Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU) will confer the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa on Dr. Jacqueline Pullinger and the degree of Doctor of Business Administration honoris causa on Dr. Shih Wing-ching at the 50th Graduation Ceremony and Honorary Doctorate Presentation Ceremony on 29 November 2024. The honorary doctorates are bestowed in recognition of their significant contributions and profound impact on Hong Kong society.

For her selfless dedication to the underprivileged throughout her life and her compassion for people in need, Dr. Pullinger has been referred to as “Hong Kong's Mother Teresa” by the local media. In 1966, Dr. Pullinger, at the age of 22, embarked on a solo mission to Hong Kong from the UK. Recommended by a fellow missionary, she began preaching in the chaotic Kowloon Walled City, despite having to turn down a well-paid job.

During her more than 20 years of service in the Kowloon Walled City, Dr. Pullinger has helped scores of marginalised members of society to start a new life. 

In 1981, Dr. Pullinger founded the St. Stephen's Society, a nonprofit organisation that serves the grassroots and provides a wide range of rehabilitation and family services throughout Hong Kong, and has since expanded its services to Southeast Asia. In 1997, St. Stephen's Society was granted a site at A Kung Kok, Sha Tin by the city government to establish ‘Shing Mun Springs’ which provides residential drug treatment and rehabilitation services to the present day.

Mr Shih co-founded Centaline Property in 1978 with his classmates. The group's business now spans hundreds of cities across the country and employs nearly 40,000 people, making it one of the largest real-estate agencies in the industry. Mr Shih is known for his unique business style. From years ago, he has adopted the ‘3-3-3 rule’ within the group, which allows employees, shareholders and the company to share profits equally. Centaline Property was also a pioneer in providing consumers with valuable market information via the internet and online maps, even before the internet became widely used, which significantly improved market transparency.

In 2005, Mr Shih founded Hong Kong's third free daily newspaper, am730. In his column C Viewpoint, he shares his business wisdom, management philosophy, and unique insights into market trends in layman's terms, regularly giving readers food for thought.

Mr Shih is also known for his benevolence. In 2008, he transferred all of his shares in Centaline Property, Centaline China and another company, with a market value of several billion Hong Kong dollars, to his charity fund, the Shih Wing Ching Foundation. In 2010, he further donated most of his shares in am730 to the foundation. The Shih Wing Ching Foundation is dedicated to supporting the development of rural China and providing aid to underprivileged families and disadvantaged groups in Hong Kong. It funds more than 100 projects each year. Despite his business commitments, Mr Shih remains committed to social causes and has served on numerous public organisations over the years, including the Commission on Strategic Development, the Task Force on Economic Challenges, the Consumer Council and the Hospital Governing Committee. He is a role model for community leaders.