PolyU 85 Anniversary Public Lecture: Knowledge and Self-Cultivation

Professor Poon Chung-kwong, GBS, OBE, JP, obtained his Ph.D and Higher Doctorate (D.Sc.) degrees from the University of London. He was a postdoctoral fellow at The California Institute of Technology. He is the President Emeritus of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Over the years, Professor Poon has made remarkable achievements in the fields of scientific research and education. As a scientist, he was twice invited to make proposals for the award of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1985 and 1991. As a passionate educationist, he devoted 40 years of his life to university education, including 18 years as the Director of The Hong Kong Polytechnic and the President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.  He was a Member of the Legislative Council (1985-1991) and a Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (1998-2013). As a dedicated philanthropist, Professor Poon established the Virya Foundation Limited in 2005. Over the years, the Foundation has supported more than 2,000 students to complete undergraduate education in the Mainland and enhance their personal growth and improvements.