Mr Fou Ts'ong was born in Shanghai in 1934 and there took piano lessons with Italian pianist and conductor Mario Paci until 1948. His rise to a pianist of international status and acclaim started in Eastern Europe with third prize in the Bucharest Piano Competition in 1953 being followed by third prize and a special prize for mazurkas in the 1955 International Chopin Contest in Warsaw. He won a scholarship at the Warsaw Conservatory with Zbigniew Drzewiecki, and obtained the Conservatory's top award. Prior to 1957 he gave over 500 concerts in Eastern European countries.
Numerous concert tours in England and to the Far East and the Americas since 1958 have firmly established his international reputation and, since the late 1970s, he has been visiting China regularly as Consultant to the Shanghai Music Conservatory and other institutions in Beijing.
Because of his frequent tours to the Far East, Hong Kong has had the opportunity of sponsoring many recitals given here, including those in conjunction with the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra.
In recognition of his contribution to the western musical tradition in Hong Kong and the Far East, the University has resolved to confer upon him the degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa.
