Honorary University Fellows
Dr Philip CHEN Nan Lok is Managing Director of the Hang Lung Group and Hang Lung Properties Limited.
Dr Chen holds a BA (1977), a Diploma in Management Studies (1983), and an MBA (1984) from HKU. He has served as Chairman of John Swire & Sons (China) Limited, Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Executive Director of Swire Pacific Limited and John Swire & Sons (Hong Kong) Limited.
He has held a long list of public duties and appointments across varied fields and organisations.
He is currently, inter alia, an Executive Committee Member of The Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong, a Member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and a Standing Committee Member of the Hong Kong Chinese Chamber of Commerce. In charity services, Dr Chen is a Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Vice Patron of the Hong Kong Community Chest.
The higher education sector in Hong Kong has been strengthened from the leadership Dr Chen brought to the University Grants Committee as its Ex-officio Member and the first Chairman of the Quality Assurance Council. At HKU, in addition to having served as a Lecturer in the Department of Management Studies in the 1980s, Dr Chen continues to enthusiastically take part in activities organised by his alma mater. More importantly, he has loyally lent HKU the benefit of his reputation and renown, actively providing counsel and advocacy on behalf of his alma mater, in order to help realise the University’s endeavours.
Dr Chen was appointed Justice of the Peace in 2000, awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2002 and the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2012, and bestowed the distinction of Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite by the French Government in 2009.
Citation delivered by Professor S P CHOW, Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Dr Philip CHEN Nan Lok is quite possibly the type of person the 20th century American writer Ralph Ellison had in mind when he wrote: “Power doesn’t have to show off.”
Let us look at the ways that Dr Chen doesn’t have to show off.
Dr Chen holds a BA (1977), a Diploma in Management Studies (1983), and an MBA (1984) from HKU.
Outstanding professionals are often called “high flyers”, but this term is particularly, and literally, suited to describe Dr Chen, who has served as Chairman of John Swire & Sons (China) Limited, Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Executive Director of Swire Pacific Limited and John Swire & Sons (Hong Kong) Limited. He is currently the Managing Director of Hang Lung Group and Hang Lung Properties Limited.
Dr Chen has been actively involved in various trade and community activities, and among his many current appointments, he is, inter alia, an Executive Committee Member of The Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong, a Member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and a Standing Committee Member of the Hong Kong Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
In charity services, Dr Chen is a Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Vice Patron of the Hong Kong Community Chest.
Many universities, locally and in the Mainland, have benefitted from Dr Chen’s support, and the higher education sector in Hong Kong has been strengthened from the leadership he brought to the University Grants Committee as Chairman of its Quality Assurance Council.
At HKU, in addition to having served as a Lecturer in the Department of Management Studies, Dr Chen continues to enthusiastically take part in activities organized by the University.
But most importantly, he has loyally lent HKU the benefit of his reputation and renown, and at all the timely junctions, has stepped in to provide counsel and advocacy on behalf of his alma mater, in order to help realize the University’s endeavours.
Dr Chen is also a man of letters, and has published seven bestsellers of travel stories in Hong Kong, with two of these in the Mainland and Taiwan. His research on the “Great Cities Theory” has also been published as Great Cities of the World.
Dr Chen was appointed Justice of the Peace in 2000, awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2002 and the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2012, and bestowed the distinction of Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite by the French Government in 2009.
Ladies and gentlemen, Dr Chen stands as an example of how the powerful do not need to show off, but impress and inspire us instead with their influence and impact.
It gives me great pleasure, Mr Pro Chancellor, to present Dr Philip CHEN Nan Lok for the Honorary University Fellowship, in recognition of his contributions to Hong Kong and academia.