Chung Sze Yuen papers 鍾士元書信文件

Fonds

Identifier: HK CVU 0077/PER/ChungSY

Staff Only

Chiefly consists of correspondence written or received by Chung Sze Yuen. Also includes Chung Sze Yuen's draft speeches, photographs, certificates, documents related to the handover of Hong Kong, and publications collected by Chung Sze Yuen, etc.

Dates

1940-2002, 2009-2018, undated

Creator

Chung, Sze Yuen, 1917-2018 (Creator, Person)

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Access to materials is restricted by legal requirements, written agreements with the donor(s) and policies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library. Users are required to sign an application form to use the collection. Records containing personal data which might constitute intrusion of privacy are not available for access.

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Extent

4.50 linear Feet

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

Sir Chung Sze Yuen (1917-2018), commonly addressed as ‘Sir S.Y.’ in English and as ‘大Sir’ in Chinese (‘Great Sir’) – the latter for being knighted twice, was an engineer, industrialist, and statesman. 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 tertiary 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. In 1988, he accepted the role of chairman of the Provisional Hospital Authority, as an independent body to take over the management of the entire public hospital system from the civil service and the Hospital Authority itself till 1995.

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.