Dr Simon Kwok Siu Ming is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sa Sa International Holdings Limited, a listed global cosmetics retailing empire he has built over the past three decades. It is now Asia’s leading cosmetics retailer and a renowned consumer brand, standing as a testament to Dr Kwok’s perseverance, enterprising spirit and commitment to innovation and excellence.
Dr Kwok has made enormous contributions to the industry. He is the President of the Cosmetic & Perfumery Association of Hong Kong, the Honorary President of the Federation of Beauty Industry (HK), and the Vice-President of the Executive Committee and the Honorary Founding President of the Professional Validation Centre of the Hong Kong Business Sector. He is also the Vice-Chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association Governing Council and the Honorary Life President of the Hong Kong Brands Protection Alliance. Dr Kwok has received many awards, including the Director of the Year Award 2011 in the category of Listed Companies (SEHK – Non-Hang Seng Index Constituents) – Executive Directors and the “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year China 2006” in the Retail Category. He received an honorary doctorate in business administration from Lingnan University in 2008.
Dr Kwok has been dedicated to social and community services and is also a generous philanthropist. He is the Chairman of the Hong Kong Community Chest Campaign Committee and the Executive Board Member of the Hong Kong AIDS Foundation, and was formerly the Co-chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Hong Kong Committee for China AIDS Initiative. Over the years, Dr Kwok has made generous donations to numerous social service organizations such as the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, Suicide Prevention Services and Lifeline Express.
Dr Kwok is currently an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the New Asia College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, a voting member of The University of Hong Kong Foundation, and a life member of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Development Foundation. He is also a Committee Member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of Hubei Province, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace and awarded a Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Government of the HKSAR in 2008 and 2011 respectively. He was elected as an Election Committee Member for the Wholesale and Retail Subsector in the 2011 Election Committee Subsector Elections just held in December.
Chairman Yang, University Council Members, President Tong and Honoured Guests,
First of all, let me express my heartfelt thanks to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for conferring upon me the honour of this Fellowship. I am most delighted.
Nurturing talent is the key to social development. To enable university students to cope with the various challenges they will face after they graduate, university education should not only impart knowledge and professional skills but also facilitate whole-person development, fostering students’ potential, international outlook, civil-mindedness and commitment to contributing to society.
PolyU has always attached importance to whole-person education. Over the years, apart from nurturing professional talents to meet the needs of society, the University has devoted many resources to arranging PolyU student internships, international exchanges and opportunities for community service. That is one of the reasons why PolyU students are very popular with employers in different sectors. I am in full support of the University’s education philosophy, and I look forward to more opportunities to promote education for our future generations together with the other Fellowship recipients.
Lastly, I would like to thank my wife, Dr Kwok Law Kwai Chun, for her support over the past decades, and to share this honour with her. Thank you to all of you.
