Dr Yip Kit-chuen

Mr Chairman, University Council Members, President Tong, Honoured Guests,

I am deeply honoured to be awarded this University Fellowship by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University today. May I also offer my gratitude to PolyU for the generous citation.

By a strange quirk of fate, a hairy crab feast hosted by a dear friend of mine brought me and PolyU together. During the feast, Professor Poon, President Emeritus of PolyU, and I were sitting next to each other and we got into an enjoyable conversation. Prof. Poon kindly shared with me the philosophy and outstanding achievements of the University. He went on to stress that PolyU would strive to become a leading application-oriented university, through applying research results to enhance the competitiveness of business and industry, as well as through nurturing quality professionals for society. His words really impressed me.

I was pleased to learn that that year was the University's 70th Anniversary. In celebration of its anniversary and in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of HKSAR's reunification with the motherland, PolyU had planned to organize an event entitled "Flags of Harmony and Unity" in an attempt to form the world's largest national and SAR flags. As I also turned 70 in the same year, I thought it would be a truly unforgettable experience and I readily accepted to be the sponsor of the event. This historic event not only ended in spectacular success, but also set a Guinness World Record.

Over ten years ago, I was given a chance to return to my homeland, Ningbo, and my childhood memories came flooding back. Seeing the enormous changes that have taken place in recent years, I cannot help but think the key to the sustainable development of Ningbo is talent. It has always been my wish to give back to the place where I went through the most important changes in my life. Therefore, I set up scholarships and schools in my homeland so that high achievers can continue their studies despite poverty.

I hope that what I have done for the University, society and the country may touch the heart of the next generations, as well as those students to whom I have lent a helping hand. I hope that when they enjoy success in their studies and career, they would bear in mind the support they have had from their society and their mother country, and that they would give their best for a better tomorrow.

Thank you very much.

Mrs Angel S.P. Chan Lau, BBS, JP

Ir Johnny Fan Siu Kay

Dr Rebecca Lee Lok Sze

Mr Lo Ka Chung (in absentia)

Mr Joseph K.C. Lo

Mr Herbert Tsoi Hak-kong, BBS, JP

Dr Wang Jianzhou

Dr Yip Kit-chuen

(in alphabetical order by name)