Dr. Edgar W. K. Cheng Succeeds
Dr. Lee Hon Chiu has played an active role in the development of CUHK since he became Council Chairman in 1997. He has worked closely with the Vice-Chancellor to implement management efficiency reviews and improve resources and financial management of the University with great accomplishments which were commended by the University Grants Committee. CUHK also enhanced its quality assurance schemes for educational and research programmes and created mechanism for supporting technology transfer and development. In recent years, CUHK's academic programmes (e.g. MBA and EMBA) have been ranked top in the Asia Pacific region and received wide acclaims. During the last six years, CUHK has responded well to the human resources needs of the Hong Kong society and has established a number of professional schools and research institutes. CUHK implemented campus-wide training in information technology and web-based learning. Under the able leadership of Dr. Lee Hon Chiu and the Vice-Chancellor, CUHK has achieved excellent results in recruitment of outstanding academics, enrolment of high quality students both from within and outside Hong Kong, and in obtaining UGC grants for education and research. During Dr. Lee's term of chairmanship, CUHK has completed several academic buildings and a state-of-the-art Concert Hall. It has also collaborated with a developer to build a Teaching Hotel and raised substantial donations for the University. Dr. Lee Hon Chiu led CUHK to review its governance and management structure, explore the viability and feasibility of institutional integration and search for the next Vice-Chancellor of the University. CUHK is most grateful to Dr. Lee Hon Chiu for his remarkable contribution and magnanimous support. Dr. Lee has always concerned himself with the well being and development of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and after his retirement, he will continue to be associated closely with CUHK as a Life Member of the Council. Dr. Edgar W. K. Cheng is an eminent leader in the business and financial sector as well as a very outstanding oncologist. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and the Medical College of Wisconsin in USA. A Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the Cornell University Medical College, Dr. Cheng also practised medicine and conducted teaching and research in the world-renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He has much experience in and a deep appreciation of the various university functions. Formerly Chairman of the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong and a member of the Education Commission, Dr. Cheng was responsible for mapping out the plan for and tendering advice to the Government on higher education development in Hong Kong. He also made important contributions towards formulating the policies for advancement of higher education and allocation of resources. Not only is Dr. Cheng familiar with higher education in Hong Kong, he can also see things from the perspective of a professor, researcher, management and policy decision-maker. He will contribute greatly to CUHK's development in the new era. Dr. Cheng returned to Hong Kong from USA in the eighties to undertake family business and public service. He then became the Chairman and Managing Director of The World-Wide Investment Co. Ltd. and was director on the boards of several public and private corporations. He was Vice-Chairman and non-executive director of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd., Chairman of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, Vice President of the International Federation of Stock Exchange, Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities Institute, Chairman of the Steering Committee on the Feasibility Study on the Financial Services Institute, Member of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Futures Exchange Ltd. as well as Member of the Conference Board's Global Advisory Council. Currently he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Institute for Monetary Research. Dr. Cheng's excellent social and business connections will greatly benefit CUHK's development. Since the late 1980's, Dr. Cheng has been very active in public service in Hong Kong. From February 1999 to December 2001, he served as the Head of the Central Policy Unit of the Hong Kong SAR. He is Vice-Chairman of the Council for Sustainable Development as well as Chairman and member of several other public service committees. As member of the CUHK's Council, Dr. Cheng has contributed generously his valuable time and advice. He was acting Chairman and member of the Task Force to Advise on Institutional Integration of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr. Cheng is a very capable leader, who has excellent connections and very good reputation in Hong Kong, mainland China and internationally. Dr. Cheng is capable of leading CUHK to grow from strength to strength. Dr. Edgar
W. K. Cheng |