A memorial service for Dr Henry HU Hung-lick, Founding President of Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU), was held on 30 August 2025 in the Lady Lily Shaw Hall. The event brought together several hundred attendees, including members of the University’s senior management, faculty staff, students, alumni, and members of the public.
Among the speakers were Dr HU’s two sons and alumni from different generations who shared their memories of the University’s co-founder.
Mr Eric CHAN Kwok-ki, HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration and an alumnus of the Department of Sociology, attended the service with his wife, who was also his fellow classmate during their time at Shue Yan. Mr CHAN paid tribute to Dr HU’s lifelong dedication to education, embodying the Chinese saying, “It takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred years to nurture people.”
“He devoted more than half a century to Shue Yan, cultivating generations of young people into the pillars of society,” Mr CHAN said. “His unwavering belief in the mission of education gave life to Shue Yan. Today, our graduates can be found across every sector, shining in their own fields. The most precious legacy that Dr HU and Dr CHUNG have left to Hong Kong is not only a university, but a spirit of perseverance, and an educator’s devotion to shaping lives through education.”
Provost Professor HU Yao-su reflected on the founding ideals of his parents, Dr HU and Dr CHUNG. “They both recognized that Hong Kong’s schools lacked education in ideals, character and morality. Therefore, their purpose in founding Shue Yan was to uphold and implement character education and moral education.” He affirmed that, regardless of future circumstances, these principles would continue to guide the University.
Acting President Dr HU Fai-chung praised his father’s lifelong commitment to education and reminded the audience of the meaning behind the University’s motto, “Cultivating virtues of benevolence; broadening horizon and knowledge”. “It is not only our motto, but also a heartfelt hope from our co-founders for students to embrace the essence of Confucian thought, to act with integrity, to remain steadfast in character, and to contribute responsibly to their profession, their community and their country.”
The Acting President also announced that the Board of Governors has approved plans to expand the Braemar Hill campus, to be named “HU Hung-lick and CHUNG Chi-yung Campus”, in honour of the Founding President and the Founding Principal.
Further tributes were given by Dr Francis CHEUNG, Vice Chairman of HKSYU Board of Governors; alumna Ms Sophia YIP Sau-yin, Associate Vice President (Student Affairs); alumnus Mr MA Kai-yan, sports commentator; alumnus Mr WONG Wai-kit, film director and recipient of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director; alumnus Mr Isaac YU, counselling psychologist; and Dr Richard HO Man-wui, Honorary Professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, who had first met Dr HU in the 1960s.
