Honorary University Fellows

Citation for Mr Warren Chan, Q.C.,S.C., delivered by Mr Richard Wu, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Honorary University Fellowships Presentation Ceremony on December 16, 2004:

Mr Warren Chan, one of the most distinguished barristers in Hong Kong, is a graduate of the University in the 70s. Mr. Chan is a legendary figure in our Law Faculty and the legal profession. In an article titled "Hard Work" written for the 30th Anniversary of the Law Faculty, Mr. Chan shared two important qualities for success, namely, a determination to excel and always be prepared to work harder.

Throughout the years, Mr. Chan had consistently displayed these two qualities. When Mr. Chan studied law in the University, he never missed one single lecture or tutorial. In 1977, he completed a Bachelor of Law degree with First Class Honours, which testified to his academic excellence. The following year he received his Postgraduate Certificate in Laws and was called to the Hong Kong Bar the same year.

Over the years, Mr. Chan has established himself as one of the best 'home grown' legal talents. In 1994, Mr. Chan was appointed Queen's Counsel in recognition of his outstanding professional performance at the Hong Kong Bar. Not only has Mr. Chan distinguished himself as a brilliant lawyer, he is also widely respected in the legal circles for his willingness to help juniors in the profession. In fact, Mr. Chan is the pupil master of many distinguished lawyers in Hong Kong. Among his pupils, one is now a High Court judge and another is a Senior Counsel and elected Legislative Councilor. Apart from his outstanding professional achievements and contributions to the legal profession, Mr. Chan has also won a reputation for consistently showing care and concern for the University, the Law Faculty, for legal education and developments in Hong Kong and China. He is a great benefactor of the Law Faculty and has been heavily engaged in some of its alumni projects, including the Law Mentorship Programme that we initiated two years ago.

To Mr. Chan, both legal education and the Rule of Law are indispensable to the future development of Hong Kong and China and these have always been close to his heart. During the past few years, Mr. Chan has made substantial donations to the Law Faculty and the Law School of Tsinghua University to advance legal education and promote the Rule of Law. It is Mr. Chan's intention to give further support to legal education in both Hong Kong and China in the years to come.

Mr Pro-Chancellor, in recognition of his achievements in the legal profession, of his support and promotion of legal education and the Rule of Law in both Hong Kong and China, and of his contributions to the University and to Hong Kong and China, I present Mr Warren Chan for an Honorary University Fellowship.