years. CUHK conferred upon Professor Rothwell the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, recognising her visionary university leadership and exceptional achievements in the field of science.

Dr Carlson Tong Ka-shing

Dr Carlson Tong Ka-shing is a respected chartered accountant and the current chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. He also serves as a director of the World Federation of Exchanges. Previously, Dr Tong was the former chairman of KPMG in the Asia-Pacific region and a member of KPMG’s global board until his retirement in 2011. Since retiring, he has actively engaged in public service. From 2012 to 2018, he served as chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), where he introduced the Mainland-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme, allowing mainland investors and international funds to invest in each other’s markets via the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He also chaired the University Grants Committee (UGC) from 2016 to 2022, where he secured a HK$20 billion government injection into the Research Endowment Fund. Additionally, he launched the UGC Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme, providing comprehensive support to student-athlete in their academic studies and helping them transition into new careers after retiring from competition. From 2012 to 2017, he chaired the Hong Kong Sports Institute, where he contributed to a greatly improved ecosystem in which Hong Kong’s future Olympians could be nurtured and thrive.

His remarkable contributions to society and education have been widely recognised. In 2019, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong government, and in 2022, he became the first Hong Kong person to receive the “Outstanding Achievement Award” by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. CUHK conferred upon Dr Tong the degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa, recognising his enormous contributions to the integrity and competitiveness of Hong Kong.