Lingnan University to Confer Four Honorary Fellowships

Lingnan University will confer four honorary fellowships, recognising the outstanding professional achievements and valuable contributions to the community and the education sector of the distinguished recipients, Mr Chan Chun-ying, BBS, JP; The Hon Ip Kwok-him, GBM, GBS, JP; Mr Lam Tin-fuk, GBS, JP; and Mr Ng Leung-sing, SBS, JP, whose biographies follow:

Mr Chan Chun-ying, BBS, JP

Mr Chan Chun-ying's ancestral roots are in Xinhui, Guangdong. After completing primary and secondary school, he went on studying and earned his Chartered Secretary qualification and a Master of Business Administration from Northeast Louisiana University (later renamed the University of Louisiana at Monroe) in the US. He is a long-serving Fellow of the Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute.

After graduating, Mr Chan started work in the accounting department of the China Travel Service (CTS), conducting internal audits for its overseas branches. This was the beginning of his career with Hong Kong-based Chinese enterprises. Over the years, he received successive promotions, eventually rising to the position of Deputy General Manager of the CTS Overseas Department. In 1992, Mr Chan joined the Nanyang Commercial Bank, and was appointed as Deputy General Manager of the Bank in 2008. From 2011 to 2016, Mr Chan served as Board Secretary and Company Secretary to BOCHK Holdings Limited and the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, and is currently an advisor to the latter.

Mr Chan has consistently sought to improve his expertise through continuous learning and practice. He has completed executive management programmes at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Columbia, Washington, Illinois, and Tsinghua. The year 2016 marked a turning point in his professional life, when he was elected a Legislative Council Member representing the Commercial functional constituency, and entered public office.

The Legislative Council was a decisive step in his commitment to giving back to society, and a major personal challenge. Guided by his absolute determination to serve citizens, Hong Kong, and the nation, Mr Chan overcame many obstacles and earned the trust of his fellow Council members. At the end of 2022, he was re-elected a member of the Seventh Legislative Council and, subsequently, Chairman of the Finance Committee, injecting and sustaining momentum into Hong Kong's journey "from stability to prosperity".

Mr Chan's personal integrity and professional experience align seamlessly with the deliberative spirit of the Legislative Council, making him a role model among leaders in Hong Kong society.

The Hon Ip Kwok-him, GBM, GBS, JP

The Honourable Ip Kwok-him was born and grew up in Hong Kong, although his family was originally from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Mr Ip attended Hon Wah College in Hong Kong, and later graduated from South China Normal University. He then returned to Hon Wah College, where he taught for almost 20 years. Mr Ip entered politics in the 1980s, and engaged in community service with colleagues in the Central and Western District. In 1991, he was elected as a Central and Western District Councillor, embarking on an eventful decades-long career in District Council service.

In 1992, Mr Ip co-founded the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (later renamed the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, acronym DAB) to foster regional stability and development. He served as DAB vice-chairman from 1998 to 2009, establishing himself as a key figure in politics in the HKSAR.

Mr Ip was first elected to the Legislative Council in 1995, representing the Election Committee constituency in the final colonial legislature. During his legislative tenure, he was a member of the main public bodies, including the Urban Renewal Authority, and became known for his work organising and uniting the pro-establishment camp.

Mr Ip has served as an HKSAR Deputy to the National People's Congress for four consecutive terms (10th–13th), underscoring his central role not only in local governance but also as a bridge between the HKSAR and the central government. In 2016, he was appointed a non-official member of the Executive Council, where his extensive legislative experience and command of public affairs were valuable assets in policy discussions and in advising the government.

Besides his valuable service in the political arena, Mr Ip has demonstrated outstanding dedication to education, where he has played an important part in multiple levels of the sector including as Chairman of the Hon Wah Education Organisation, and School Superintendent of H.K.T.A. Shun Yeung Primary School. Mr Ip's contributions have been recognised with numerous prestigious awards, and in addition to being made a Justice of the Peace (JP), he received the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) in 2004 and the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) in 2017, the highest honours conferred by the HKSAR.

