City University of Hong Kong (CityU) will confer honorary doctoral degrees on Mr Harry S Banga, Mr Norman Chan Tak-lam, GBS, and Mr Wong Chun-hong, BBS, in recognition of their significant contributions to education and the well-being of society.
Mr Harry S Banga, Chairman and CEO of The Caravel Group Limited, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration. A successful entrepreneur and businessman, Mr Banga is an Indian rooted in Hong Kong with a global vision. The Caravel Group, which he founded in 2013, is a diversified global conglomerate focused on the provision of maritime services, the trading of dry bulk raw materials for the steel and power generation industries, investment management activities, and strategic asset ownership which includes extending its supply chain through the ownership of dry bulk and container vessels. The Caravel Group is also a leading private equity investor in the consumer and technology sectors.
Mr Banga’s distinctive achievements in industry and his deep involvement in philanthropy have brought him many honours and awards. In 2011, the then-President of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil, conferred the prestigious Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award on Mr Banga. In 2019, the Economic Times of India named him the “Most Influential Business Leader of Asia”. He was conferred an Honorary Fellow by CityU in 2018.
A staunch supporter of CityU, Mr Banga is a Member of the Court and the Steering Committee of the “United, We Soar” campaign, and an Honorary Vice-President of the CityU Foundation.
Mr Norman Chan Tak-lam, former Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), will receive an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration. With his long and distinguished service for the Hong Kong government and the community, Mr Chan had made exemplary effort in maintaining the stability of Hong Kong’s banking and financial systems and enhancing Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre.
He joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong Government in 1976. When the HKMA was founded in 1993, Mr Chan was appointed Executive Director and served as Deputy Chief Executive between 1996 and 2005. From July 2007 to July 2009, Mr Chan was Director of the Chief Executive’s Office and during his tenure as the Chief Executive of HKMA from 2009 to 2019, he steered a number of major financial policies and initiatives, including the development of Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure and Hong Kong as the global hub for offshore RMB businesses.
He was the Founding Chairman of the policy think tank Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre, which was established in 2006. In 2012, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government for his distinguished public service.
Mr Wong Chun-hong, Chairman of Top Spring International Holdings Limited, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Social Science. Mr Wong, a visionary and resolute business leader, has accomplished a great deal in real estate, finance and retail across Hong Kong and mainland China. He has been actively involved in public and community services, particularly in education and services for the underprivileged.
Mr Wong was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2016 for his significant contributions to society. In addition, he was bestowed an Honorary Fellowship by CityU in 2018. In the same year, he was made an Honorary Citizen of Guangzhou by the Guangzhou Municipal Government.
Mr Wong has provided staunch support for CityU’s development. He is a Member of the Court, a member of the Board of Governors as well as Honorary Patron of the CityU Foundation. In recognition of his generous donations to CityU, Wong Cheung Lo Hui Yuet Hall on campus was named after his parents in 2013.
