The Review 2007

44 Endowed Professorships Our Endowed Professorships programme represents a close partnership between philanthropy and scholarly pursuit by facilitating donations to designated disciplines. In 2005, the programme’s first year, eight Endowed Professorships were established and in 2007 we were able to inaugurate 18 new Endowed Professorships. The Chairman of HKU’s Council, Dr Victor Fung, welcomed the contributions and the spirit they embraced. “Endowed Professorships are a celebration of the purest expression of academic philanthropy, because they come from eminent and successful individuals who wish to perpetuate the legacy of excellence that world class research provides,” he said. Dr the Honourable Donald Tsang Yam-Kuen, the University Chancellor added, “There is no higher duty that a society can perform for future generations than to ensure a heritage of achievement in the pursuit of knowledge. It is fitting that those who excel in that pursuit are honoured for their contributions.”