FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 13, 2010
Hong Kong’s Andrew Li and Victor Fung Honored by the Woodrow Wilson Center for Outstanding Contribution to Society
HONG KONG—The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the United States’ Smithsonian Institution presented the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service to The Honorable Chief Justice Andrew Li and the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship to Dr. Victor Fung Kwok King at a dinner held on Saturday, March 13, 2010, at the Conrad Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong especially to attend this auspicious occasion was Mr. Stapleton Roy, Director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States and former U.S. Ambassador to China.
The dinner, hosted on behalf of the Woodrow Wilson Center by Sir Gordon Wu, was a gala occasion, attended by several eminent guests from both the public and private sectors, including The Honorable Tung Chee Hwa, Mr. Ronnie Chan, Ms. Elsie Leung, Sir T.L. Yang, Mr. David Wong, Dr. Dennis Sun and Mr. Douglas Woo.
Chief Justice Li said, “It is a true honour to receive this most prestigious award. I believe it is a recognition of the commitment and contribution of the Judges in upholding the rule of law and safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. I wish to express my deep gratitude for this recognition and I receive the award with humility.”
Dr. Fung commented, “I am deeply honored to receive the award on behalf of Li & Fung and all our stakeholders. The award is a good reminder of the obligations and responsibilities that companies carry in a world that faces many challenges and threats. Corporate citizenship is a pillar of Li & Fung’s corporate legacy, reflecting our strong belief that we are an agent of change with a duty to contribute positively to the economic and social development of societies and communities where we operate”
The Woodrow Wilson Awards were created in 1999 to recognize individuals in the United States and around the world who have committed their careers in business and public service to the betterment of society. This event marked the first time that these prestigious Awards have been bestowed by the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States.
“Without question, both of these Awardees stand out as giants in their respective fields. Through their remarkable careers and lifelong commitment to service, they have enriched the lives of countless others, and it is a great privilege for the Board of Trustees and the entire Woodrow Wilson Center to recognize them in front of their peers in Hong Kong,” said The Honorable Lee H. Hamilton, president and director of the Woodrow Wilson Center.
The dinner also celebrated the work of the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, which was established in 2008. The Kissinger Institute is dedicated to promoting greater awareness of the U.S.-China relationship and its impact on both countries and the world. It does so by exploring the political, economic, historical, and cultural factors that underlie the respective behavior patterns and world views of China and the United States. Learn more at www.wilsoncenter.org/kicus.
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is the national, living memorial honoring President Woodrow Wilson. In providing an essential link between the worlds of ideas and public policy, the Center addresses current and emerging challenges confronting the United States and the world. The Center promotes policy-relevant research and dialogue to increase understanding and enhance the capabilities and knowledge of leaders, citizens, and institutions worldwide. Created by an Act of Congress in 1968, the Center is a non-partisan institution headquartered in Washington, D.C. and
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supported by both public and private funds.
The Honorable Joseph B. Gildenhorn is Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland (1983-1993). The Honorable Lee H. Hamilton, President and Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center, served as a member of Congress for 34 years and completed service as vice chairman of the independent 9/11 Commission. He also recently served as co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group with former Secretary of State James Baker.
The Honorable Chief Justice Andrew Li received the Award for Public Service in recognition of his distinguished service in the Hong Kong judicial system. As Hong Kong’s first Chief Justice after the 1997 handover, Chief Justice Li has made a signal contribution in ensuring that judicial independence as guaranteed by the Basic Law is firmly established in Hong Kong. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong and in building up its reputation. He has also been responsible for various strategic developments to the justice system in Hong Kong, such as civil justice reform, the use of technology in court rooms, and the use of Chinese in legal proceedings. Throughout his career, Chief Justice Li has also exhibited a strong commitment to education. He is an Honorary Fellow of Fitzwilliam College Cambridge, and founder and trustee of the Friends of Tsinghua University Law School Charitable Trust. He holds Honorary Degrees awarded by a number of universities in Hong Kong and overseas. In 2008, Chief Justice Li was honored with the Grand Bauhinia Medal, the Hong Kong government's highest civilian honor.
Dr. Victor Fung Kwok King received the Award for Corporate Citizenship for his distinguished business career and his strong commitment to the wellbeing and economic prosperity of Hong Kong and its citizens. As a businessman, Fung built Li and Fung Group into one of Hong Kong's pre-eminent business consortiums and today, as the Group’s Chairman, oversees companies across forty countries with an annual turnover exceeding US$16 billion. He also established the Li and Fung Research Center, which serves as a knowledge bank and clearinghouse for information on China's industries. In addition to his success in business, Fung has been a dedicated philanthropist, with particular interest in promoting the value of education and disaster relief. He has contributed greatly to educational programs by establishing the Victor and William Fung Foundation, which provides university scholarships in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and USA, and supports the vital work of research institutions. There are over 1,000 recipients of such scholarships. He was the Chairman of the Council of The University of Hong Kong from 2001 to 2009. Through another foundation, the Li & Fung (1906) Foundation, Fung also supported disaster relief actions in areas of natural disasters, such as, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sichuan (China) and lately Haiti. Fung is the current Chairman of International Chamber of Commerce, its first Chinese Chairman.
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Cammy Cheng Sharon McCarter Lee Wolter Co. Ltd. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Phone: (852) 2807-1272 Phone: (202) 691-4016 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
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