In Memory

Thank you Professor Wong, Mrs. Wong and distinguished guests. Really it is my distinct honor to join you this morning to celebrate Professor Wong's contributions to mathematics and to education for the last six decades. And of course I thank him for his enormous contributions to the University of Hong Kong. And really it is due to individuals like Professor Wong himself, Hong Kong now offers first class opportunities to tertiary education. Thank you.

As I read that from the records, Professor Wong was one of the central figures in the establishment of the Department of Mathematics at this University. He served as a Head of the Department from 1948 (before I was born) to 1973, and helped to establish the reputation of excellence that we enjoy today. But he did not limit himself to that role alone. He also served as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 1950 (the year I was born) to 1953, and as Pro-Vice-Chancellor from 1963 (when I entered the secondary school) to 1966. My math is not that good. I thought I was doing very well in math until the exams did not do me justice. Anyway of course Professor Wong even played a most significant role. I would say he also helped to establish my own alma mater, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. So it is like individuals like Professor Wong himself who has helped to put Hong Kong on the world map in terms of education. He and his colleagues laid the foundation on which we continue to enjoy today.

Therefore, on behalf of the University of Hong Kong, it gives me enormous pleasure to congratulate Professor Wong on his 90th birthday, and to thank him, most profusely, for his invaluable contributions to the University, to the Department, to the discipline of mathematics and also most of all to the committee as a whole. Thank you very much Professor Wong.