Renewals of an enduring bond
CUHK appoints four honorary fellows
15 June 2026
The first day of June dawned warm and sunny. At the Lee Hysan Concert Hall, guests mingled with one another, the honourees of the day on their lips. As the ceremony began, university officers and honorands filed into the hall. One by one, the honorary fellows were called forward and presented with their fellowships by the presiding Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, while their accomplishments were read out by Professors David Huddart and Ho Che-wah.
The first honorary fellow of the day was Joy Lo Cheung, Chairwoman of the Lo Kwee Seong Foundation. The granddaughter of Vitasoy founder Dr Lo Kwee-seong, she joined the Foundation in September 2019 as Chair of Donations, and was later appointed Chairwoman in 2025. With an Executive MBA from Kellogg-HKUST and a BSc from Cornell University, Mrs Lo Cheung’s business acumen has enabled her to examine the needs of the community, continuing the Foundation’s philanthropy through various targeted initiatives.
In the past, the Foundation’s fruitful relationship with CUHK has resulted in progress for the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology on its soybean genomic research, as well as the construction of a dedicated biomedical sciences building. Under Mrs Lo Cheung’s leadership, the Foundation’s connections with the University have deepened, collaborating with the Art Museum to fund its new Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion, offering 19,000 square feet of new exhibition space. Mrs Lo Cheung’s philosophy of “entrepreneurial giving” continues her grandfather’s legacy, ensuring that philanthropic efforts reach those who truly require them.
Also honoured on the day was former Legislative Councillor Lau Kwok-fan. Having grown up in the North District in the 1980s, Mr Lau first stood for the District Council in 2007, and though only in his mid-twenties, secured a landslide victory in his contest. His dedication to the community that raised him in his formative years has been a lodestar of his public service: his tenure as a member of LegCo between 2016 and 2025 was marked by his advocacy for the Northern Metropolis, advocating for its development into a hub for education, medical research, and industry.
Mr Lau’s connections with CUHK also run deep. Having graduated in 2010 with distinction from the University with a master’s degree in sociology, he was appointed to the University Council upon his election to LegCo in 2016, and assisted its governance reform in 2023. His concern for the next generation has also shown in his participation in the Commission on Youth and the Council for Sustainable Development, helping to shape Hong Kong’s future.
The third person to receive an honorary fellowship was Professor Benjamin Wah Wan-sang, an old friend of the University. A distinguished academic with a long career, he began his education in Hong Kong before heading to the University of California, Berkeley, to further his knowledge. Barely a few years after his graduation in the late 1980s, he was already serving as Programme Director at the US National Science Foundation; but when his hometown came calling, he decided to come back and cultivate homegrown talent instead.
Joining CUHK in 1998 as Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Professor Wah was appointed the University’s inaugural provost in 2009. Holding the office for an entire decade, he oversaw the University’s transition to the “3+3+4” academic structure. During his tenure as provost, he was also Chair of the Research Grants Council, playing an important role in the disbursement of research funds in Hong Kong. Even after he retired to become Emeritus Professor, Professor Wah remains dedicated to furthering the relationship between academia and innovation, chairing the InnoHK Steering Committee since 2025.
The final honouree of the day was noted lawyer Benjamin Yu. Admitted to the bar in 1979, he read in the chambers of future Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-neng before becoming a senior counsel at the age of 38. In the following three decades, he has made his name as a highly respected member of the legal profession, taking the stand in various high-profile cases. He has since participated in multiple public inquiries, such as the Garley Building Fire Inquiry, assisting the citizens of Hong Kong in getting to the bottom of major events that impacted our city’s consciousness.
His work in the forum of law also extended to multiple reform commissions: to name but one example, his efforts as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Company Law Reform ensured the refreshment of the framework of company law in this city. Since 2021, he has also been an honorary visiting professor at CUHK’s Faculty of Law, offering his insight on life at the highest echelons of the profession, and numerous legal issues of our time.
Professor Wah gave an acceptance speech on behalf of the four honorary fellows. Hopping lightly between English and Cantonese, he noted how all four of the honorary fellows had been united in their longstanding connections to CUHK, and their willingness to devote their time and effort to its development. “Our professional paths have unfolded in different spheres,” he said, “but they converge in a shared respect for education and a common understanding of the responsibilities a university carries in society”. The appointment of these honorary fellowships, he added, marked the renewal of these bonds.
Looking out into his gathered audience, Professor Wah reminisced about the conversation with CUHK’s founding Dean of Engineering, Professor Omar Wing, that inspired him to return to Hong Kong. It was this chat, he said, that led him to realise that knowledge gained abroad could serve Hong Kong and his country, and so he forged new ties with his hometown, and made “a personal commitment to the university’s future”. This ability to gather contributions from myriad walks of life, he opined, was what allowed CUHK to continue to flourish, and endure for many decades to come.
For links to the full citations, click here.
