Chung, Sze Yuen, 1917-2018

Sir Chung Sze Yuen (1917-2018), nicknamed the ‘Great Sir’, was an engineer, an entrepreneur and a politician. Born in Hong Kong, he received his secondary education at King's College and later at St. Paul College. In 1936, Sir Sze Yuen went to study at St. John’s University in Shanghai. As Shanghai was invaded by Japan in 1937, he returned to Hong Kong and continued his study at the University of Hong Kong. In 1941, he graduated with First Class Honours in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering.

After graduation, Sir Sze Yuen was employed as an assistant engineer of the Kowloon Whampoa Shipyard. During the Japanese invasion in 1941, he joined the Auxiliary Transport Services to assist with the defence effort. After that, he spent a few years in Jiangxi Province. In 1946, he returned to Hong Kong and worked as Chief Engineer at the World Light Manufactory (光宇製造廠). Later, he went to Sheffield University to continue his study. He earned his doctorate degree in engineering in 1950 and stayed as a research scholar.

In 1951, Sir Sze Yuen moved back to Hong Kong with his family and re-joined the World Light Manufactory. In 1953, he started his own engineering consultancy business and assisted in the establishment of the V K Song Limited (宋氏公司). Later, V K Song Limited was acquired by the American Eveready Company. The company was renamed Sonca Industries Limited (崇佳實業有限公司) and led by Sir Sze Yuen.

Sir Sze Yuen began his public services in the 1950s. He was appointed to the working committee for the establishment of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries in 1958. In 1965, he was appointed as a member of the Legislative Council and became its Senior Unofficial Member from 1974 to 1978. In 1972, he was appointed to the Executive Council and became its Senior Member from 1980 to 1988. Sir Sze Yuen was devoted to the development of higher education. He played an instrumental role in establishing three institutions: the Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1972, the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong in 1984, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 1991.

Sir Sze Yuen played an active part in the transition from British and Chinese sovereignty. In 1992, he was appointed as a Hong Kong Affairs Advisor. He also joined the Preliminary Working Committee of the Preparatory Committee in 1993 and the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in 1996. In 1997, he was the Convener of the first Executive Council of the HKSAR.

Sir Sze Yuen was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1989, the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) in 1997, and numerous honours and awards.

References:
Chung, Sze Yuen. Hong Kong’s journey to reunification: memoirs of Sze-yuen Chung. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 2001.
Office of Institutional Advancement, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “Sir Sze-yuen Chung Endowed Professorship in Precision Engineering” https://www.polyu.edu.hk/giving/development-priorities/research-and-innovation/endowed-professorship-scheme/meet-the-top-minds/sir-sze-yuen-chung-endowed-professorship-in-precision-engineering/ Accessed 11 December 2025.
永遠懷念鍾士元爵士 = In loving memory of Sir Sze Yuen Chung, GBM, GBE, JP. [2018]. 1 volume (Pages 1-15). Series 9, Chung Sze Yuen papers, CUHK Library Archival Collections, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library.