Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1999

Kong Girl Guides Association, the vice-president o f the Scout Association of Hong Kong, the first vice-president and honorary treasurer of the Lion Club of Bayview Hong Kong, and a member of the Board o f Management o f Chinese Permanent Cemeteries. Mr. Chow has been presented wit h many awards, among them the Silver Carp Award of the Girl Guides and the Golden Dragon Award of the Scouts. A Justice of the Peace, Mr. Chow was a Hong Kong District Affairs Adviser and, in recognition o f his significant contribution to the community, was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Mr. Chow also actively promotes trade and commerce and supports education for young people in mainland China. I n Shunde, the place his family hails from, he founded schools, preserved ancient monuments, introduced ecological measures, and developed tourism as practical ways to bring prosperity to the people of his native place. Mr. Chow's devotion to his homeland and country is well acknowledged, and he now holds honorary citizenships of the cities of Guangzhou, Shunde, Foshan, and Changle. Furthermore, he is also a delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference o f Shunde. Mr. Chow is an enthusiastic supporter of higher education in Guangdong and beyond. In his typically practical and low-key manner, he chose to be an anonymous donor of the Award for Students/Teachers Sponsored by a Hong Kong Citizen at Fudan University in Shanghai. He holds the view that while human pursuits are finite, a nation's capacit y for development is infinite and that to nurture and educate the young is fundamental to the future of China. With his broad vision and perspective, Mr. Chow has made invaluable contributions to Fudan University in his capacity as honorary professor and university council member. Blessed with a generous mind and a pleasant character, Mr. Chow is known for his warmth as a person. Despite the resources at his command he is not extravagant i n his life style, and he has friends all over the world. He is a major collector of antiques and enjoys travelling with his friends. An accomplished photographer, he has published several very substantial collections o f photographs taken during his travels abroad. These include Chow Kwen Lim's Travels in Europe: A Photo Album a n d Chow Kwen L i m ' s Travels in Pictures. Both publications are full of vivid and varied colours, as Mr. Chow captures cities large and small, and moods rustic and romantic, wit h his camera, and records them for posterity. Mr. Chow has led a perfect life not only because of his considerable wealth but, more importantly, because of a happy marriage of over 50 years. Mr. and Mr s Chow have four children who are all putting their fine education to good use. A cultured man, Mr . Vincent Chow, his eldest son, Justice o f the Peace, was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. In addition to being the general manager of Chow Sang Sang Holdings, Mr. Vincent Chow is the chairman o f the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, i n which he plays a pivotal role in the development of the arts in Hong Kong. Apart from his many commitments to community service, Mr. Chow Kwen-lim is also a supporter of higher education in Hong Kong over the years. He is a voting member of the University of Hong Kong Foundation of Educational Development and Research and a member o f the Board of Trustees of New Asia College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. During his term he made substantial contributions to the construction of a student hostel, to the foundation of scholarships which enabled mainland students o f quality to pursue higher studies at The Chinese University, and for the development of language training facilities at New Asia College. In recognition of his outstanding achievements in the realm of business, and his exemplary acts of benevolence, Mr. Chancellor, i t is with great pleasure that I present Chow Kwen-lim for the award of the degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa. • The 54th Congregation 51