EdUHK to Present Honorary Fellowships to Five Distinguished Individuals
EdUHK to Present Honorary Fellowships to Five Distinguished Individuals
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) will confer Honorary Fellowships on five distinguished individuals this year in recognition of their remarkable contributions to the University, education and the community in Hong Kong and beyond.
The recipients (in alphabetical order of surnames) are:
- Mr Cheung Man-kwong
- Dr Sanly Kam Shau-wan, MH
- Dr Michael Mak Hoi-hung, SBS, JP
- Mr Francis Ngai Wah-sing
- The Honourable Abraham Shek Lai-him, GBS, JP
EdUHK Council Chairman Professor Frederick Ma Si-hang will preside over the Honorary Fellowship Presentation Ceremony on the campus on 23 March 2018.
With their vision, expertise and extraordinary commitment, these Honorary Fellows are major figures who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of education and community service, and have played a significant role in inspiring the younger generation. Their brief biographies are as follows:
Mr Cheung Man-kwong
Mr Cheung Man-kwong graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 1978. He started his career as a primary school teacher in Kwun Tong and Whampoa Primary Schools of the Grantham College of Education Past Students’ Association, and went on to have a successful career in education. In 1990, he was elected President of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union (HKPTU), a position he held for 20 years. Under his leadership, the HKPTU was successful in persuading the government to provide direct grants to kindergartens, to allow small class teaching in primary schools, and to help surplus teachers switch to new careers, among others. He was an HKPTU Vice-President (2010-2014) and Senate Vice-Chairman (2014-2016), and has been a Senate Member since 2016.
Mr Cheung was Member of the Education Commission (1993-2005), Member of the Legislative Council (1991-1997, 1998-2012), Executive Committee Member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China since 1989, and Founding Member of the Democratic Party since 1994. In the past four decades, Mr Cheung has been at the forefront of educational issues, and has participated in almost every phase and event in educational developments and reforms in Hong Kong. To name just a few, he played an important part in advocating the introduction of the four-year university curriculum, and for the establishment of research funds in tertiary institutions. Mr Cheung’s hard work and commitment have been of immense significance to the development and reform of education in Hong Kong. During The Education University of Hong Kong’s journey in pursuit of university status, Mr Cheung helped expedite the approval process in the Legislative Council.
Mr Cheung was a Council Member of CUHK from 1998 to 2008 and was appointed an Honorary Fellow by CUHK in 2009.
Dr Sanly Kam Shau-wan, MH
A respected leader in early childhood education in Hong Kong, Dr Sanly Kam Shau-wan began her professional journey as a child care worker in the late 1970s. She subsequently moved on to different positions, expanding the scope of her contribution to education. She has over 38 years’ experience in the sector, focusing on educational policy, curriculum design, children’s rehabilitation services and parenting education.
Dr Kam is General Manager of the Child Development and Education Core Business of Hong Kong Christian Service, leading a team of over 500 people from 10 different professions to provide services in support of young children and their families in Hong Kong. She is also an Executive Council Member of the Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association (Hong Kong) and the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities.
Dr Kam has been actively involved in teaching and advising in early childhood education programmes at different teacher education institutions, professional associations, social service organisations and think tanks, including the Faculty of Education of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Education 2.1, the Hong Kong Early Childhood Educators Association and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. She has also been Advisor of the Presidential Advisory Group since 2014, Advisor (Professional) of the Centre for Childhood Research and Innovation for The Education University of Hong Kong, and Member of the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of a Commission on Children
Dr Kam set up and has led the Council of Non-Profit Making Organisations for Pre-primary Education to grow into a distinct voice that conveys important professional perspectives and values of early childhood educators. Her professional advice is frequently sought after by various government and public bodies, including the Social Welfare Department, the Department of Health and the Education Bureau.
Dr Michael Mak Hoi-hung, SBS, JP
Dr Michael Mak Hoi-hung graduated from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 1970, and subsequently obtained diplomas from the University of Liverpool and the University of London. He is a member of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. He is now a paediatrician in private practice.
