Lingnan University will confer honorary doctorates upon three distinguished individuals, namely Dr Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, BBS, JP; Dr Alice Piera Lam Lee Kiu-yue, GBS, JP and Mr Patrick Lee Wan-keung, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to education and the well-being of the community.

 Dr Jonathan Choi Koon-shum As Chairman of the Sunwah Group and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Dr Choi is widely recognised for his support for education. Dr Choi has devoted a tremendous amount of time to grooming young talents in Hong Kong, his native town Zhongshan, other parts of mainland China and overseas. He has also provided scholarships to the financially less privileged students. Over the years he has donated more than HK$300 million for education and technological development, as well as arts and culture projects in Hong Kong, mainland China and other countries. The Sunwah Education Foundation he led collaborated with Michigan State University and Beijing Normal University to develop a new model for basic education in China that integrates the strengths of both Eastern and Western practices. Dr Choi will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.

Dr Alice Piera Lam Lee Kiu-yue An acclaimed banker who had a successful career at Hang Seng Bank between 1978 and 1996, Dr Lam’s devotion to education in Hong Kong took root at a very early stage. Before joining the banking industry, she had taught at St Stephen’s Girls’ College for nine years. In 1999, she was appointed chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC). During the subsequent eight years of service at the UGC, she spearheaded a number of policies and reviews that are now being implemented, including the Higher Education Review, the IELTS and the 3+3+4 academic reform. Dr Lam will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.

 Mr Patrick Lee Wan-keung Mr Lee, Chairman of the Board of the Lee & Man Group of Companies, is also a recognised education philanthropist. A native of Hainan province, he is honorary principal of the Qionghai Jiaji Secondary School and Guoxing Secondary School in Hainan. His generous donations to schools in Beijing, Hainan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Hunan provinces, as well as other worthy causes, totalled more than HK$100 million. His devotion to charity has been succeeded by his children. For example, his third son Mr Lee Man-bun donated HK$27 million to support Lingnan University’s development in liberal arts education in 2011. Mr Lee will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Business Administration honoris causa.

The honorary doctorates will be conferred at the 41st Congregation of Lingnan University on Monday, 31 October 2011.