Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU) will hold its 51st Graduation Ceremony cum Honorary Doctorate Presentation Ceremony on 2 December 2025 (Tuesday). At the ceremony, HKSYU will confer the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa, upon Dr Ko Wing-man, in recognition of his distinguished achievements in public health and healthcare policy, as well as his long-standing dedication to the well-being of the community.
Dr Ko Wing-man has been practising medicine for more than 45 years and has made remarkable contributions to the community. During the 2003 SARS epidemic, he was appointed Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, leading Hong Kong’s frontline efforts in combating the crisis. From July 2012 to June 2017, he served as Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, earning wide public respect and recognition for his distinguished service. After leaving office, he returned to clinical practice. In 2022, Dr Ko was appointed a Non-official Member of the Executive Council of the HKSAR, continuing his steadfast commitment to public service.
Dr Ko has devoted himself wholeheartedly to serving the people of Hong Kong over the years. In recognition of his distinguished public service, he was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star in 2008 and the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2017. In addition to his expertise in Western medicine, Dr Ko has also pursued the study of Chinese medicine with great dedication and has been a strong advocate for the integration of Chinese and Western medical practices. He played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of Hong Kong’s first Chinese medicine hospital, marking a new chapter in the city’s healthcare development.
As an eminent leader in Hong Kong’s public health sector, Dr Ko’s dedication to patients’ well-being, his commitment to advancing professional knowledge, and his contributions to the medical field resonate with HKSYU’s mission to “cultivate virtues of benevolence” and “broaden horizons and knowledge.” In recognition of his extraordinary achievements and contributions, HKSYU will confer upon Dr Ko the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa.
At this year’s Graduation Ceremony, HKSYU will also confer degrees on 956 undergraduate and 129 postgraduate students. Among them, 404 are from the Faculty of Social Sciences, 371 from the Faculty of Arts, and 310 from the Faculty of Commerce. In addition, the University celebrates the graduation of the first cohort of students from Hong Kong’s first International Foundation Year Programme (IFYP), launched last year. Of the 15 graduates, 13 have progressed to HKSYU’s undergraduate programmes, including the Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours), Bachelor of Science with Honours in Applied Data Science, Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Law and Business, and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics and Finance.
