Honorary University Fellows

Citation delivered by the Dean of Social Sciences, Professor Ian Holliday:

Mr Shum Choi Sang is widely acclaimed as one of the foremost figures in Hong Kong journalism. He is strongly committed to the development and welfare of society. Mr Shum received his degree of Master of Arts in Economics from New York University in 1953, and is currently Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Enterprises Group Ltd and Real Connection Ltd.

Mr Shum is perhaps best known as the publisher of the newspaper, Wah Kiu Yat Po. In 40 years of service, he made enormous contributions to the newspaper’s development.

Respected throughout the profession, Mr Shum has also held key posts in other media organisations, including Chairman of the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong, Chairman of the Chinese Language Press Institute and Vice- Chairman of the Hong Kong Committee of the International Press Institute.

In addition, Mr Shum has been very active in public service and is a member of the governing bodies of many educational institutions.

Mr Shum comes from a family with a tradition of philanthropy that spans the generations, notably in promoting media, culture and education. Mr Shum and his son, Mr Robert Shum, were early benefactors of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at HKU.

Recently, the Shum Wai Yau Reading Room at the Centre was named after Mr Shum’s father and the founder of the Wah Kiu Yat Po newspaper, in recognition of the contributions made by the Shum family to the newspaper industry in Hong Kong and its generous support to journalism education at HKU.

Mr Shum was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1967, awarded an MBE in 1968, an OBE in 1986, the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2002 and an Honorary Fellowship from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2003.

It gives me great pleasure, Mr Pro-Chancellor, to present Mr Shum Choi Sang for the Honorary University Fellowship, in recognition of his contributions to Hong Kong and academia.