Mr. Pro-Chancellor, Mr. Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Guests, Fellow Honourees, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of my fellow honourees, I wish to thank the University for the great honours conferred on us. I am humbled to be in the company of a distinguished group of experts and Nobel Laureates, namely, Professor Dame Carol Black, Professor Steven Chu, Dr. Jack Dangermond, Professor John Hennessy, Ms. Brigitte Lin, and last but not least, Professor Yang Chen Ning. Each of them is a colossus in his or her respective field. They have pushed the boundaries of human knowledge and innovations, and dedicated their lives to improve the world. You have inspired us all.
For me, I am particularly grateful to my alma mater for graduating me again, and I wish to thank Professor Huang for your generous citation. You are absolutely right that my heart is here. HKU is my home and I am proud to be a member of this big family.
Hong Kong is a city that has long been known for its economic prowess. Beyond its financial success, Hong Kong has a role to play throughout history as a bridge between East and West. Its rich cultural heritage, diverse population and strategic location have made it a meeting point for people around the world to exchange robust ideas, share dynamic experiences and collaborate on exciting new ventures.
As honourees, we represent a diverse range of backgrounds, but we are united in our commitments to a better tomorrow. Hong Kong’s unique position as a global city gives us the opportunity to connect, to foster mutual understanding and to build trust. Together we will boldly march forward at this juncture in human history.
The University of Hong Kong has a century-long reputation for excellence, and today’s ceremony highlights the collaboration between academic and business communities in driving innovation, progress and ESG. Environmental, Social and Governance considerations are vital in our world today. The top priority is the well-being of our planet.
At the Lee Shau Kee Foundation and our group companies, we are mindful of our social responsibilities. Our vision is underpinned by four primary drivers, which we call GIVE. It stands for Green, Innovation, Value and Endeavour. We have helped fight the pandemic via vaccination campaigns and financial relief to the elderly and the needy. We have observed high standards of green buildings, and were awarded over 100 certifications from BEAM, LEED and China’s Green Building Design Label. We have initiated innovative housing projects on our lands to transitionally house over 40,000 people in the near future. We have supported our award-winning athletes in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, and cheered up Hong Kong when people felt downbeat in the trying times of the pandemic. We have also been a staunch supporter of universities in this region in the last thirty years, nurturing the brightest young minds for the next generations, and we will continue to do so.
On the environmental front, our associate company, the Hong Kong and China Gas, which is the provider of gas to households in Hong Kong, has fully committed to the “30-60 Dual Carbon” goal, and has pledged to reduce emission of greenhouse gas. We have pioneered the use of toxic landfill gas for conversion, and the use of natural gas as a raw material. Today, emissions from our production plant represent only 1% of all greenhouse gas produced in Hong Kong. Moving ahead, we will explore the extraction of hydrogen, which by composition constitutes 49% of our gas, to power the city’s buses and other uses.
Ladies and gentlemen, these are some examples of our modest contributions to make Hong Kong and the world a better place to live in. There are still huge challenges ahead worldwide. I look forward to working together with my fellow honourees to build a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
Lastly, allow me once again to express our gratitude to The University of Hong Kong for the incredible recognitions.
I wish you all a great evening! Thank you very much!