Mr Lam Tin-fuk, GBS, JP

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Mr Lam Tin-fuk completed his early education here before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Computing Science from Imperial College, London. He began his life in public service as an Administrative Officer in the Hong Kong Government, and in 1986 he joined the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), embarking on a remarkable 28-year journey. Rising through the ranks to become Executive Director in 2004, he led an international team dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong businesses.

In 2014, Mr Lam demonstrated his remarkable capacity for reinvention by making a direct transition to the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK). With the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) facing saturation, Mr Lam championed the Three-Runway System to secure Hong Kong SAR's future as an international aviation hub. He also introduced the transformative Airport City concept, which was given a new identity in January 2025 as SKYTOPIA, a brand designed to attract investment and talent. Recognising the importance of expertise, he also resolved to establish the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy in order to nurture the professionals who keep the skies safe and the economy vibrant.

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, Mr Lam's leadership stood out. He motivated the airport community, ensuring resilience while actively preparing for recovery. His initiative in giving away 500,000 air tickets free created worldwide goodwill and kept Hong Kong on the global tourism map. In June 2024, he was appointed Chairman of the AAHK.

Mr Lam was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) by the HKSAR Government in recognition of his contribution to the development of the HKIA and aviation industry. Beyond these honours, Mr Lam is much admired for his integrity and for his core belief that great infrastructure must serve the community. His principles of being steadfast and responsible in every task are reflected in his dedication to the highest standards of safety, security, and environmental sustainability. This enthusiasm for responsible, value-creating modernisation resonates deeply with Lingnan University's liberal arts values and the University's commitment to serving society.

Mr Ng Leung-sing, SBS, JP

Mr Ng Leung-sing joined the Bank of China, Hong Kong Branch in 1967 and has spent 58 years in the financial sector, where he has dedicated his career to China through his financial and public service, and become a role model. His great expertise spans commercial banking, corporate strategy, and operational management, and has played a key role in the modernisation, consolidation, and presence of Chinese banks in Hong Kong. Mr Ng has been a director of the BOCHK Charitable Foundation since 1994 and, since 2009, Chairman of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Trustees Limited, demonstrating his talents and commitment as a leading figure in the banking industry.

Mr Ng's legislative service has been vital. Before and after Hong Kong's return to China, he served four terms as a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress and four terms as a member of the Legislative Council. For over 20 years, he advised both the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, particularly on economic and financial policy. He chaired the Legislative Council's Finance Committee, overseeing government budget allocations for major infrastructure projects and fostering economic growth, but his diverse services have also included the Community Chest, the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, and the Banking Advisory Committee. A passionate sportsman, Mr Ng was a torchbearer in the Hong Kong region for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Mr Ng has devoted his long career to education and served as a member of the Council and Court of Lingnan University, contributing significantly to the University's evolution with strategic foresight and a deep commitment to nurturing future generations, providing invaluable guidance during key phases of the University's development, and helping to steer its financial stability and academic growth. During his tenure as a director of the BOCHK Charitable Foundation, he promoted social welfare by advising on initiatives to fund education, healthcare, and community welfare. The Hong Kong SAR Government has made Mr Ng a Justice of the Peace and given him the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in recognition of his contributions.

The four honorary fellowships that will be conferred by Lingnan University

Lingnan University congratulates Hong Kong SAR astronaut Lai Ka-ying who has been chosen for the nation’s next space mission, where she will probably operate the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO), a space-based research instrument led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Prof Li Jia, Director of the Lingnan University Shenzhen Research Institute (LUSZRI), and Associate Professor (Presidential Early Career Scholar) of the Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies (WJYSIS) at Lingnan University, together with her research team, contributed key data from a carbon emissions source database for the project, which will be used to compare greenhouse gas data including carbon dioxide and methane emission sources observed by MUSICO, helping researchers identify emission intensity and distribution patterns of power and industrial facilities across different regions more accurately, thereby providing robust scientific support for China’s carbon-peaking and carbon-neutrality goals.

