Naming of Joseph Lee Hall
The multi-purpose theatre 3505 at the Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic Building at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has been named “Joseph Lee Hall” in appreciation of the support and generous donations to the University made by Dr Joseph Lee Chung-tak, President of Wofoo Social Enterprises and Chairman of Wofoo Plastics and Chemicals Group.
The naming ceremony on 26 September was officiated by The Honorable Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Chief Secretary for Administration, Hong Kong SAR Government; Dr and Mrs Lee; Mr Herman Hu Shao-ming, Council Chairman of CityU; Professor Way Kuo, President of CityU; and Professor Matthew Lee Kwok-on, Vice-President (Development and External Relations).
The ceremony was also attended by Professor Alex Jen Kwan-yue, Provost of CityU; Professor Horace Ip Ho-shing, Vice-President (Student Affairs); Ms Kathy Chan Yin-ling, Associate Vice-President (Development and Alumni Relations); family members and friends of Dr Lee; and the staff and students of CityU.
Dr Lee is a prominent industrialist and social entrepreneur with extensive experience in public service. He is currently Vice-Chairperson of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund Task Force under the Commission of Poverty, and Chairman of the Joint Committee for the Promotion of The Basic Law of Hong Kong. He has also acted as a Deputy to the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China for three consecutive terms and chaired various government bodies in the past.
Dr Lee was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2013 for his significant contributions to charitable activities and social enterprises.
A staunch supporter of CityU, Dr Lee has a close relationship with the University. He served as a member of the CityU Council for six years and the Chairman of the Community Relations Committee (CRC) of the Council in the past. He is an Honorary Doctor of Social Science and Honorary Fellow of CityU.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr Hu expressed his gratitude to Dr Lee for his support for CityU. He praised Dr Lee for his dedication to building connections between the University and the community during his service as a Council member and Chairman of CRC, and for his contributions to public service and social advancement.
In his address, Mr Cheung said CityU was a creative institution that was highly attuned to globalisation and had kept pace with the development of society. According to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds rankings, CityU ranks 49th among universities worldwide and 4th in the world’s top 50 universities under 50 years of age, an achievement that made Hong Kong proud and that was due to the combined efforts of the CityU community and all its stakeholders.
Mr Cheung said Dr Lee was a successful industrialist and social entrepreneur dedicated to social affairs and contributing to the education sector.
Dr Lee expressed his heartfelt thanks to Mr Cheung, his family members and friends, and CityU’s representatives for their attendance and support. He applauded CityU’s motto “Officium et Civitas” (敬業(yè)樂群) for its focus on moral education and serving the community, which were the reasons he supported CityU, he said.
Citing his motto “Harmony brings a family prosperity, cohesion makes a nation wealthy”, Dr Lee encouraged the audience to foster a more harmonious and affluent society.
In his vote of thanks, Professor Kuo thanked Dr Lee for his staunch support and generous donation to CityU. He said that he attributed CityU’s outstanding performance in international rankings to the contributions made by the CityU Council, faculty members, staff, and alumni. Everyone could continue to enable students to be enriched in knowledge and wisdom, he added.
“Joseph Lee Hall”, located on the 3rd floor of the Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic Building, can accommodate around 320 people. As the largest theatre in the Academic Building, it provides an ideal venue for teaching, general performance, seminars, international conferences and ceremonies.
