Lingnan University Confers Honorary Fellowships on Five Distinguished Individuals

Lingnan University held its Honorary Fellowship Presentation Ceremony today, 8 October. The Hon Andrew Yao Cho-fai, Council Chairman of Lingnan University, conferred honorary fellowships on five distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding professional achievements and valuable contributions to the community and to education.

This year’s five honorary fellows are Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay, JP; Ms Guo Jingjing; Mr Ma Fung-kwok, GBS, JP; Mr Irons Sze, GBS, JP; and Mr Yeung Fan (Yeung Chun-fan), BBS.

Lingnan University confers honorary fellowships. From left: Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University; The Hon Andrew Yao Cho-fai, Chairman of the Council; Honorary fellows Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay; Mr Yeung Fan (Yeung Chun-fan); Mr Ma Fung-kwok; Mr Irons Sze; Ms Guo Jingjing; The Hon Augustine Wong Ho-ming, Deputy Chairman of the Council; Ms Carrie Leung Ka-lai, Treasurer of the Council. Photo source: LU

In his address on behalf of the honorary fellows, Mr Irons Sze expressed the most heartfelt gratitude, and said “This year’s recipients of the fellowship are exemplary leaders across diverse sectors of society, each having served the community and inspired younger generations with professional excellence and selfless dedication over many years. Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay has wholeheartedly supported the development of the University for many years, contributing immensely to its steady progress. Ms Guo Jingjing, a star athlete, has devoted herself to public welfare and youth development, guiding the new generation with positive energy. Mr Ma Fung-kwok has been directly engaged in cultural heritage and public service for decades, actively promoting cultural and educational exchanges between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong and thereby advancing Hong Kong’s cultural affairs and youth development. Mr Yeung Fan, a business titan, has long supported education and talent development. They have all given back to society in their own ways.”

Mr Irons Sze added “Lingnan University is an institution with nearly 140 years of educational heritage that is deeply rooted in both Guangdong and Hong Kong.  Today, with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and digital technology, and alongside changing social and international landscapes, the spirit of Lingnan—characterised by inclusiveness, perseverance, and innovation—provides students with the qualities they will need to navigate contemporary trends and thereby secure their futures. As our nation advocates high-quality development, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), leveraging its unique geographical advantages, serves as a hub connecting the Chinese Mainland with the world. Furthermore, the Greater Bay Area represents a broad stage for young people’s development. I hope our students will make full use of the cross-cultural learning resources offered here, and align their personal talents with the real needs of society, uphold the University motto “Education for Service”, and align their aspirations closely with national development.”

Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay, Photo source: LU

1.Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay

Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay is a distinguished leader in Hong Kong's financial sector, a philanthropist, and a longstanding champion of public service, education and youth development. She was the Managing Director of BlackRock (North Asia) and is currently Vice Chairman of CrossGate Advisors, and she is widely respected in investment and corporate governance.

Since 2011, Ms Cheung has applied her expertise to community services, serving on the Securities and Futures Commission, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Lingnan University, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, and various government fund investment committees. She has helped to ensure that Hong Kong's institutions are fair, clean, and credible, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the HKSAR Government in 2026, in recognition of her outstanding contributions.

For over 13 years, since 2012, Ms Cheung has been involved in university governance, serving as Treasurer, Council Member, and Court Member. As Treasurer, she used her investment banking and asset management experience, to steer the University's investment portfolio, laying a stable, diversified, and sustainable financial foundation. She also took part in the selection of the President and Vice-Presidents during a pivotal phase of the University's development, helping to assemble a leadership team that would drive transformation and innovation.

Ms Cheung is a passionate champion of youth development, particularly for women. From 2021 to 2023, she served as President of the Golden Bauhinia Women Entrepreneur Association, setting up a Youth Committee and refining the scholarship programme to provide comprehensive support for female students. This has grown into an indispensable platform for young women. Her dedication to holistic growth, community care, and social service resonates strongly with the liberal arts ethos of Lingnan University.

Ms Guo Jingjing, Photo source: LU

2.Ms Guo Jingjing

Ms Guo Jingjing, a native of Baoding, Hebei, started diving at the age of seven. By dint of unflagging perseverance, self-discipline, and hard work, she finally reached the pinnacle of world diving, winning 31 world championship titles, four Olympic gold medals and two silver, ten World Championship gold medals, and countless Diving World Cup trophies. She was the heart and soul of China's Dream Team of diving.

After leaving the competitive arena, Ms Guo became involved in sports administration. She qualified as an international referee for World Aquatics, and, as a member of the Diving Technical Committee, she has assisted at top-tier international events such as the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Diving World Cup. She has been a champion of the standardisation, diversification, and long-term development of diving worldwide.

