Honorary University Fellows

Citation for Mr Jack So delivered by Dr M R Martin, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the Honorary University Fellowships Presentation Ceremony on December 13, 2001:

Mr Jack So is a graduate of this University and Chairman of the MTR Corporation. Under his sound leadership the MTR has seen the successful completion and opening of the Airport Railway which features the world’s first purpose-built rail link to serve an airport with in-town-check-in facilities.

In October last year the MTR Corporation made history by becoming the first government asset to be privatised when it was listed on the Stock Exchange. The company has been voted the best-managed company in Hong Kong- an accolade due, in part, to the leadership of Mr So.

From 1985 to 1992 Mr So was Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. His task was to promote external trade through a network of 35 offices in 25 countries. A task he executed with aplomb. During his term in office, Hong Kong’s export, and particularly its re-export increased many-fold. He saw the opportunity for Hong Kong to play a part in China’s economic reforms and encouraged local manufacturers to set up production bases in the Pearl River Delta and Shanghai.

In recent years he has received a number of awards for his achievements in business, including the Star of Asia from Business Week magazine, Leader of Asia Year 2000, from Sing Tao newspaper and Executive of the Year 1998, from DHL in conjunction with the South China Morning Post newspaper.

Mr So has been a Council Member of this University since December 2000 and is Chairman of the Steering Committee of the HKU Impact Study.

Mr Pro-Chancellor, in view of his contributions to the University and the community, it gives me great pleasure to present Mr Jack So for the Honorary University Fellowship.