Dr Mak has been active in the medical field. He was elected a Fellow of the Hong Kong College of Paediatricians (1991) and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (1993), and was a Council Member of the Hong Kong Medical Association, 2nd Vice-President of the Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong, Council Member and Honorary Adviser of the Hong Kong Spastics Association (1977-1992), Member of the Medical Development Advisory Committee (1987-1991), and Hospital Governing Committee Member of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (1991-2001).
In addition to his professional commitments, Dr Mak is a keen contributor in the field of education. He has been a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at HKU since 2001. He also served as a Supervisor of St Paul’s Co-educational College (1999-2010) and is now Vice-Chairman of the College’s Council. He was Council Vice-Chairman of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and is now an Honorary Court Member of the University. In 2014, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences by HKUST.
Since 2013, Dr Mak has been a Member of University Grants Committee; and he was a Member of the Review Group on the Application for University Title by the then Hong Kong Institute of Education.
In recognition of his contribution to the community, Dr Mak was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2005 and was awarded a Silver Bauhinia Star by the Government of the HKSAR in 2013.
Mr Francis Ngai Wah-sing
Mr Francis Ngai Wah-sing is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Social Ventures Hong Kong (SVhk). He is also the Founder of Playtao Education, Bottless and Sonova Institute, and Co-Founder of Green Monday and RunOurCity, among others. Since its inception in 2007, SVhk has adhered to its impact-driven mission, inventing and incubating more than 40 social innovation projects, including Diamond Cab and LightBe affordable housing. Mr Ngai believes that “everyone can be a change-maker in creating a better society through social innovation, re-imagining our city and aggregating our dreams”.
Prior to establishing SVhk, Mr Ngai started his career in the advertising and marketing field, and subsequently became the Head of Strategy in a listed technology conglomerate in Hong Kong. He graduated from City University of Hong Kong and was conferred an Honorary Fellow by the University in 2013. He was selected as one of Hong Kong’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 2011, a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in 2012, Hong Kong Spirit Ambassador in 2014, and one of the 100 Asia Pioneers by The Purpose Economy in 2014.
He has been invited to deliver talks in different sectors, both locally and internationally, organised by the media, investment banks, business corporations, universities, governments, NGOs and international agencies, on topics including impact investing, creating shared value, business 2.0 and social innovation.
In addition to being a Hong Kong entrepreneur and venture philanthropist, Mr Ngai is a vegetarian and an avid marathoner. He completed the 250-km Gobi March of the 4 Deserts race series in 2012, the Sundown Ultra-marathon 100km Race in 2013, and the North Pole Marathon in 2013 in 7 hours and 2 minutes, making him the first runner from Hong Kong to ever cross the race’s finish line.
The Honourable Abraham Shek Lai-him, GBS, JP
The Honourable Abraham Shek Lai-him has distinguished himself for many decades in various fields. He graduated from the University of Sydney in Australia with a Bachelor of Arts and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. He taught in Sydney before returning to Hong Kong in 1970.
He started his career in Swire Shipping Agencies Company Limited and served as General Manager of Hong Kong Export Lines Limited (CY Tung Group of Companies), as Commercial Director of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, and as Chief Executive of Land Development Corporation at different stages of his illustrious career.
Since 2000, the Hon Shek has been a Member of the Legislative Council, representing the real estate and construction functional constituency. Amidst his many commitments, he has also devoted himself to the betterment and advancement of Hong Kong education. He is currently Chairman of the English Schools Foundation and a Council Member of St. Stephen’s Girls’ College, St. Stephen’s Girls’ Primary School and St. Stephen’s Girls’ College Kindergarten. He has established a scholarship in honour of his mother for female students of ethnic minorities who have attained university entrance. He is also a Member of the Court and Council of The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and a Member of the Court of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
Apart from holding directorship in a number of listed companies including MTRC, the Hon Shek serves as Non-Executive Director of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority.
The Hon Shek was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Lingnan University (2008), HKUST (2014), and HKU (2016). He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1995, and was awarded a Silver Bauhinia Star in 2007 and a Gold Bauhinia Star in 2013 by the Government of the HKSAR for his remarkable contribution to the community.
