At HKUST, where scientific discovery meets deep humanistic inquiry, five distinguished leaders were recently welcomed into the University family at the Honorary Fellowship Conferment Ceremony. This honor recognizes their outstanding achievements across finance, sustainable development, intelligent manufacturing, Chinese art, and music, as well as their enduring contributions to society and longstanding support for the University.
The new Fellows are Ms. Bonnie Yiting CHAN, Mr. Rembert LAI Siu-Kin, Mr. PAN Yi, Prof. WU Hung, and Dr. YU Long.
Presenting the Fellowships, Prof. Harry SHUM, Council Chairman of HKUST, praised the recipients for both their distinguished achievements and their deep engagement with HKUST.
“Beyond their professional accomplishments, they have made invaluable contributions to HKUST as trusted advisors, steadfast partners, alumni leaders, and dear friends, helping to advance the University’s development and broaden its impact. Their diverse experiences, distinguished accomplishments, and unwavering commitment to excellence exemplify the values we hold dear as a community,” Prof. Shum said.
HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP also extended her congratulations and appreciation.
“We honor five extraordinary individuals whose achievements embody HKUST's ideals of excellence, innovation, and social responsibility. Their contributions have benefited Hong Kong, our nation, and communities around the world,” she said.
With ambitious plans on the horizon, including the Northern Metropolis and a new medical school, President Ip also reaffirmed HKUST’s commitment to people-centered progress, cultural enrichment and lasting societal impact.
Prof. Harry Shum, Council Chairman of HKUST, conferred Honorary Fellowships on five distinguished individuals.
Prof. Nancy Ip, President of HKUST, delivered welcoming address for the ceremony.
Five Leaders, One Shared Vision
Though their careers have taken very different paths, the five Honorary Fellows are united by a common conviction: true leadership is measured not only by personal achievement, but by the positive and lasting impact one creates for society.
As Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Ms. Bonnie Yiting CHAN leads one of the world’s most important financial market institutions. A lawyer and capital markets expert, she has championed initiatives that strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a global financial center, support innovation-driven enterprises and promote greater board diversity. She also serves on the HKUST Business School Advisory Council, helping nurture the next generation of business leaders.
Renowned architect and Partner and Director of Lu Tang Lai Architects Limited, Mr. Rembert LAI Siu-Kin has shaped urban landscapes across Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and Southeast Asia. Known for human-centered and sustainable design, he has also contributed significantly to HKUST through his service as a former Council Member and Chair of the Campus Development Committee, where he supported major projects including HKUST (Guangzhou).
As Co-founder of Shenzhen Inovance Technology, Mr. PAN Yi helped build the company into a global leader in intelligent manufacturing and motion-control technologies. Beyond advancing industrial innovation and sustainable transportation, he actively supports entrepreneurship in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence through Value Capital. A dedicated philanthropist and alumnus, Mr. Pan strengthened the HKUST alumni network during his tenure as Chair of the HKUST EMBA Alumni Association (2023–2025).
Moving to the arts, Prof. WU Hung, Harrie A. Vanderstappen Distinguished Service Professor of Art History at the University of Chicago, is one of the world’s foremost scholars of Chinese art history. Through his pioneering research, influential publications, and landmark exhibitions, he has helped shape global understanding of Chinese visual culture. His academic achievements have earned international acclaim, and his work continues to foster cross-cultural dialogue, including his engagement with HKUST through lectures and public discussions.
In the performing arts, Dr. YU Long has served as a bridge between cultures as an internationally acclaimed conductor. As Founder of the Beijing Music Festival, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, he has brought Chinese orchestras to international prominence while championing young talent and artistic excellence.
A Dialogue Across Art, Music and Ideas
The ceremony was followed by a special forum organized by HKUST’s Division of Humanities. Bringing together two newly conferred Fellows, Prof. Wu Hung and Maestro Yu Long, the dialogue evolved into a captivating exploration, creativity, interpretation and the enduring relevance of the humanities in a rapidly changing age.
Exploring the relationship between original works and reinterpretation, Prof. Wu drew on the famous Song dynasty copy of the painting The Night Revels of Han Xizai to explain that faithful transmission is never simply a matter of replication. Every era naturally infuses its own experiences, aesthetics and cultural context into creative works. In Chinese artistic tradition, reinterpretation is not a departure from authenticity but part of a living continuation that allows art to transcend time.
Maestro Yu offered a parallel perspective from music. While great performers must respect and remain faithful to the composer’s score, each interpretation also reveals the performer’s personality, emotions and artistic sensibilities. He likened Mozart’s music to a mirror—deceptively simple, yet among the most challenging works for artists. It reflects the exact character and inner world of the person performing it.
Humanity in the Age of AI
When the discussion turned to generative AI, both speakers offered insightful perspectives that balanced technological curiosity with humanistic grounding.
Maestro Yu emphasized that the essence of live performance lies in its organic “uncertainty.” The magic of a concert lies in those fleeting moments when inspiration, emotion and even imperfection come together. Such human spontaneity, he argued, cannot be fully replicated by recorded performances or artificial intelligence.
Prof. Wu provided a reassuring historical lens. The emergence of photography in the 1830s sparked fears that it would spell the death of painting. Instead, photography evolved into an art form in its own right while opening doors to entirely new forms of visual expression. New technologies like AI, he suggested, could follow a similar path to reshape and create new creative avenues.
Wisdom for a New Generation
Speaking to HKUST students navigating both academic pressures and the digital age, both Fellows returned to the importance of cultivating humanity.
Maestro Yu encouraged young people to develop personal interests beyond academic achievement. “The most important thing is to cultivate your own character and passion—to live genuinely as a human being rather than a machine,” he said.
Prof. Wu challenged the notion that art is merely a leisure activity. Visual and spatial thinking, he noted, nurtures a cross-field “sensitivity” in modern engineering, AI, and urban design. Drawing inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci, he reminded students that science, technology, and art are most powerful when integrated.
From recognizing five exceptional leaders to exploring profound questions on AI and human values, the Honorary Fellowship Conferment Ceremony and subsequent dialogue vividly showcased HKUST’s interdisciplinary ethos. It served as a powerful reminder that some of the most transformative ideas emerge when boundaries dissolve, disciplines intersect, and diverse perspectives come together in meaningful dialogue.
