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Degrees will be conferred upon:
1. Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, former President of South Africa,
2. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand,
3. Professor Wang Gungwu, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong,
4. Mr Gary Stephens, founder of Mother's Choice,
5. Mr Edmund Tse, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the American International Assurance Co., Ltd and Senior Vice-Chairman of American International Group, Inc.
Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand will receive the honorary degrees in absentia. Separate recognition ceremonies will be held in South Africa and Thailand at a later date.
Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was South Africa's first black president. He gained almost legendary status in the 1980s as South Africa's leading anti-apartheid figure, assuming the forefront of the black struggle after his release from prison.
In 1944 together with Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu, he formed the African National Congress Youth League which came to dominate the ANC in 1948. He became president of the League in 1950. Helped by Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo also set up South Africa's first black law firm. Throughout the 1950s he was the victim of various forms of repression. He was banned, arrested and imprisoned. In 1962 he was sentenced to five years in prison for inciting people to strike and with leaving South Africa without a passport. While serving his sentence he was found guilty of sabotage and treason following which he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Dr Mandela spent the next 27 years in prison. He was released in June 1990. The following year he became president of the ANC and in 1993 he received the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1994 he was chosen as President of South Africa. Dr Mandela retired from public life in 1999. He will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is the third child of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Her Royal Highness is deeply cultured and learned. She speaks several languages including English, French, German, Chinese, Khmer, Pali, Sanskrit and Latin. She is an accomplished writer and poet and has taken a lifetime interest in history, geography, music, art and literature. She has taught at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. She is perhaps best known for her development work in remote areas of Thailand, particularly in support of improved schools and better nutrition. She has visited China and Hong Kong many times and has lent her support to the HKU's Thai programme. In recognition of her valuable intellectual, social and cultural contributions Her Royal Highness will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa.
Professor Wang Gungwu, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hong Kong from 1986 to 1995, is an internationally-renowned authority on Chinese history, in particular on Chinese overseas. Professor Wang is presently Director of the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, and Emeritus Professor of the Australian National University. During his vice-chancellorship at HKU, higher education in Hong Kong expanded enormously, and the University accepted its highest ever intake of students. A firm believer in the benefits of globalisation, Professor Wang strongly encouraged international activities and exchanges with overseas institutions. Under his support the University established the University of Hong Kong Foundation for Educational Development and Research, the first of its kind at the local tertiary education level, to foster stronger links with the community and enhance the University's capacity for teaching and research. Professor Wang will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa.
Mr Gary Stephens and his wife, Helen, came to Hong Kong in 1979 with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), a multinational trans-denominational service organisation. Their team provided relief and aid for Vietnamese refugees. This work continued for ten years in various refugee camps across Hong Kong. In addition, the YWAM team founded and operated the street sleeper-feeding programme, which helped many of Hong Kong's homeless people. In the late 1980s the Stephens were concerned about the plight of teenage girls with crisis pregnancies, many of whom were crossing the border for late trimester terminations. In co-operation with Ranjan and Phyllis Marwah, they founded Mother's Choice, which started as a home for young girls facing crisis pregnancies, and providing counselling services for the girls and their families. Since that time, Gary and Helen have orchestrated and directed the growth of Mother's Choice. In 1991 Mother's Love, a joint venture with Guangxi Autonomous Region, China was launched. During the past eight years more than 1500 children have been adopted through Mother's Choice and Mother's Love. Mr Gary Stephens will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.
Mr Edmund Tse is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American International Assurance Co., Ltd (AIA), a company with headquarters in Hong Kong. AIA is the largest life insurance company in Southeast Asia and is a member company of American International Group, Inc (AIG). He is also the Senior Vice-Chairman of AIG, in charge of AIG's worldwide life insurance operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. A graduate of HKU, Mr Tse received his BA in mathematics in 1960. He obtained diplomas from the College of Insurance and the Graduate School of Business of Stanford University. In 1997, in recognition of his contributions to the insurance industry and to Taiwan, he was honoured with the Distinguished Businessman of the Year award. The following year he was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Hong Kong. In 2001 he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the government of the Hong Kong SAR. Mr Tse has helped establish an Institute of Mathematics at HKU and sits on the Honorary panel for BSc (Actuarial Science) Programme of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. Mr Tse will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.
The University of Hong Kong also announces that the 164th Congregation to confer degrees on graduates from the HKU-Fudan IMBA programme will be held later this year in Shanghai. On the same occasion, the University is to confer an honorary degree upon Professor Wang Daohan.
Professor Wang Daohan, Chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, has been a member of the CPC Central Advisory Commission since 1987. From 1965 to 1980 Professor Wang has served as Vice Minister of Commission for Foreign Economic Relations, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Deputy Director of State Commission for Import and Export Control. He was mayor of Shanghai from 1980 to 1985 and since then he has been advisor to the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. He is Professor in the Department of Economics at Beijing University, Fudan University and Tongji University since 1987. Professor Wang has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Tufts University in the United States. He will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.
March 12, 2002
For photos of the honorary recipients, please download at the following websites:
Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Mandela.htm,
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Sirindhorn.htm,
Professor Wang Gungwu - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Wanggungwu.htm,
Mr Gary Stephens - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Stephens.htm,
Mr Edmund Tse - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Edmundtse.htm,
Professor Wang Daohan - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Wangdaohan.htm.
HKU to Award Honorary Degrees (Press Invitation)
12 Mar 2002
The University of Hong Kong is to confer honorary degrees upon five outstanding individuals at its 163rd Congregation at 5:30pm on Thursday, March 21, 2002, at the Loke Yew Hall of the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Reporters/photographers are cordially invited to attend.
