Mr Herbert Tsoi Hak Kong has a distinguished career in the legal profession. After being admitted as a solicitor in England in 1976, he returned to Hong Kong and practised in a leading local firm. In 1999, he established his own firm, Herbert Tsoi & Partners. He is also a Notary Public and a China-appointed Attesting Officer. Mr Tsoi served as the President of The Law Society of Hong Kong from 2000 to 2002, and is still actively involved in its affairs.

Mr Tsoi has also been active in public service, serving the community in various capacities such as member of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the General Committee of Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Estate Agents Authority, and the Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service. Besides serving as council member of several primary and secondary schools, Mr Tsoi is also an honourable legal advisor to a number of NGOs. In recognition of his contributions to the community and the legal profession, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2001 and awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star in 2006.

Mr Tsoi was a Council Member of PolyU from 2002 to 2009. He has made significant contributions to the development of the University through the provision of legal advice and enthusiastic involvement in Council and its committees, including the Executive Committee, Senior Executives Evaluation and Compensation Committee, and the Audit Committee. 

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

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for conferring this Fellowship upon me.

PolyU has, during its long and distinguished history, experienced a series of metamorphic developments to take it from a pragmatic technical school to a fully-fledged university which is ranked amongst the top 200 universities in the world. It is encouraging to learn that within Hong Kong’s geographical confines, there are five universities amongst the world’s top 200. The target of making Hong Kong the hub for higher education in the region is within reach.

PolyU is located right next to the Hung Hom entrance of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. Over the years, I have witnessed the phenomenal growth shared by these two enterprises. I am referring to the growth in the lengths of two queues. One is the queue of students trying to get into the University, while the other is the queue of vehicles trying to get into the Tunnel. It is difficult to determine which of the queues has grown faster. However, it is evident that both the University and the Tunnel have successfully provided the appropriate conduit to facilitate their respective customers to achieve the goals to which they aspire and to reach their destinations.

I know that trying to stress the importance of knowledge and lifelong education on this occasion is preaching to the converted, but I always look for the opportunity to learn something new when I wake up in the morning. It is therefore very heartening to see that so many people in Hong Kong devote their time to continued learning.

I would like to thank Professor Poon Chung Kwong for giving me the opportunity to serve as a Council Member of the University, and the chance to learn how a strong and successful university operates. I also want to thank my family who has always been so supportive in allowing me to serve Hong Kong society.

Finally, I would like to once again thank PolyU for the high honour bestowed on me. I will make every effort to continue to participate in the development of this great University.

Thank you.