The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Mr Ian Francis Cluny Macpherson, CBE, OBE, OStJ – Secretary-General of the University’s Planning Committee in its incipient stage, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Administration and Business following its establishment – on 14 April 2016 in Hong Kong.
Mourning the passing of Mr Macpherson, HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan said, “Mr Macpherson was a devoted contributor to HKUST in its embryonic stage, a strong pillar in the early days of our University’s development, and for sure, will always be a forever friend of HKUST. Without the culmination of his unfailing efforts with other key founding members of the University, HKUST will not possess what we have achieved today. The University and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Mr Macpherson’s family.”
An Oxford University graduate and a veteran civil servant, Mr Macpherson began his career in Hong Kong in 1962 as an Administrative Officer. In 1986, responding to the growing needs for Hong Kong having a university that focuses on science and technology, the then Governor Sir Edward Youde appointed Mr Macpherson, then Secretary for Transport, as Secretary-General of the Planning Committee for HKUST – the Committee set up to work out in details the establishment of HKUST under the chairmanship of Sir Sze-yuen Chung, who later became the first Chairman of the University Council.
Mr Macpherson played a key role in bringing in the founding President of HKUST. Representing the Planning Committee, Mr Macpherson went to San Francisco to meet Prof Chia-Wei Woo, then President of San Francisco State University and a theoretical physicist of repute, and to see if he would be interested in joining the Planning Committee. Prof Woo became the first Vice-Chancellor and President of HKUST in November 1987.
In 1988, the work of the Planning Committee was completed and the newly formed University Council appointed Mr Macpherson as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Administration and Business and he was in office until 1995. He was also a member of the University Council in that period of time.
For media enquiries, please contact:
