21 September 2023
Mr Chairman, Honorary University Fellows, distinguished guests, colleagues,
I am delighted to welcome you all to the Honorary University Fellowship Conferment Ceremony. Today, we honour seven distinguished individuals for their remarkable contributions to the community and their respective fields.
On behalf of the University, I would like to extend my congratulations to our Honorary University Fellows: Dr Sunny Chai, the Hon Kenneth Fok, Ms Leonie Ki, Mr Arthur Lee, Mr Mongkolchai Mavichien, Professor Alexander Murphy, and Mr Sunny Wong.
As you have read from the citations, each of our Honorary University Fellows has a unique and exceptional story to tell. However, there is one distinct theme, and that is, they are determined to be the best in what they do, and persist until they achieve their goals. Whether it is in the realms of business, academia, philanthropy or the arts, our Honorary University Fellows have kept pushing the limits throughout their careers, and never settled for less. Equally admirable and inspiring is their generosity of spirit and willingness to help others, especially in supporting and nurturing the younger generation.
“Just because someone carries it well doesn’t mean it’s not heavy.” This is a fitting description of our seven Honorary University Fellows. They have made challenges look easy. They often focus on finding solutions, stay positive and resilient, rise above difficulties and achieve extraordinary success. These attributes distinguish them as well-respected leaders in their professional fields and in society.
The experience and achievements of our Honorary University Fellows are a valuable source of inspiration for all of us. Their passion and relentless efforts to make a better world have inspired us, and their life stories shed light on how everyone can make a difference. This is also the spirit of what we do at HKBU. We do our best to equip students with the skills and mindset to succeed in adverse circumstances. We also push the frontiers of research and innovation to achieve breakthroughs in various disciplines for the betterment of Hong Kong, the nation and the world.
The world we live in is undergoing abrupt changes with vibrant technological advancements, global challenges and socio-political dynamics. At HKBU, we attempt to nurture versatile and multi-talented individuals for the future with a transdisciplinary approach in learning and teaching as well as research. Our Honorary University Fellows demonstrate the essential qualities required for our leaders, who can lead us to navigate through an uncertain future. They possess extensive cross-sector knowledge, expertise and experience. They have actively used these assets, and adopted a transdisciplinary approach in tackling challenges as well as extending their impact and contributions above and beyond. Their resounding success stories have made history, and will inspire our students and the HKBU community to rise to the challenges of the future.
Congratulations once again to our Honorary University Fellows! May this recognition serve as another testament to your professional accomplishments and the important role you have played in shaping our society for the better. Welcome to the HKBU community and I look forward to working with you and creating more milestones together. Please join me in giving our new Fellows a round of applause!
Thank you.