Honorary University Fellows
Mr Chan Yau Chong majored in English studies and psychology at HKU and graduated with a BA degree in 1981. He received a Master’s degree in information systems from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1985.
Mr Chong served as an Administrative Officer in the Hong Kong Government from 1990 to 1993, the first blind person to pass the recruitment examination and take the job.
He joined Oxfam Hong Kong as Director for Fundraising and Outreach in 1993 and was appointed Executive Director in 2001, the first person from a non-western background to hold this position.
Mr Chong served as Director of Student Development of the Centre for Development and Resources for Students at HKU from 2006 to 2009.
He is currently on the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Council of Social Services, is President of the Hong Kong Blind Union, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities, Chairman of the Dialogue in the Dark Hong Kong, Chairman of Carbon Care Asia, and Director of the English Learning Service Provider, EL 2100. He was elected to represent the Social Welfare Sector in the Chief Executive Election in 2007 and 2012, receiving the highest number of votes.
Mr Chong received one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Awards in 1991, an MBE in 1995, the Poverty Alleviation Award from the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation in 2004 and one of the Leader of the Year Awards 2011 (Community/Public Affairs Category) from the Sing Tao News Corporation in 2012.
Citation delivered by Dr Albert CHAU, Dean of Student Affairs
A real pioneer and a staunch advocate for the underprivileged, Mr Chong Chan Yau has packed a lot into his life and has never let disability stop him from helping others or achieving his goals.
One of seven children in the family, Chan Yau lost his eyesight at the age of six. Undeterred, he studied hard at the Ebenezer School for the Blind, and even attended a regular secondary school to study Mathematics in Form Four – the first blind student to do so. In 1978, he was admitted to HKU, one of the earliest blind students to join the University.
Chan Yau lived in Ricci Hall and graduated in 1981 with a double major in Psychology and English Studies. After that, he joined the Office of Student Affairs at HKU as an Executive Officer.
In 1984, he obtained a Commonwealth Scholarship and furthered his studies at the University of London, from where he graduated with a Master’s degree in Analysis, Design & Management of Information Systems. On his return to Hong Kong, Chan Yau rejoined the Office of Student Affairs.
A year later, he entered the private sector as the Managing Director of Internet Technology (H.K.) Ltd., while also working as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Social Work of Hong Kong Baptist College.
In 1991, Chan Yau joined the Civil Service as its first blind Administrative Officer. He worked in the Education and Manpower Branch and the Home Affairs Branch, where he was responsible for drafting policy papers on areas such as gambling, higher education and labour legislation review.
In 1993, Chan Yau turned full time to work for the underprivileged when he joined Oxfam Hong Kong as Director for Fundraising and Outreach. From 2001 to 2006, he was its Executive Director, the first person from a non- western background to hold this position, and remains an advisor with the organisation.
Chan Yau has subsequently dedicated his life to community service. He is currently on the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Council of Social Services. He is also President of the Hong Kong Blind Union, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities, Chairman of the Dialogue in the Dark Hong Kong, Chairman of Carbon Care Asia, and Director of the English Learning Service Provider, EL 2100. He was the Vice-President of the Asia-Pacific Region of the World Blind Union, and a member of the Hong Kong Government’s Rehabilitation Advisory Committee, from 2003 to 2005.
He was elected to represent the Social Welfare Sector in the Chief Executive Election in 2007 and 2012, receiving the highest number of votes.
His contributions to community service and championing the underprivileged have not gone unrecognised. Chan Yau received one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Awards in 1991, an MBE in 1995, the Poverty Alleviation Award from the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation in 2004 and one of the Leader of the Year Awards 2011 (Community/Public Affairs Category) from the Sing Tao News Corporation in 2012.
Chan Yau has remained close to his alma mater. He was Director of Student Development from 2006 to 2009. During his tenure, he raised students’ awareness in global issues and social entrepreneurship tremendously. He remains a member of the HKU SERVICE 100 Advisory Committee.
Chan Yau’s story is a unique and inspiring one, which all HKU students, and indeed the whole Hong Kong community, can learn from. He is an ardent supporter of HKU and a person who has devoted his life to helping others.
It gives me great pleasure, Mr Pro-Chancellor, to present Mr Chong Chan Yau for the Honorary University Fellowship, in recognition of his contributions to Hong Kong and academia.