HKU Bulletin May 2014 (Vol. 15 No.2)

HONOURABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Each year the University honours individuals who have made important contributions in their fields and in the community. In 2013–2014, Honorary Degrees were bestowed on five individuals for outstanding professional work and achievements and Honorary Fellowships were awarded to eight individuals for contributions to the community and HKU. Nine new Endowed Professorships were also awarded to HKU scholars, and four professors received successive appointments. The Inaugural University Laureate was also named, distinguished Sinologist Professor Jao Tsung-I. The Honourable Wong Yan-lung Doctor of Laws honoris causa The Honourable Wong Yan-lung has travelled far, from helping his father hawk ice creams and soft drinks when he was a boy, to becoming the youngest Secretary for Justice in the Hong Kong Government. It was a journey made possible by his remarkable talents. Mr Wong was an outstanding student who earned a scholarship to study law at Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge, forfeiting his place at HKU to do so. He earned BA and MA degrees there and returned to Hong Kong in 1986 to pursue a career at the Bar. He gained a pupillage with Andrew Li who, some years later, would be Chief Justice when Mr Wong was Secretary for Justice. While practising law, Mr Wong did not forget those less fortunate and he has been deeply committed to the Hong Kong Christian Concern for the Homeless Association. He and his wife even donated their wedding gifts to this charity. In 2005 he was appointed Secretary for Justice, a post he held for seven demanding years that included significant constitutional challenges, a reform to the legal framework for mediation and international arbitration, and expanded reciprocal cooperation with the Mainland. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2012. Professor Huang Jiefu Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa One of the last wishes of the father of Professor Huang was to see his son become a doctor. The young boy more than amply fulfilled that promise, becoming not only a doctor but a significant figure in China’s healthcare reform. Professor Huang performed the first liver transplantation in China in 1994 and the first combined liver-kidney transplantation in Asia in 1997. In 2001 he was appointed Vice-Minister of Health and held that post until 2013, during which time he set his sights on modernising China’s medical system. Among his many achievements, he founded and still chairs the National Organ Donation and Transplantation to establish a national system of organ donation. He took the first steps towards introducing a system for accrediting doctors with specialist skills. He espoused greater central government support for private hospitals in China. And he was instrumental in founding the Hong Kong University-Shenzhen Hospital, which provides first-class medical services to anyone in need, irrespective of wealth or status. His work has been underpinned by a vision: “My dream as a transplant surgeon is to establish an ethical, sustainable and healthy organ transplantation system consistent with internationally accepted ethical standards to meet the needs of the Chinese people.” Honorary Doctorates 20 | 21 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin | May 2014 Honours