Western to confer Hong Kong honorary degree to Ng

By Communications Staff
March 23, 2011

Wilfred Ng, a prominent Hong Kong community leader and philanthropist, will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LLD), as The University of Western Ontario celebrates its annual Hong Kong Convocation this May.

Director of Fidelity Garment Manufactory Limited in Kowloon, Hong Kong since 1985, Ng is a Western alumnus (BA’85) and former Londoner, having attended A.B. Lucas Secondary School.

Passionate about youth and education, Ng is a founding member and Chairman of the Kowloon West Youth Care Committee.  He also supported the establishment of the Youth Development Research Centre in Beijing, a think tank focused on youth policy and affairs.

Ng generously supported the 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Event Hong Kong Fund and in 2009, the East Asian Games. Also in 2008, he provided $3 million HKD in support to help victims of the devastating Sichuan earthquake and the catastrophic snowstorm in China. Currently, he is involved in a fundraising campaign to provide medical support and AIDS education to villages in China.

The Hong Kong government has bestowed several honours on Ng for his many contributions and achievements including the Order of the Medal of Honour in recognition of his exceptional community service (2004); appointment as a Justice of the Peace (2007); and the distinguished Silver Bauhinia Star (2010). 

Ng recently created an endowed student scholarship at Western in the name of his late brother Harvey (BESc’86) who died of cancer in 2009 at the age of 47. The Harvey Ng International Continuing Student Scholarship will be awarded to a student who is a permanent resident of Hong Kong but may have completed secondary school elsewhere. The first recipient will be chosen this fall.

Amit Chakma, Western's President and Vice-Chancellor, says about Ng's achievements: "Wilfred is a proud graduate of our university and a highly respected member of the Hong Kong business community who has made an enormous impact through his involvement in numerous philanthropic and public service activities. His support of various health and youth development initiatives is renowned, and his commitment to enhancing the quality of life for his fellow citizens exemplifies the kind of exceptional leadership Western is very pleased to honour."

Western’s annual Hong Kong convocation is scheduled for Sunday, May 22.