Lingnanians bid farewell to Council Chairman Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan

In a warm and cosy banquet held in the evening of 6 October, Lingnanians bid farewell to Council Chairman Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, and paid tribute to his 15 years of dedicated and distinguished contributions to the University.

The occasion was attended by former and current presidents, current and past Council and Court members, honorary fellows and graduates, alumni, faculty and administrative staff, and other friends of Lingnan.

Mr Chan will complete his six years of service as Council Chairman on 21 October. He became a Lingnanian in 1999 when he joined the Lingnan community as a Council and Court member, then as treasurer, Deputy Council Chairman and finally as Council Chairman since 2008.

In his remarks, Prof Leonard K Cheng, President of Lingnan University, said Mr Chan is a true role model of the liberally educated and he has contributed 15 years of his prime time to Lingnan. “Under Bernard’s leadership, Lingnan has made momentous progress in advancing itself to be one of the best liberal arts universities in the region. Lingnan is fortunate to have Bernard as its top guide in pursuing its educational endeavour,” said Prof Cheng.

Complimenting Mr Chan’s contributions to Lingnan, Mr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen, Lingnan’s Council Chairman designate, said “when I look at all major achievements of the University, whether it’s full residence for undergraduate students, overseas exchange studies, internship or fundraising, I see his fingerprints all over them. What it’s telling me is Bernard has stuck a very personal interest in the welfare of Lingnan University”.

In his vote of thanks, Mr Chan shared many of his fond and interesting memories as Chairman over the past six years. He thanked past presidents Prof Edward Chen Kwan-yiu and Prof Chan Yuk-shee as well as current president Prof Leonard K Cheng whom he had worked closely with. He also expressed his gratitude for the support of Council and Court members, faculty and administrative staff, colleagues of the Council secretariat and other friends of Lingnan. “These fifteen years are certainly not to be forgotten for a long, long time to come. I’ve got to be around and I will continue to support Lingnan,” said Mr Chan.

As a token of appreciation, a poem composed by Prof Charles Kwong and written in Chinese calligraphy by Miss Lynn Li Yingni, a Lingnan alumna, was presented to Mr Chan. The poem honours the vision and devotion of Mr Chan in serving the society, and how his thoughts echo with the spirit of liberal arts.