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A message from Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was delivered to the Congregation by Mr Gregory De’eb, Acting Consul General of South Africa. In his message, Dr Mandela highly emphasized the importance and value of education for human societies. He stated: “As we steam ahead into the 21st century, education will become key, if millions of people, especially in developing countries, are to participate in a world that is changing every day. Education has become the most important way for us to fight poverty and the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Without education we will not be able to stop new infections, condemning millions of people around the world to die.”
Professor Wang Gungwu, representing the honorary graduates, delivered an address. He gave his tribute to Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, using the example of Sun Yat-sen, an early graduate of HKU to illustrate his admiration of Mandela's leadership. He pointed out that there were three issues, associated with Sun's life and thought, that could also apply to Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela's case. In his speech, Professor Wang also suggested that his analysis “are relevant to how Hong Kong sees its future” in terms of evaluating their leaders, adjusting to the global trend, and acting courageously and creatively in the face of the unknown. Firstly, both Sun and Mandela, despite early and many failures to struggle for their respective ideas, in the end triumphed on account of their humanness and compassion. Secondly, both Sun and Mandela in their political ideals and programmes of building a multi-national state were envisaging some form of multi-cultural co-existence, resembling the familiar theme of globalisation of the 21st Century. Thirdly, Sun and Mandela, in acting creatively and boldly without over-reliance on past knowledge and experience, exemplified great leadership, and thus they achieved.
Degrees were 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, and
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 received their honorary degrees in absentia. Separate recognition ceremonies will be held in South Africa and Thailand at a later date.
For media enquiries, please contact Miss Polo Leung of HKU’s External Relations Office at 2859 2600.
HKU confers Honorary Degrees upon Five Outstanding Individuals
21 Mar 2002
Dr the Honourable David Li, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, conferred honorary degrees upon five outstanding individuals at the 163rd Congregation of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) today (March 21).
A message from Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was delivered to the Congregation by Mr Gregory De’eb, Acting Consul General of South Africa. In his message, Dr Mandela highly emphasized the importance and value of education for human societies. He stated: “As we steam ahead into the 21st century, education will become key, if millions of people, especially in developing countries, are to participate in a world that is changing every day. Education has become the most important way for us to fight poverty and the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Without education we will not be able to stop new infections, condemning millions of people around the world to die.”
Professor Wang Gungwu, representing the honorary graduates, delivered an address. He gave his tribute to Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, using the example of Sun Yat-sen, an early graduate of HKU to illustrate his admiration of Mandela's leadership. He pointed out that there were three issues, associated with Sun's life and thought, that could also apply to Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela's case. In his speech, Professor Wang also suggested that his analysis “are relevant to how Hong Kong sees its future” in terms of evaluating their leaders, adjusting to the global trend, and acting courageously and creatively in the face of the unknown. Firstly, both Sun and Mandela, despite early and many failures to struggle for their respective ideas, in the end triumphed on account of their humanness and compassion. Secondly, both Sun and Mandela in their political ideals and programmes of building a multi-national state were envisaging some form of multi-cultural co-existence, resembling the familiar theme of globalisation of the 21st Century. Thirdly, Sun and Mandela, in acting creatively and boldly without over-reliance on past knowledge and experience, exemplified great leadership, and thus they achieved.
Degrees were 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, and
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 received their honorary degrees in absentia. Separate recognition ceremonies will be held in South Africa and Thailand at a later date.
For media enquiries, please contact Miss Polo Leung of HKU’s External Relations Office at 2859 2600.
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