The Rev Joyce Mary Bennett, a missionary with the Church Missionary Society, was Principal of St Catharine's School for Girls, Kwun Tong, until her retirement earlier this year. She was a member of the Legislative Council from 1976 until she left Hong Kong this year and a member of numerous public bodies, such as the UMELCO Police Group, the Juvenile Courts Advisory Panel, the Advisory Committee on Corruption, and the Curriculum Development Committee of the Education Department.
She was ordained Priest by Bishop Baker in St John's Cathedral on Advent Sunday in 1971 and became the first British woman Anglican priest.
During her years in Hong Kong she undertook voluntary work as a member of such bodies as the Advisory Committee on Design of the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the Board of Directors of the Christian Family Service, the Diocesan Youth Committee and the Executive Committee of St Christopher's Home. She was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1978.
In recognition of her contribution, the University has resolved to confer upon her the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.
