In recognition of the significant accomplishments and contributions to the University, the profession, and the community, HSUHK confers its inaugural cohort of Honorary Doctorates and the recipient list was announced on 7 May 2020. The four recipients of Doctorate of Social Science honoris causa are Dr David Ho, Dr Alice Lam, Dr Helen Lee and Ms Rose Lee. In view of the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony, which was originally scheduled on 16 March 2020, has been postponed to a later date when the situation allows.
About the Four Recipients
Dr David HO Tzu-cho
Dr David Ho Tzu-cho is a distinguished banker and entrepreneur. He joined Hang Seng Bank in 1957. Bearing his late father Dr Ho Sin Hang’s vision on work ethics, he contributed to Hang Seng Bank’s becoming the biggest Chinese-owned bank in Hong Kong in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, Dr Ho assumed the chairmanship of Bethlehem Management Limited, leading the company to become an outstanding member of the industry.
Dr Ho is also the Vice Patron of The Community Chest of Hong Kong and has made important contribution to the community. He supported various NGO groups and medical care facilities through the S H Ho Foundation. In higher education, many local, Mainland China and overseas universities have also benefited from Dr Ho’s and his family’s givings.
Dr Ho is one of the founding Board Directors of Hang Seng School of Commerce (HSSC, the predecessor of Hang Seng Management College (HSMC) and HSUHK) and has been the Chairman of the S H Ho Foundation – contributing to both the development of HSUHK’s liberal-arts-oriented environment and, through generous donations, HSUHK’s campus development. Over the years, HSUHK’s students’ learning experience has been greatly enriched.
Dr Alice Piera LAM LEE Kiu-yue, GBS, JP
Dr Alice Piera Lam Lee Kiu-yue is a prominent social leader and public figure. She has an eminent record in public service, in the banking industry and in education. After her graduation from The University of Hong Kong, she began her career as a teacher until 1978, when she joined Hang Seng Bank and became Managing Director of the Bank during 1994-1996. Her achievements in the banking industry earned her wide recognition and she was invited to serve on a variety of committees in the financial as well as the public sector.
As a successful woman banker in her times with rich experience in education, Dr Lam was invited to serve on the councils of several higher education institutions. Her leadership in education was also fully displayed when she chaired the University Grants Committee and the Education Commission. During these periods, Dr Lam initiated landmark reforms which included the Higher Education Review, the 3-3-4 Curriculum Reform and Outcome-Based Teaching and Learning that laid the blueprint of Hong Kong’s education in the post-1997 era.
Her affiliation with HSUHK began in the 1980s when she was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of HSSC. She has been instrumental in securing funding support for many initiatives that has laid the foundation for HSSC to develop as HSMC, and finally to a university.
Dr Helen LEE YICK Hoi-lun
Dr Helen Lee Yick Hoi-lun, the spouse of the late Honourable Sir Quo Wei Lee, is the Chairman of Wei Lun Foundation Limited. Wei Lun Foundation was established by Sir Quo Wei Lee and Dr Helen Lee to support education, scientific research, medical, cultural and public welfare projects. The Foundation has made substantial donations over the years to higher education institutions in Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas to facilitate their campus development and nurturing of talents.
Dr Helen Lee has not only witnessed the birth of HSSC, the contribution she has made to the transformation of HSSC to HSMC, and to HSUHK today is truly significant. In the 1970s, when Dr Ho Sin Hang decided to establish a school to train professionals in banking and finance, Sir Quo Wei Lee negotiated with the Government to secure a piece of premium-exempt land for its campus in Siu Lek Yuen, Shatin. Spearheaded by Sir Quo Wei Lee, HSSC was eventually established in 1980. HSSC was restructured in 2010 to become HSMC. To carry on the legacy of Sir Quo Wei Lee and his vision for HSMC, Dr Helen Lee believed that an expansion of the campus and improvement in facilities would be needed to foster quality teaching and innovative research.
After HSMC was granted university title as The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in 2018, Wei Lun Foundation made another generous donation to support the University’s strategic development and student exchange programmes. Dr Helen Lee is pleased that with the support of Wei Lun Foundation, HSUHK has been providing quality higher education for many young talents to become professionals and contribute to society.
Ms Rose LEE Wai-mun, JP
Ms Rose Lee Wai-mun is a veteran banker and community leader. Ms Lee has served the banking industry for four decades. She started to work for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) in 1977. Focusing on Mainland China’s economic evolution, she was a pioneer in promoting trade, investment and financial services collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Prior to her retirement, Ms Lee was Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, Chairman of Hang Seng Bank (China), Chairman of Hang Seng Insurance and Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Hang Seng Indexes.
She was a Group General Manager of the HSBC Group and a Director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
Ms Lee is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director of Swire Pacific Limited, CK Hutchison Holdings Limited and MTR Corporation Limited, a Director and Vice Patron of The Community Chest of Hong Kong and a Board Member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. She is also a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers.
Since her retirement in 2017, Ms Lee has dedicated her time to public service and supporting education. She was the Chairman of the Board of Governors of HSMC from 2013 to 2018. Under Ms Lee’s visionary leadership, HSMC took significant strides towards realising its goal of becoming a private university. Ms Lee’s generous donation has driven the University’s strategic development and the establishment of the Rose W M Lee Entrance Scholarship in Corporate Governance and Compliance to nurture future talents in corporate governance and management.
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