By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-03-04 14:41:20 | Updated at 2025-03-04 19:00:35
4 hours ago
Woo Chia-wei, who founded the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and was one of the first scholars to put forward the idea of a greater bay area, has died at the age of 87.
The university announced on Tuesday that Woo died on Sunday, expressing its deepest condolences to his family and friends.
“Professor Woo’s visionary leadership and dedication were instrumental in establishing HKUST as a leading research university in Hong Kong and beyond,” the university said in a statement.
Woo, who served as president from 1991 to 2001, made significant contributions to the advancement of technology and education in the city and the region, said the university.
“His foresight in proposing the Hong Kong Bay Area in the 1990s has left a lasting impact on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area,” the statement said, referring to his concept to foster the integration of the Pearl River Delta Region.
The university council’s chairman, professor Harry Shum Heung-Yeung said: “With unwavering dedication, he led the establishment of HKUST, transforming a bold vision into a world-class institution renowned for its pioneering research, innovation, and global impact, especially during a time when Hong Kong was in a critical juncture of transitioning to a knowledge-based economy.”
He added that Woo’s wisdom, humility and dedication to “creating, not replicating” would continue to inspire our community.
