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

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh was presented for the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa in recognition of his contributions to world peace and humanity. Thich Nhat Hanh, the world-renowned spiritual leader, prolific writer and global peace activist, was born in Vietnam in 1926, became a Buddhist monk at 16 and was fully ordained seven years later. During the Vietnam War, he was a champion for peace and a key organiser and provider of social services for the needy, prompting American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967, but also resulting in 29 years of exile after the war in 1973. Since then he has published more than 100 works on meditation, mindfulness and peace, as well as poems and children’s stories, which have become best sellers in Europe and America. In 1982 he founded the Buddhist retreat in southern France known as Plum Village where the Vice-Chancellor was given the warmest of welcomes during his brief visit in March to bestow the honour. Thich Nhat Hanh’s devotion to the work of inner transformation for the benefit of individuals and society through meditation has resulted in him being invited to address the United States Congress, the House of Lords in the United Kingdom and the Irish Parliament. Listed by TIME magazine as one of the ‘Heroes of Asia’, he has also been a frequent visitor to this University where he has given several very popular lectures hosted by the Centre for Buddhist Studies. Dr Ann Hui On-wah Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa One of Hong Kong best-known film directors, Dr Ann Hui On-wah is a graduate of HKU and the London Film School. In a career spanning more than 40 years she has made 24 full-length films, as well as countless TV dramas, documentaries and comedies, won numerous awards and is renowned as one of Hong Kong’s most influential film-makers. Her first movie, a thriller called The Secret , attracted a lot of attention and that fascination has continued through movies as varied as Boat People (1982) filmed on Hainan island and dealing with the Vietnamese refugee problem, Love in a Fallen City (1984), Summer Snow (1995), Ordinary Heroes (1999) and July Rhapsody (2002). Her 2011 movie A Simple Life called for respect for long-forgotten values and, put Dr Hui right back in the spotlight, garnering many awards including her fourth for Best Director at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Dr Hui has made an impact through the social relevance of her movies, the variety of genres in which she has worked, her courage and sensitivity when tackling controversial themes, and the excellence of her directing. In 2008 she was awarded the Grand Prize at the Fukuoka Film Festival for her outstanding contribution to Asian culture. Her work has played a significant role in presenting Hong Kong’s identity to the outside world. Dr Walton Li Wai-tat Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa Dr Walton Li Wai-tat was presented for the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa in recognition of his contributions to medicine and society. Dr Li comes from a remarkable medical family with strong connections to the University stretching back nearly a century. He has received much recognition for his work in the advancement of ophthalmology as well as establishing the Department of Ophthalmology at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital in 1980, after returning from his studies in the United States. Since 2005, he has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital where his uncle, Dr Li Shu-fan, and then his father, Dr Li Shu-pui, were in charge for more than 80 years. A great believer in devoting time, effort and money to the education of doctors and nurses, Dr Li is Chairman of the Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation, which was established in 1963 by his uncle, who was the first Minister of Health in Dr Sun Yat-sen’s government. The Foundation has made various donations to the University and over the past nine years, established seven Endowed Professorships at HKU, one of the most notable being the Li Shu-Pui Professorship in Surgery, to commemorate Dr Li’s father. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh putting on the cap when Professor Lap-Chee Tsui presented a set of academic gown to him in the Plum Village, the Buddhist retreat he founded in southern France. Thich Nhat Hanh, in absentia, presented a video message at the 190 th Congregation. A gift given by Thich Nhat Hanh to the University. Honorary Doctorates 22 | 23 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin | May 2014 Honours