Honorary University Fellows

Ir Edmund Kwong Ho Leung is a professional engineer with a wide spectrum of experience across the power, manufacturing and construction industries.

He graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1967 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and started his engineering career at China Light & Power.

After managing a plastic doll manufacturing company for a few years, Mr Leung moved into the construction industry, a sector which would remain his main focus over the course of his career.

In 1975, he joined the General Electric Company (Hong Kong) to work on the first phase of the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway System. In 1982, he was appointed General Manager of HUD Engineering, and in 1985, returned to General Electric to head up its Contracts Group.

In 1987, he was made Vice President of Parsons Brinckerhoff (Asia), and was involved in developing its infrastructure business. In 1992, he was appointed Director of Acer Consultants (Far East), and in 1995, Chairman of its Greater China Region. Acer later became Hyder Consulting, and in 2001, Mr Leung was appointed to the Main Board of its global business.

Since retiring from Hyder in 2003, he has served as a part-time advisor and independent non-executive director for a number of organizations. In 2009, he became Managing Director of the Hsin Chong Construction Group.

Mr Leung has served as the President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Chairman of the Hong Kong Branch, and Council Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He actively speaks for the engineering industry, and frequently appears in the media commenting on issues of safety and efficiency of railway and other engineering systems. 

He is also active in the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, promoting good corporate governance for both private and public organizations.

Mr Leung is also very keen on nurturing and training young engineers, and has organized and led many delegations of young engineers to visit Mainland China to help them broaden their views and experience. 
The University of Hong Kong has also benefitted from Mr Leung’s support and loyalty. He has actively participated in HKU events, including its 75th and 90th Anniversary celebrations, and has assisted in promoting the Centenary Campus. He has been a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Engineering, and has met with engineering undergraduates to discuss their future careers in the profession.

Mr Leung is an Honorary Fellow of Lingnan University, and has served as a Member of its Council. He has also served as a Council Member and Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Council of Academic Accreditation.

He is presently the Chairman of the Energy Advisory Committee, a Board Member of the Hong Kong Airport Authority, Chairman of the Process Review Committee of the Financial Reporting Council and a Justice of the Peace. Mr Leung was awarded an OBE in 1996 and a Silver Bauhinia Star in 2009.

Citation delivered by Professor Weng Cho CHEW, Dean of Engineering

From building power stations to plastic dolls, Ir Edmund LEUNG Kwong-ho has seen it all.

Mr Leung is a professional engineer with a wide spectrum of experience across the power, manufacturing and construction industries.

He graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1967 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and started his engineering career in the utilities sector, working mainly on power station construction while at China Light & Power.

Mr Leung then began broadening his scope of professional experience by managing a plastic doll manufacturing company for a few years, before moving into the construction industry, a sector which would remain his main focus over the course of his career, especially in major railway and highway tunnel projects in Hong Kong.

In 1975, he joined the General Electric Company (Hong Kong) to work on the first phase of the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway System. In 1982, as General Manager of HUD Engineering, he oversaw the engineering business for the dockyard group. In 1985, he returned to General Electric to head up its Contracts Group, which included the Electrical Installation, Mechanical Installation and Large Projects Divisions.

In 1987, he joined Parsons Brinckerhoff, one of the world's leading planning, engineering, and program and construction management organisations. As Vice President of its Asia division, he was involved in developing its infrastructure business, which included tunnel ventilation and associated systems design for road and rail tunnels, among many other building services projects.

In 1992, he was appointed Director of Acer Consultants (Far East), and in 1995, Chairman of its Greater China Region. Acer later became Hyder Consulting, and in 2001, Mr Leung was appointed to the Main Board of its global business.

After retiring from Hyder in 2003, he served as a part-time advisor and independent non-executive director for a number of organisations. But it seems that it was simply not yet time for Mr Leung to truly retire. He was a key contributor to the Stonecutters Bridge project, which has become the world’s second longest spanning cable-stayed bridge and one of Hong Kong’s newest and most dramatic landmarks. In 2009, Mr Leung became Managing Director of the Hsin Chong Construction Group.

Over the years, Mr Leung has lent his experience and leadership to the Engineering profession, and has served as the President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Chairman of the Hong Kong Branch, and Council Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Today, Mr Leung actively speaks for the engineering industry, and frequently appears in the media commenting on issues of safety and efficiency of railway and other engineering systems. He is also active in the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, promoting good corporate governance for both private and public organizations.

Mr Leung is also very keen on nurturing and training young engineers, and has organised and led many delegations of young engineers to visit Mainland China to help them broaden their views and experience.

The University of Hong Kong has also benefitted from Mr Leung’s support and loyalty. He has actively participated in HKU events, including its 75th and 90th Anniversary celebrations, and has assisted in promoting the Centennial Campus. He has been a member of the Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Engineering, and has met with engineering undergraduates to discuss their future careers in the profession.

Indeed, the Faculty knows it could always rely on Mr Leung to take every opportunity to share his experience and insights with our students. The strength of his commitment to mentoring our students has been invaluable, and his enthusiasm truly inspiring.

Mr Leung is an Honorary Fellow of Lingnan University, and has served as a Member of its Council. He has also served as a Council Member and Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Council of Academic Accreditation.

He is presently the Chairman of the Energy Advisory Committee, a Board Member of the Hong Kong Airport Authority, Chairman of the Process Review Committee of the Financial Reporting Council and a Justice of the Peace.

Mr Leung was awarded an OBE in 1996 and a Silver Bauhinia Star in 2009.

It gives me great pleasure, Mr Pro-Chancellor, to present Ir Edmund Leung Kwong-ho for the Honorary University Fellowship, in recognition of his contributions to Hong Kong and academia.