Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) will award honorary fellowships to three distinguished persons in recognition of their remarkable contributions to society and to the development of the University. The recipients are Ms Chan Man-chong, Dr John Leung Lai-yin and Father John Wotherspoon. The Honorary University Fellowship Presentation Ceremony will be held on 14 November.

Brief profiles of the three recipients are as follows (in alphabetical order of surname):

Ms Chan Man-chong

Ms Chan Man-chong is a highly respected pipa artist, Chinese music educator and conductor, who has dedicated her life to training and educating others in Chinese instrumental music. Over the years, Ms Chan has performed in various parts of the world as a concertmaster, conductor and soloist. In 1977, her superb artistry in a solo performance on behalf of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in the United Kingdom garnered praise from local reviewers, who commented that it was “as if she had 14 fingers”.

A passionate advocate of Chinese culture, Ms Chan has devoted herself to promoting Chinese cultural legacies through music education. She served in the Government Music Office from 1979 to 2004, overseeing Chinese instrumental music and orchestral training. After retiring, she took on the role of Director and Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Plucked String Chinese Orchestra (HKPSCO). In February this year, the HKPSCO honoured Ms Chan with the “Embracing the Plucked Strings Legacy” concert in recognition of her over six decades of commitment to promoting Chinese plucked string music. Additionally, she received the “Arts Contribution Award” at the 2025 Bauhinia Arts Awards Cultural Ceremony.

Ms Chan is an alumna of HKMU, having earned a distance-learning Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Humanities in 2001. She has contributed significantly to her alma mater through active involvement in cultural and musical activities and as a member of the HKMU Foundation.

Dr John Leung Lai-yin

Dr John Leung Lai-yin, a senior practitioner in radiology, has made tremendous contributions to the development of parasports. After working in several local hospitals, he founded Swindon Medical Company in 2018, where he serves as Consultant Radiologist and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Dr Leung is best known for his commitment to supporting athletes with disabilities. Over the past decade, he has served as the team doctor for the Hong Kong, China Delegation in various major parasports events, including the 2017 Asian Youth Para Games and the 2018 Asian Para Games. In 2024, he was appointed Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the Paris Paralympic Games, which won a record eight medals. Dr Leung also holds significant leadership roles, including Chairman of the Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China, and Vice President of the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee.

Dr Leung has effectively utilised his professional knowledge to serve the community in various capacities. He was a member of the HKSAR 6th Election Committee representing the medical and health services sector, a member of the 11th Committee of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and a Deputy Director of the second Healthcare Committee under the Council for the Promotion of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation. At HKMU, he has assisted in the development of the Master of Adaptive Sports programme for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Father John Wotherspoon

Father John Wotherspoon, a Catholic priest from Australia, has been in Hong Kong since 1985, except for seven years he spent in Chinese Mainland as an English teacher.

In 2017 Father John helped establish two NGOs: MercyHK and Voice for Prisoners. MercyHK operates several centres dedicated to caring for vulnerable people, especially the homeless and drug addicts. Voice for Prisoners works to stop drug trafficking into and inside Hong Kong and helps prison inmates undertake correspondence study courses.

Father John's prison ministry has seen him dedicate his holiday time over the past decade to travelling to the home countries of drug mules to combat drug trafficking into Hong Kong.

In 2017 Fr John received the People's Choice Award in “The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards”, run by the South China Morning Post.

Since 2009 Fr John has been based in Temple Street, Jordan, serving one of the neediest parts of Hong Kong.