Beyond her athletic and officiating endeavours, Ms Guo has travelled all over the nation to promote public welfare. An Ambassador for the Hong Kong Committee for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), she has campaigned for the physical and mental well-being of young people, and she is Vice President of the Guangzhou Nansha Culture Association, attending youth exchange forums and educational seminars, and using sport as a bridge between the youth of Hong Kong, Macao, and the Chinese Mainland.

Her struggle in pursuit of excellence, her unpretentious and unassuming nature, and her spirit of serving society perfectly match Lingnan University’s philosophy of “Education for Service”. Ms Guo has shown through her philanthropy that the most precious professional achievement lies ultimately in giving back.

Mr Ma Fung-kwok, Photo source: LU

3.Mr Ma Fung-kwok

Mr Ma Fung-kwok has made invaluable contributions to Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries, the advancement of public affairs, cultural exchange between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, and national scientific research. Pre-eminent positions he has held include Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Board Member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, and Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, helping to build Hong Kong into Asia’s creative hub.

Mr Ma has also served as a Legislative Council Member of the HKSAR, and as HKSAR delegate to the National People’s Congress, where he is currently the Head of the HKSAR Delegation. In recognition of Mr Ma’s decades of distinguished service, he was awarded the Silver and Gold Bauhinia Stars by the HKSAR Government in 2004 and 2020 respectively.

As President of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association, Mr Ma has worked hard to unite Hong Kong’s literary and arts community, and to promote cross-boundary cultural exchanges. In 2024, as Chairman of the Organising Committee for the visit of Xuelong 2 to Hong Kong, he effectively planned and oversaw the historic welcome. He also founded the China HK Polar Regions Ocean Innovative Technology Centre and served as its Chairman, building public awareness of national polar scientific research.

Mr Ma encourages Lingnan students to dare to aspire, holding fast to their earliest resolutions to serve society and build a career. He urges them to seize opportunities, broaden their horizons, learn about international trends, and to understand every aspect of the country.

Mr Irons Sze, Photo source: LU

4.Mr Irons Sze

Mr Irons Sze is a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a member of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC and Convenor of its Hong Kong Members, President of the Federation of Hong Kong Beijing Organisations, and Vice-President and Secretary-General of the Friends of Hong Kong Association. He is a distinguished and highly decorated business leader with a deep allegiance to our country and Hong Kong.

In the 1990s, Mr Sze was appointed a member of the All-China Youth Federation, and his public engagement became increasingly connected with the nation’s trajectory. From 2008 to 2013, he served as a member of the Council and an ex-officio member of the Court of Lingnan University. He has provided steadfast support for the University’s expansion, assisted in fundraising, and offered valuable advice for long-term development. Mr Sze is devoted to nurturing the younger generation. In recognition of his substantial contributions to Lingnan University, the University conferred upon him the title of Honorary Court Member in 2014.

Mr Sze went from strength to strength as a business leader. He previously served as President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, and is currently its Permanent Honorary President. He was instrumental in the implementation of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), and has strongly supported the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting greater complementarity and collaboration between the two.

Since 2013, Mr Sze has served three consecutive terms as a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and as President of the HKCPPCC (Provincial) Members Association, assuming important responsibilities in reinforcing exchanges and collaboration between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, and putting his beliefs in personal and national development into concrete action. He was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government in 2025.

Mr Yeung Fan (Yeung Chun-fan), Photo source: LU

5.Mr Yeung Fan (Yeung Chun-fan)

Mr Yeung was born in Huizhou in 1952 and moved to Hong Kong in 1972. In 1974, he and his elder brother, Dr Charles Yeung, founded the Glorious Sun Fashion Garment Manufactory (H.K.) Limited, and the Glorious Sun Group was formally established the following year. Over the next half-century, through a series of strategic transformations, the Group evolved from a small jeans processing operation into a multinational enterprise. The introduction of the Jeanswest brand in the 1990s and shifting from manufacturing to branded retail and chain operations have evolved the Group into a mainstay of Hong Kong’s textile and garment industry.

Mr Yeung is also Vice Chairman of the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, Vice Chairman of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, and Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles. He acts like a chain stitch in a pair of jeans, sewing the textile and garment industries of Hong Kong and the Mainland into a glorious garment. For decades, Mr Yeung has led the Group’s Glorious Sun Charity Foundation, and made donations exceeding HK$3.5 billion to education, poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and medical charities.

Named the “Most Caring Individual Donor” by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China at the biennial China Charity Awards four times in a row, Mr Yeung received the Bronze Bauhinia Star from the HKSAR Government in 2023, and was made a University Fellow by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2025.