Degrees will be conferred upon:
1. Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, former President of South Africa,
2. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand,
3. Professor Wang Gungwu, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong,
4. Mr Gary Stephens, founder of Mother's Choice,
5. Mr Edmund Tse, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the American International Assurance Co., Ltd and Senior Vice-Chairman of American International Group, Inc.
Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand will receive the honorary degrees in absentia. Separate recognition ceremonies will be held in South Africa and Thailand at a later date.
Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was South Africa's first black president. He gained almost legendary status in the 1980s as South Africa's leading anti-apartheid figure, assuming the forefront of the black struggle after his release from prison.
In 1944 together with Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu, he formed the African National Congress Youth League which came to dominate the ANC in 1948. He became president of the League in 1950. Helped by Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo also set up South Africa's first black law firm. Throughout the 1950s he was the victim of various forms of repression. He was banned, arrested and imprisoned. In 1962 he was sentenced to five years in prison for inciting people to strike and with leaving South Africa without a passport. While serving his sentence he was found guilty of sabotage and treason following which he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Dr Mandela spent the next 27 years in prison. He was released in June 1990. The following year he became president of the ANC and in 1993 he received the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1994 he was chosen as President of South Africa. Dr Mandela retired from public life in 1999. He will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is the third child of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Her Royal Highness is deeply cultured and learned. She speaks several languages including English, French, German, Chinese, Khmer, Pali, Sanskrit and Latin. She is an accomplished writer and poet and has taken a lifetime interest in history, geography, music, art and literature. She has taught at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. She is perhaps best known for her development work in remote areas of Thailand, particularly in support of improved schools and better nutrition. She has visited China and Hong Kong many times and has lent her support to the HKU's Thai programme. In recognition of her valuable intellectual, social and cultural contributions Her Royal Highness will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa.
Professor Wang Gungwu, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hong Kong from 1986 to 1995, is an internationally-renowned authority on Chinese history, in particular on Chinese overseas. Professor Wang is presently Director of the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, and Emeritus Professor of the Australian National University. During his vice-chancellorship at HKU, higher education in Hong Kong expanded enormously, and the University accepted its highest ever intake of students. A firm believer in the benefits of globalisation, Professor Wang strongly encouraged international activities and exchanges with overseas institutions. Under his support the University established the University of Hong Kong Foundation for Educational Development and Research, the first of its kind at the local tertiary education level, to foster stronger links with the community and enhance the University's capacity for teaching and research. Professor Wang will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa.
Mr Gary Stephens and his wife, Helen, came to Hong Kong in 1979 with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), a multinational trans-denominational service organisation. Their team provided relief and aid for Vietnamese refugees. This work continued for ten years in various refugee camps across Hong Kong. In addition, the YWAM team founded and operated the street sleeper-feeding programme, which helped many of Hong Kong's homeless people. In the late 1980s the Stephens were concerned about the plight of teenage girls with crisis pregnancies, many of whom were crossing the border for late trimester terminations. In co-operation with Ranjan and Phyllis Marwah, they founded Mother's Choice, which started as a home for young girls facing crisis pregnancies, and providing counselling services for the girls and their families. Since that time, Gary and Helen have orchestrated and directed the growth of Mother's Choice. In 1991 Mother's Love, a joint venture with Guangxi Autonomous Region, China was launched. During the past eight years more than 1500 children have been adopted through Mother's Choice and Mother's Love. Mr Gary Stephens will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.
Mr Edmund Tse is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American International Assurance Co., Ltd (AIA), a company with headquarters in Hong Kong. AIA is the largest life insurance company in Southeast Asia and is a member company of American International Group, Inc (AIG). He is also the Senior Vice-Chairman of AIG, in charge of AIG's worldwide life insurance operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. A graduate of HKU, Mr Tse received his BA in mathematics in 1960. He obtained diplomas from the College of Insurance and the Graduate School of Business of Stanford University. In 1997, in recognition of his contributions to the insurance industry and to Taiwan, he was honoured with the Distinguished Businessman of the Year award. The following year he was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Hong Kong. In 2001 he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the government of the Hong Kong SAR. Mr Tse has helped establish an Institute of Mathematics at HKU and sits on the Honorary panel for BSc (Actuarial Science) Programme of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. Mr Tse will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.
The University of Hong Kong also announces that the 164th Congregation to confer degrees on graduates from the HKU-Fudan IMBA programme will be held later this year in Shanghai. On the same occasion, the University is to confer an honorary degree upon Professor Wang Daohan.
Professor Wang Daohan, Chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, has been a member of the CPC Central Advisory Commission since 1987. From 1965 to 1980 Professor Wang has served as Vice Minister of Commission for Foreign Economic Relations, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Deputy Director of State Commission for Import and Export Control. He was mayor of Shanghai from 1980 to 1985 and since then he has been advisor to the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. He is Professor in the Department of Economics at Beijing University, Fudan University and Tongji University since 1987. Professor Wang has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Tufts University in the United States. He will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.
March 12, 2002
For photos of the honorary recipients, please download at the following websites:
Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Mandela.htm,
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Sirindhorn.htm,
Professor Wang Gungwu - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Wanggungwu.htm,
Mr Gary Stephens - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Stephens.htm,
Mr Edmund Tse - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Edmundtse.htm,
Professor Wang Daohan - www.hku.hk/eroonweb/Wangdaohan.htm.
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