Donor's Biography
Dr William Mong Man Wai, founder of the Shun Hing Group and a distinguished entrepreneur, was born in 1927 in Hong Kong. After completing his primary and secondary education in Hong Kong, Dr Mong pursued university studies in Beijing and Shanghai. In 1949, at the age of 22, Dr Mong went to Japan and studied Japanese at a primary school. He finished six years of primary education in just six months and was then able to speak fluent Japanese.
The tradition of consumer business activities was deeply etched in the Mong family. Dr Mong's father, Mr Mong Kwok Ping, had been a successful entrepreneur and had established close relationship with major Japanese consumer product companies since the 1950s.
In 1953, Dr Mong founded Shun Hing Hong which started out as the sole agent in Hong Kong and Macau for National products manufactured by Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited in Japan. Under the leadership of Dr Mong, Shun Hing grew from strength to strength. From Shun Hing Hong to Shun Hing Group, the company has evolved from a company of just three people to a very successful enterprise with over 1,800 employees and numerous subsidiaries. Over the past years of continuous innovation, Shun Hing has expanded into diversified markets in Hong Kong and mainland China. Today, its scope of business covers audio-visual products, home appliances, telecommunication systems, office furniture and business equipment, engineering, contracting and electrical appliance servicing, logistics, advertising production as well as property investment and management.
His distinguished contribution towards the economy earned him the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure awarded by Emperor Hirohito of Japan in 1988. Numerous honours followed including Honorary Doctorates of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, the Open University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Sheffield and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Consultant Professorship and Honorary Doctorate from Tsinghua University, Consultant Professorships from Peking University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Honorary Professorship from Zhejiang University, the Gold Cup Award from the Comite de France in 1994, and the title of Honorary Fellowship of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University, England in 1996. In recognition of his remarkable contribution to the economy and promotion of science, technology and education, the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academia Sinica named Asteroid 3678 the Mong Man Wai Star in 1996. In May of 1999, Dr Mong received the Nanjing Honorary Citizen Certificate, in appreciation of Dr Mong's efforts.
Dr Mong was actively involved in various community services in Hong Kong and mainland China. In recognition of his significant contribution to charity and community service, he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government in 2006. His list of public services included serving as a member of One Country Two Systems Research Institute, the Electronic Committee of the Board of the Industry Department, the Consultative Committee for the Basic Law and the Board of Directors of the Community Chest of Hong Kong. Dr Mong also served as Honorary Patron of the Officers' Club of the Correctional Services Department and Honorary Chairman of the Hong Kong Electrical Appliances Manufacturers Association.
In 1995, Dr Mong demonstrated his deep commitment to the further development of the People's Republic of China by accepting two prestigious appointments: the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference 7th Sichuan Province Committee, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference 2nd Guangdong Province Shenzhen Committee.
As a staunch supporter of education development, Dr Mong was the Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Nanjing University, a Consultant of the Tsinghua University Education Foundation and a Director of the Centre for Advanced Study Foundation of Tsinghua University, Honorary Member of the Education Fund of Peking University, Honorary Member of The Board of Trustees of Shanghai Jiao Tong Universityand a Member of the Board of Directors of Jinan University in Guangdong. He was also an Honorary Member of the Court of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Hong Kong Baptist University, as well as Member of La Salle Foundation Limited. In these capacities, Dr Mong made remarkable contribution towards academic and research development as well as education and training.
Dr Mong established the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund in 1984. Over the years, the Fund has donated more than HK$500 million for the promotion of education, healthcare, sports development and environmental protection in Hong Kong and China. The Fund has been particularly active in enhancing education development, setting up research centres, scholarships, research grants in both local and mainland tertiary institutions, and helping them to upgrade their campus facilities.
An active and energetic man, Dr Mong counted fishing, swimming, golf and tennis among his hobbies. He spoke a variety of dialects and languages including Cantonese, Mandarin, Shanghainese, English and Japanese.