Dr Dennis Ng Wang Pun, BBS, MH

Chairman Yang, University Council Members, President Tong and Honoured Guests,

First of all, let me start by saying that I never imagined The Hong Kong Polytechnic University would confer upon me this Fellowship. It is indeed my great honour to receive this title.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, I am now 64 years old. I started working at a very young age, time flies and some 50 years have passed by. I had worked at factories producing garments, paper products and ivory jewellery, and it was at the last one in which I have identified the direction for my life. I consider my then employer a mentor, who had enriched my experience and knowledge of the industry. After working as an employee for over ten years, I had built up a considerable network of clients. I took English courses in my spare time and this had facilitated my career development. At the time when I was approaching 30, I had a family to raise. Driven by the desire to start my own business, I founded Polaris Jewellery Manufacturer Limited with my partner in 1980. Over the past three decades, the business has been running smoothly, and now I am able to devote more time and energy in social, community services, as well as education.

I am grateful to have the opportunities to take up some key roles in various organizations over the years, with strong support from my friends in different fields. I was also appointed by the HKSAR Government to sit on a number of advisory committees and professional bodies. In serving the community, I am particularly concerned with the fact that while Hong Kong is positioned as Asia’s world city, the happiness index of Hong Kong people ranks quite low in recent years. As such, together with friends who shared the same vision, I set up the Promoting Happiness Index Foundation in 2011 and have been serving as its Chairman. Through organizing various activities, the Foundation aims to help participants build up positive values towards life as well as develop a healthy lifestyle. Besides this, I have also keenly supported education. I firmly believe the saying “a wise young generation builds a wise country; a strong young generation builds a strong country”. With this in mind, I am committed to supporting education and in particular the development of PolyU, for I endorsed the University’s motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind,” as well as PolyU’s effort in nurturing talents.

As Hong Kong is becoming a knowledge-based economy, our society is bound to face more complex changes and tougher competition. However, as the saying goes, “nothing is too difficult for a determined mind,” success will come when you persevere. I hope that all of us can “plan for uncertainty when at ease, and strive for change when in trouble”.

Lastly, I must thank PolyU again for conferring upon me this Fellowship. I would also like to thank my family, colleagues and friends for their support, advice and encouragement, thus making my life more fulfilling and meaningful.    

Dr Chung King Fai, SBS

Dr Humphrey Leung Kwong Wai, JP

Dr Dennis Ng Wang Pun, BBS, MH

Ms Josephine Siao Fong Fong, MBE

Professor Wang Jianhua

Mr Alexander Woo Chung Ho

Dr Royce Yuen Man Chun, JP

(in alphabetical order of last name)