On 15^th April 2016, “The 9th Inauguration of Endowed Professorships” was held at Loke Yew Hall on the University of Hong Kong. Dr. Bryan Lin Xiaohui, the Chairman of Realord Group Holdings Limited (HKEx stock code: 1196), also the founder of  “Bryan Lin Professorship in Paediatric Cardiology”, attended to this ceremony to witness Professor Cheung Yiu-Fai and other nine scholars appointed as Endowed Professors.

Realord Group Chairman Dr. Bryan Lin (right), Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Hong Kong Professor Peter William Mathieson (middle), and  Professor Cheung Yiu-Fai (right)

The "Endowed Professorships Inauguration" was presided over by Dr. Sir David Li Kwok-po, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong and Professor Peter William Mathieson, Vice-Chancellor and President of University of Hong Kong. Madam Su Jiaohua, the Chief Executive Officer of Realord Group Holdings Limited also pariticpated to this ceremony. A total of seven additional endowed professors and one visiting professor, including Sophie Y M Chan Professorship in Cancer Research, Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professorship in Gastroenterology, Kintoy Professorship in Mathematics Education, Bryan Lin Professorship in Paediatric Cardiology, Lo Shiu Kwan Kan Po Ling Professorship in Pharmacy, Clara and Lawrence Fok Professorship in Precision Medicine, Chan To-Haan Professorship in Urban Planning and Design, and Hung Leung Hau Ling Distinguished Visiting Professorship in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

On Jan 2015, Dr. Bryan Lin donated HK$ 10 million to the Department of Children and Youth Science, University of Hong Kong, establishing a “Bryan Lin Professorship in Paediatric Cardiology” to support a pediatric cardiologist specialist Professor Cheung Yiu-Fai and his research team to promote researches and development related to children’s Paediatric Cardiology in order to nurture more outstanding elites.

“Endowed Professorships” is one of the highest professorship honors given to the distinguished scholars awarded by the University of Hong Kong. Given that the generous contributions were donated by the community leaders, HKU allocated them to establish permanent funds and permanent named professorships, in support to the scholars to lead the way on specific academic fields and to have long-lasting and outstanding contributions in society. “Endowed Professorships” has been advocated and established by the former Vice-chancellor and President of University of Hong Kong since 2005. To date, HKU has established 88 “Endowed Professorships”. The faculties there which have been benefited from “Endowed Professorships” included faculty of Medicine, Engineering, Economics and Business Administration, Architecture, Dentistry, Education, Humanities, Social Science and so on. Six Endowed Professors and four Successive Endowed Professors were appointed in this year’s inauguration ceremony.

Each Endowed Professorship is established with a generous donation of HK$10 million or more which is matched by the University with an equal amount.  The interest generated from the $20 million endowment is used to support the respective area of academic excellence.  An Advisory Committee ensures the appointments are made in accordance with established university procedures.  The Committee members include Dr Raymond K F Ch'ien (Chairman), Professor Kai-Ming Cheng, Dr York Liao, Professor Felice Lieh-Mak and Ms Mary Ma.