The Hong Kong Polytechnic University will confer honorary doctorates on three distinguished persons in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the fields of finance, scientific research, education and public health as well as their remarkable contributions to society. They are (in alphabetical order of surname): Mrs Laura Cha, Professor Xu Ningsheng and Professor Zhong Nanshan.

Mrs Laura Cha, GBM, GBS, JP, is the Chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Non-executive Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Director of the World Federation of Exchanges. She is also a Non-Official Member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Mrs Cha was the first non-Mainland resident to join the Central Government at vice-ministerial rank when she served as Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission from 2001 to 2004. She has made impactful contributions to the development of the financial services sector in both Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Professor Xu Ningsheng is President of Fudan University and former President of Sun Yat-sen University, China. He is a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World and a Member of the 13th National Five-year Plan National Expert Committee. Over the years, he has made significant contributions to the development of the Nation, especially in the areas of education and research.

Professor Zhong Nanshan is Professor of Medicine at the Guangzhou Medical University, Director of the State Clinical Research Centre of Respiratory Disease, Member of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Preparedness and Response, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Renowned for his achievements in fighting epidemics, Professor Zhong has made enormous contributions in leading the Chinese medical team to combat SARS in 2003. He is also instrumental in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the Mainland.

PolyU Council Chairman Dr LamTai-fai extended his congratulations on behalf of the University to the three recipients. He said, “We are very excited to welcome them as new members of the PolyU family. Their extraordinary accomplishments, as well as their selfless and outstanding contributions to society deserve our utmost respect. We look forward to working closely with them for the continued advancement of PolyU in Hong Kong and Mainland China, contributing to the future development of Hong Kong and our Nation.”

Professor Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU President, stated, “The devotion of the recipients to improving people’s lives and helping society to progress is highly motivational, encouraging all of us at PolyU to face the challenges and strive for breakthroughs in nurturing talent, pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge and technology, as well as serving our society to foster a much better tomorrow.”