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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) held its 24th Honorary Fellowship Presentation Ceremony on 1 June. Four distinguished individuals, listed in alphabetical order by family name, were appointed honorary fellows in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their fields and significant contributions to the University and the wider community:

Mrs Joy Lo Cheung currently serves as Chairwoman of the Lo Kwee Seong Foundation’s Donations Committee. As a third-generation steward of the Lo Kwee Seong family’s legacy, she combines her grandfather’s entrepreneurial acumen and philanthropic generosity. In 2019, Ms Lo joined the Lo Kwee Seong Foundation’s Donations Committee alongside three other members of the family’s third generation. Together, they guided the Foundation into a new chapter of more structured, strategic and impact-led philanthropy. Under Ms Lo’s stewardship, the Foundation’s work spans six interrelated commitments: art and museums; education; training and future careers; entrepreneurship; scientific research; and underserved communities. Through the Lo Kwee-Seong Biomedical Research Fund, CUHK’s Centre for Soybean Research at the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology has evolved from a localised study into a national leading hub for soybean genomic research, contributing to the Chinese Mainland’s soybean self-sufficiency. In addition, through the Foundation’s funding of the Lo Kwee-Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building, researchers have achieved pioneering advances in cancer diagnostics, immune-oncology and regenerative medicine. In 2025, the Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion at the Art Museum, which now serves as a centre for scholarship and training, was honoured with the Hong Kong Institute of Architects’ Medal of the Year. Ms Lo is widely recognised for her stewardship of the Lo Kwee Seong Foundation, modernisation of a Hong Kong family foundation into a leading practitioner of entrepreneurial giving, deepening of the Foundation’s partnership with the University across the sciences and the arts, and service to the wider community.

Mr Lau Kwok-fan, an alumnus of CUHK, holds professional qualifications as an urban planner and a chartered surveyor. He was elected as a North District Council member for three consecutive terms in 2007, 2011 and 2015. During his tenure, he actively addressed various livelihood issues, including land resumption and rehousing for new development areas, the restructuring of bus routes in the North District, and arrangements for cross-boundary students. These efforts and their tangible results earned him broad public support and trust, and earned his reputation as the “King of Votes” twice. Mr Lau later chose to run for the Legislative Council. He was first elected through the District Council (First) functional constituency in 2016 and was re-elected through the New Territories North geographical constituency in 2021. He was the first to publish the Proposal for Building Hong Kong’s New Centre in New Territories North to champion comprehensive planning and an economy centred on boundary control points, both of which were adopted by the Government, creating a new development engine for Hong Kong. He later advocated large-scale land disposal, the introduction of dedicated legislation, the Northern Metropolis University Town and other initiatives. Many of his recommendations were later adopted in the Policy Address. He champions the spirit of “new speed, new mindset and new policies” and put forward an “industry-led” model to facilitate land development. Within the Legislative Council, Mr Lau served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of the Northern Metropolis. He currently serves as a member of the Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis, where he offers advice on the planning, industries, and infrastructure to the development of the Northern Metropolis. Mr Lau is also attentive to the development of Hong Kong’s construction industry. He has boldly advocated reform and has put forward proposals to urge the Government to amend regulations, streamline procedures, accelerate land supply, and reduce construction time and costs. Mr Lau served as a member of the University Council from 2016 to 2025. During his tenure, he helped implement the Council’s reorganisation, strengthening the University’s public accountability and supporting further development of its teaching and research. Mr Lau was awarded the Medal of Honour in 2014 and was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the Government in 2021 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of the North District and the community.

Professor Benjamin Wah Wan-sang is currently an Emeritus Professor of CUHK’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Chairman of the InnoHK Steering Committee. He went on to Columbia University, where he studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and on to the University of California, Berkeley, for his doctorate. In 2009, Professor Wah took up the appointment as inaugural Provost of CUHK and Wei Lun Professor of Computer Science and Engineering. Professor Wah deepened the University’s global partnerships, expanded postgraduate training, championed interdisciplinary research, and established the University Planning Office to give CUHK an evidence base for strategic decisions. He chaired the Research Grants Council’s Engineering Panel from 2006 to 2009, and the Council itself from 2013 to 2020. He was appointed Justice of the Peace by the HKSAR Government in 2018, awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star in 2021, and has chaired the InnoHK Steering Committee since 2025. Professor Wah’s research focuses on nonlinear programming, multimedia signal processing, artificial intelligence and distributed systems. Elected to the fellowship of all three of the world’s principal computing and scientific academies, Professor Wah is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), where he has been a Life Fellow since 2017, of the Association for Computing Machinery, and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is also a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences and the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association. His distinctions encompass the IEEE Computer Society’s Technical Achievement, W. Wallace McDowell and Tsutomu Kanai Awards, the IEEE Third Millennium Medal, and UC Berkeley’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

Mr Benjamin Yu is currently Senior Counsel and Visiting Professor (Honorary) at CUHK’s Faculty of Law. Mr Yu studied law at the University of Hong Kong, graduating in 1978 with first class honours. In 1980, he was awarded a master’s degree in law by the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London. Mr Yu took silk in 1995, at 38. He has built a wide-ranging practice as one of Hong Kong’s most respected Senior Counsel, with a notable career spanning commercial litigation, public and administrative law, trusts and probate. He served as counsel in the Garley Building Fire Inquiry, the Inquiry into the Opening of the New Airport and the Inquiry on Allegations relating to The Hong Kong Institute of Education. He served as Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance in 2002 and as Recorder of the Court of First Instance from 2003 to 2012, sitting on civil cases of considerable variety and complexity. In 2004, he was appointed Chairman of the Standing Committee on Company Law Reform. The Committee contributed materially to the most significant rewrite of Hong Kong’s company law in a generation. The HKSAR Government appointed him Justice of the Peace in 2005, and in 2009 conferred on him the Silver Bauhinia Star. Mr Yu’s commitment to the next generation of the profession has found its institutional home at this University. Since his appointment as Visiting Professor (Honorary) at the Faculty of Law in 2021, he has contributed to the academic and institutional life of CUHK with the same seriousness he has brought to a long and distinguished practice.