Honorary University Fellows
Mr David Wong Ying Kit is an entrepreneur, architect and philanthropist. He is the Managing Director of Shanghai Grand Sunfire Property Development Co Ltd, Non-Executive Director of Raymond Industrial Limited and the Founder and Executive Director of Hong Kong Wine Vault, the largest self-serviced wine storage company for private collectors in Hong Kong. He holds a BSc and a Diploma in Architecture, both from University College London (UCL).
Mr Wong has contributed to the University of Hong Kong in a variety of capacities, including as a member of Court and of the Board of Directors of the HKU Foundation. He has also supported the HKU Culture & Humanities Fund.
Mr Wong is an advocate of “paying it forward”. As Chairman of the Steering Committee of the First-in-the-Family (FIFE) Fund, Mr Wong’s leadership has helped nurture the Fund, which was established in 2008 to assist financially underprivileged students who are the first generation in their families to attend university.
Mr Wong’s father, Dr Philip Wong (Doctor of Laws honoris causa, 1996), has long been a benefactor of the University. The Wong family has contributed three Endowed Professorships: the Philip Wong Kennedy Wong Professorship in Political Economy, the Philip K H Wong Wilson K L Wong Professorship in Electrical
Engineering, and the Philip Wong Wilson Wong Professorship in Chemistry and Energy.
Citation delivered by Professor Hualing Fu, Dean of Law
Mr David Wong Ying Kit is an entrepreneur, architect and philanthropist, Managing Director of Shanghai Grand Sunfire Property Development Co Ltd, and Non-Executive Director of Raymond Industrial Limited.
He holds a BSc and a Diploma in Architecture, both from University College London (UCL).
Mr Wong’s father, Dr Philip Wong has long been a benefactor of the University of Hong Kong, which conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa in 1996.
The Wong family has contributed three Endowed Professorships to the University: the Philip Wong Kennedy Wong Professorship in Political Economy, the Philip K H Wong Wilson K L Wong Professorship in Electrical Engineering, and the Philip Wong Wilson Wong Professorship in Chemistry and Energy.
Our faculty has been privileged to receive a generous donation from the Wong family. As a result we had the honour of naming our grand theatre and Centre for Chinese Law after Mr Wong’s father as Philip K H Wong Theatre and Philip K H Wong Centre for Chinese Law respectively.
The apple indeed does not fall far from the tree, and the way that Mr David Wong has championed the University’s endeavours is clearly an honourable continuation of his father’s support for HKU.
Mr Wong has contributed to the University in a variety of capacities, including as a member of Court, and of the Board of Directors of the HKU Foundation. He has also supported the HKU Culture & Humanities Fund.
Mr Wong is a strong advocate of “paying it forward”. This concept was key to the establishment in 2008 of the First-in-the-Family Fund.
The aim was to provide financial assistance to help talented students become the first generation in their families to attend university, thus overcoming a critical hurdle that might have otherwise prevented these students from realising their full potential. The goal is not only to provide opportunities for socio-economic mobility, but also to nurture a belief in social reciprocity and a sense of duty to supporting the aspirations of future generations.
As Chairman of the Steering Committee of First-in-the-Family Fund, Mr Wong’s leadership has helped the Fund flourish and make countless learning activities and overseas exchanges possible over the past decade for more than 3,000 students, who are encouraged to“pay it forward” 受恩施恩、薪火相傳, by serving their communities both during and after their time at HKU.
As an entrepreneur, Mr Wong is the founder and executive director of the Hong Kong Wine Vault, the largest self-serviced wine storage company for private collectors in Hong Kong.
Therefore, Mr Pro-Chancellor, it is my great pleasure to present Mr David Wong Ying Kit for the Honorary University Fellowship, in recognition of his contributions to Hong Kong and academia.