At the 181st Congregation on December 8, 2009, Dr the Honourable David Li Kwok-po, Pro-Chancellor of the University, conferred an honorary degree upon Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Professor Roger Tsien Yonchien in recognition of his contributions to the fields of cell biology and neurobiology.
Professor Tsien sees universities as offering students a similarly safe and stimulating environment to experiment and discover.
"Universities provide a sheltering arena where students can try out different courses, areas of study, and career options, so that everyone can find out where his or her true interests and talents lie," he said.
Professor Tsien is steeped in the values of scholarly learning. His father was part of the 'scholar-gentry' class in Hangzhou and his uncles were professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Professor Tsien, who is also the 34th generational grandson of King Qian Liu of Wuyue in China, attended Harvard and Cambridge.
He was named co-recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in developing green fluorescent protein, which enables scientists to identify where proteins are produced and monitor how they move within the body. Professor Tsien is based at the University of California, San Diego, and has expanded his colour palette to include blue, yellow, orange and red.
The University's Chancellor, Dr the Honourable Donald Tsang Yam-kuen (centre), conferred honorary degrees upon five outstanding individuals at the 182nd Congregation in March 2010
Professor Lawrence Chan Chin-bong
Professor Lawrence Chan Chin-bong is one of the most distinguished alumni of HKU's Medical Faculty. He is currently Professor of Medicine, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, as well as Betty Rutherford Chair for Diabetes Research at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
He has received numerous North American awards for his groundbreaking contributions to the areas of lipoprotein/lipid/carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes, and for his long dedication to research in the field of endocrinology. Chief among these is the Edwin B. Astwood Award, presented in 2007, and regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the field of endocrinology and metabolism. In the same year he was also recognized as Asian Physician of the Year by Indiana University.
Professor Chan is Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Centre (DERC) and Chief of the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism in the Department of Medicine.
He has remained loyal to his alma mater, returning repeatedly to deliver plenary lectures, and contributing to joint research projects and mentoring our postgraduate students.
In recognition of his contributions to medicine and academia, Professor Lawrence Chan Chin-bong was conferred the degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa.
Mr Lawrence Fung Siu-por
Mr Lawrence Fung Siu-por is an exceptional business leader and social advocate who has devoted himself to enhancing the interests of both Hong Kong and Mainland China.
In 1988, he launched the Hong Kong Economic Times (HKET), one of the city's leading business dailies. He is currently the Chairman and Founder of Hong Kong Economic Times Holdings Limited which, under his leadership, has diversified to include printed media, a financial news agency, information and solutions, recruitment advertising and training.
Mr Fung is a HKU alumnus and former President of the Students' Union. After graduating with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in 1972, he gained a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Manchester.
In 2006, he and his wife established the Azalea (1972) Endowment Fund to provide funding for HKU designated projects that benefit the local community. He was a founding member of the HKU Graduates Association Education Foundation and is an Honorary Patron of the HKU Foundation. In 2003 he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star.
In recognition of his contributions to academia and Hong Kong, Mr Lawrence Fung Siu-por was conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.
The Venerable Master Hsing Yun
The Venerable Master Hsing Yun is a world-renowned religious leader, author, educator, humanitarian and philanthropist. Born in 1927 into a poor family in rural Jiangsu Province, his father left home when he was still young and never returned. During his early years Master Yun was influenced by his pious mother and grandmother and first entered a monastery at the age of 12.
He went on to found the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order and the affiliated Buddha's Light International Association, one of the world's largest Buddhist organizations.
Master Yun has become known for his 'Humanistic Buddhism' philosophy, which focuses on facing current worldly issues, and he is credited with reforming Buddhism by opening monasteries, universities and schools worldwide, and engaging in dialogue with other Buddhist sects and religious orders.
HKU has also benefitted from Master Hsing Yun's outreach philosophy. In 2003 he attended the opening ceremony of the Centre of Buddhist Studies Library, and has regularly returned to deliver lectures and public talks.
In recognition of his contributions to humanitarian and philanthropic causes the Venerable Master Hsing Yun was conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.
Dr Serena Yang Hsueh-chi
Dr Serena Yang Hsueh-chi is a shining example of learning as a lifelong adventure. Chinese by ancestry, she grew up in Japan and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Kwansei Gakuin University, in Japan, in 1955.
At the age of sixty-two, she joined HKU as a visiting student and developed a passionate interest in the history of psychoanalysis in Japan. Since then she has written several papers on the subject, and presented her work internationally. She also helped establish the Yang Hsueh Chi Staff Research Fund in 1996 and the Yang Hsueh Chi Education Fund in 2003 for research in the Department of Psychology.
Many HKU endeavours have benefitted from Dr Yang's support. These include student scholarships, and the Oxford-HKU Psychology student exchange programme.
The Serena Yang Library and Prizes were established in honour of her contributions to the Department of Surgery. She helped establish the Global Lounge, in 2005, and has supported the Faculty of Social Sciences' Social Exposure Programme.
She is currently an Honorary Senior Research Associate of the Department of Psychology and was a founding member of the HKU Foundation.
In recognition of her contributions to academia and Hong Kong, Dr Serena Yang Hsueh-chi was conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.
Professor Richard Yu Yue-hong
Professor Richard Yu Yue-hong comes from a family of illustrious alumni of this University. He graduated with an MBBS degree in 1958, after which he completed his clinical training at Queen Mary Hospital and gained his PhD from the University College Hospital, London, where he was awarded a PhD in 1966.
On his return to HKU, he completed his MD degree and entered private practice, specializing in nephrology, where he made enormous improvements to patient care and medical treatment. One of his greatest contributions has been in public service to the medical profession. He was a founding member of the Hong Kong College of Physicians.
He also continued to teach at HKU's Department of Medicine as Honorary Clinical Lecturer and is currently an Honorary Professor in the Department. He holds the same position at the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the Chinese University and is also an Honorary Consultant Physician at the Ruttonjee and Princess Margaret Hospitals.
At present he holds the illustrious position of Chairman of the Higher Physician Training Committee.
In recognition of his contributions to medicine and the community, Professor Richard Yu Yue-hong was conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.
