Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1995

reaffirming thereby the old adage that life starts at 40. For Mr. Woo, when he stood astride two of the most successful companies in Hong Kong, it certainly did. Today, he is also amember of the International Advisory Boards of the French oil conglomerate ELF, Britain's National Westminster Bank, and America's General Electric. What is most impressive about Mr. Wo is not the list of companies he controls, although that is impressive enough by any standards, but his grasp of modem business culture and modern business strategy. To engage him in aconversation about where business is going in the 21st century is to receive acondensed lecture on capitalflows, the creation of value in business, the importance of research and development, the importance of the human element in business and the need for effective analysis. His advice is sought by heads of governments, central bankers and international businessmen. When the powerful Karl Otto P ö hl,then chairman of Germany's Bundesbank, visited Hong Kong, it was to Mr. Woo that he turned for abriefing on China's future prospects. Mr. Woo has some very spectacular ideas about linking Wuhan with Ningbo and about the whole Yangtze River Valley. Where Hong Kong is concerned, he has been and is a persistent investor. He is an ardent proponent of the concept of 'Hong Kong Plus' which he promotes not only in Hong Kong but also at numerous overseas forums. In so doing, he has helped to better the international community's understanding of our city. Mr. Wo is nothing if not original in his thinking and he is anything but traditional in his approach. Like alot of highly successful businessmen around the world, he is extremely thorough in preparing his ground. That is perhaps something he has learned from his father-in-law. The rest is entirely his own — his entrepreneurial flair, his incisive mind and his dedication to excellence. Mr. Woo is fond of saying 1 am a businessman', and he says it with the same passion and conviction as did the young John Kennedy when he uttered in Germany the immortal words 'Ich bin ein Berliner'. From this we might deduce that in Mr. Woo we have a staunch defender of free enterprise and open market. After putting together a powerful and well respected management team over the years, in June 1994 this extremely successful businessman decided to stand down as chairman of the Wharf (Holdings) Ltd. so as to devote more time to his public duties and community service of which there are many. He is chairman of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, a trustee of Columbia University, the chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, an adviser to the Sichuan Provincial People's Government, aHong Kong Affairs Adviser, chairman for Asia of the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum, chairman of the Hospital Governing Committee of the Prince of Wales Hospital and chairman of the Organization Development Committee of the Hospital Authority among other things. The Prince ofWales Hospital, in particular, has been abeneficiary of Mr. Woo's wise counsel and attention. His generosity, and that of his wife BessieWoo, has made it possible for the hospital to establish a cancer centre which will provide treatment for cancer as well as research and education under the same roof, enabling thereby, in Mr. Woo's words, that the very latest skill, knowledge and technology in dealing with cancer will be available to the people of Hong Kong. Such generosity and such kindness deserve our respect and acknowledgment. In 1993, Mr. Woo was awarded the Cross of Officer in the Order of Leopold by the late King Baudouin I of Belgium. Earlier this year, the University of Cincinnati conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. Mr. Chancellor, it is with great pleasure that I present Peter Kwong-Ching Woo, businessman parexcellence, philanthropist e x t r a o r d i n a i r e , avisionary among entrepreneurs and a statesman among the merely wealthy for the award of the degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa. 48th Congregation 9