Education is the cause closest to Mr Yeung’s heart. A member of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, he has visited more than a hundred institutions nationwide, and delivered over 200 talks, telling his story of patient ambition to inspire the younger generation. Mr Yeung sees education as the foundation of national progress, and young people as the hope of our society. He hopes that the next generation will care about their country and contribute to their community, an aspiration that resonates strongly with Lingnan University’s motto “Education for Service”. 

The Short-legged Horned Toad (Boulenophrys brachykolos), listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, is the only known small frog species in Hong Kong belonging to the genus Boulenophrys of the family Megophryidae. A study led by the Division of Science at Lingnan University has found that the Lantau Island population of the Short-legged Horned Toad shows clear genetic divergence from other local populations, along with several notable differences in the mating calls of males. The research team suggests that the Lantau population represents an early stage of speciation. Geographical isolation of Lantau Island from other landmasses likely contributed to these unique evolutionary traits. The team recommends treating the Lantau population as a separate conservation unit in future.

The Short-legged Horned Toad, an endangered species in Hong Kong, is a small frog measuring around 40 mm in length. It is characterised by short hind limbs, small horn-like projections above the eyes, and skin coloration and patterns that closely resemble dead leaves. (The photo shows the Short-legged Horned Toad population on Lantau Island.)

These findings have been published in international academic journal Current Herpetology.

The Short-legged Horned Toad is distributed across mountain streams on Lantau Island, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and adjacent Shenzhen. The research team, led by Lingnan University, collected 19 samples of the Short-legged Horned Toad (nine from Lantau Island, six from Hong Kong Island, and four from Kowloon) to examine their genetic and morphological characteristics. The results show that the Short-legged Horned Toads on Lantau form a distinct genetic group separate from those on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and Shenzhen. This suggests that the Lantau population has been separated from other populations for a considerable period.

The study shows that Short-legged Horned Toads are visually almost identical, making evolutionary differences difficult to detect through traditional field surveys alone. (The photo shows the Short-legged Horned Toad population on Hong Kong Island.)

In addition, the team recorded and analysed the mating calls of male Short-legged Horned Toads from Lantau Island, Hong Kong Island, and Kowloon. They found significant differences in their calls between Lantau Island and other local populations. The Lantau population produces calls with a faster rhythm and shorter individual notes.

In terms of physical appearance, the team found no marked differences between frogs from Lantau Island and other regions, indicating that physical characteristics alone may be insufficient to distinguish the Lantau population from other populations.

Prof Jonathan Fong, the corresponding author of the study, Associate Dean (Administration and Education) of the Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Associate Professor of the Division of Science at Lingnan University.

Prof Jonathan Fong, the corresponding author of the study, Associate Dean (Administration and Education) of the Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Associate Professor of the Division of Science at Lingnan University, said the study provides a more comprehensive approach to evaluating evolutionary divergence among populations of the same species. He said, “Many amphibians look very similar, making evolutionary differences difficult to detect through traditional methods by examining morphology alone. By integrating genetic and acoustic data, we found that frogs on Lantau Island have distinct genetic make-up and male toads have different mating calls. This suggests that Lantau population is following a distinct evolutionary trajectory.”

Prof Sung Yik-hei, the first author of the study and Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Division of Science at Lingnan University.

Prof Sung Yik-hei, the first author of the study and Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Division of Science at Lingnan University, explained that Lantau Island became geographically isolated from the mainland approximately 10,000 years ago. The geographical isolation likely reduced gene flow between populations, allowing the Lantau Short-legged Horned Toad population to develop unique genetic traits over time. The study also highlights that Hong Kong may harbour undiscovered biodiversity.

Researchers conduct fieldwork in Hong Kong. (Click here to listen: Audio comparison of the calls of the Short-legged Horned Toad population in Lantau Island and the Kowloon population.

Prof Sung said, “The results suggest that the Short-legged Horned Toad population on Lantau Island may represent an early stage of speciation, although current evidence is insufficient to determine whether the Lantau population constitutes a distinct species. The Short-legged Horned Toad is an endangered species, and if the Lantau population declines or become extinct, its unique genetic traits could be lost and irreplaceable by populations from other areas. We therefore propose that conservation management recognise the Lantau population as an independent conservation unit, giving due consideration to its specific conservation needs to ensure the survival of this unique native population.”

Co-authors of the study include Franco Leung Ka-wah, PhD student at James Cook University in Australia, and Mr Henry Chan Man-ho, Senior Project Officer at Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong. The research was supported by funding from the Lantau Conservation Fund.

For the full study, please visit: Intraspecific Diversity of Short-Legged Horned Toad (Boulenophrys brachykolos) in Hong Kong: Identification of a Distinct Conservation Unit on Lantau Island