City University of Hong Kong (CityU) conferred honorary doctorates on four distinguished persons in recognition of their significant contributions to education and the well-being of society.

Professor Alain Aspect, Mr Hu Shao Ming Herman, SBS, JP, and Professor Cédric Villani received the awards at a ceremony held on 26 November, while Dr the Honourable Lee Shau-kee, GBM, was conferred his award earlier.

The Honourable Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, University Chancellor, presided over the ceremony, which was attended by Dr Chung Shui-ming, University Pro-Chancellor; Mr Lester Garson Huang, Council Chairman; Mr Vincent Chow Wing-shing, Deputy Council Chairman, and Professor Way Kuo, President.

“Each of our honorary award recipients this year has had a profound impact on society, inspiring others through their work and giving back to the world that nurtured them by helping to nurture young talent,” said Professor Kuo in his speech. “They hold true to what I have come to refer to as ‘soulware’, the much needed complement to the hardware and software found in universities today. Each possesses the right mix of dedication, hard work and imagination that constitute soulware.”

Addressing the congregation on behalf of the honorary graduates, Dr Herman Hu said he felt honoured to be ranked among such a distinguished group of world-renowned personages and to receive an honorary doctorate awarded by CityU.

He said he has witnessed how CityU transformed itself from a budding local university not widely recognised to a leading global university that is making a huge difference through excellence in its problem-based research and professional education. “I am delighted to see how [CityU’s] brand image is now strongly associated with discovery, innovation, originality and creativity, both locally and further afield,” he added.