Prof Li said that currently many satellite monitoring systems worldwide focus mainly on greenhouse gas emissions at the regional level, and identifying carbon emissions from a single large stationary emission source from space remains challenging as relying on the high-sensitivity MUSICO instrument also depends greatly on long-term, ground-based carbon emissions data for comparison.

Prof Li Jia (right), Prof Su Hui (middle), and Dr Wang Fan (left) at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.

Prof Li said “Our database covers more than half of China’s carbon dioxide emission sources, and records emission volumes from different regions and industrial facilities. It is resolved down to the level of total emissions per square kilometre, with precise geographic coordinates, and functions much like a map and a navigation system, helping MUSICO identify the specific locations, intensities, and operational patterns of emission sources in space. This enables the instrument to observe the large-scale distribution of greenhouse gas concentrations, and also to analyse emissions from individual factories or facilities with greater precision, thereby increasing the accuracy and scientific value of space-based observation data.”

Prof Li continued “As an international financial centre, the Hong Kong SAR is well positioned to use Lingnan’s empirical data to advance the development of the green economy. In future, the database may be applied to carbon emissions verification, emissions reduction assessment, and urban low-carbon management, providing scientific support for low-carbon transformation in the Greater Bay Area and across China.”

For several years now, Prof Li Jia’s team has carried out extensive research on industrial carbon emissions in China, and participated in core national carbon neutrality projects, compiling inventories covering major high-emission industries, such as power generation, cement, steel, chemicals and electrolytic aluminium.

Over the past 20 years, Prof Li’s team has carried out continuous research on carbon emissions from the power and industrial sectors in China and Southeast Asian countries. The team has participated in and led carbon capture and storage planning projects in six Asian countries, and developed emissions inventories covering China’s major high-emission industries, including power generation, cement, steel, chemicals, and electrolytic aluminium. This is consistent with the analysis of individual emission sources such as ground-based power plants and oilfields, and helps verify whether observed measurements reflect normal fluctuations or abnormal emissions.

Between 2022 and 2025, Prof Li’s team collaborated with Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning (CAEP) under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and took part in a first-batch key research project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, which expanded the database to cover additional major emission sectors.

From left: Hong Kong SAR astronaut Lai Ka-ying, Prof Li Jia.

Prof Li Jia said that the opportunity to participate in space monitoring-related scientific research collaboration on behalf of Lingnan University was made possible by WJYSIS’ continued encouragement of cross-disciplinary integration, fostering collaborative research in environmental science, data analytics, and artificial intelligence; also, while the Chinese Mainland has taken a leading position in large-scale carbon capture and emissions reduction technologies, the Hong Kong SAR has many advantages in international academic networks and well-established research collaboration platforms, which promote scientific exchange, research related to sustainable development, and collaboration between China and the international community.

Council members of Lingnan University visit the Lingnan University Shenzhen Research Institute (LUSZRI).

Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, said that in recent years, Lingnan University has actively promoted its Liberal Arts + Technology development strategy, encouraging faculty and students to conduct interdisciplinary research that addresses real-world issues. Lingnan researchers’ involvement in national space and carbon monitoring projects shows the University’s strong foundation in inter-university and interdisciplinary collaboration, and highlights its academic contributions to public development in environmental science, data analytics, and low-carbon research.

The MUSICO research project is co-led by Prof Su Hui, Chair Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Global STEM Professor at HKUST, and Prof Zhang Limin, Chair Professor and Head of the same department. Prof Zhai Chengxing, Associate Professor of the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas is the mission system engineer, and other team members are Senior Scientific Officer Dr Rong Pingping, Assistant Professor Zhang Jize, and Associate Professor Wang Zhe from HKUST’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Professor Ning Zhi, Associate Professors Shi Xiaoming, and Gu Dasa from the Division of Environment and Sustainability; Associate Professor Ma Xiaojuan from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering; Professor Zhu Pengyu from the Division of Public Policy; Professor Gao Meng from Hong Kong Baptist University; and Associate Professor Li Jia from Lingnan University.