The Lam family presents a cheque to Prof. Alex Wai

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has received a generous donation of US$500,000 (approximately HK$3.9 million) from the family of Mr. Timothy Lam See Yiu, the youngest son of its Founding President, Dr. Lam Chi Fung, OBE, to establish the “Dr. Lam Chi Fung Strategic Development Fund” in support of the University’s strategic development. The Lam family also donated an invaluable genealogy book to HKBU to perpetuate the legacy of Dr. Lam.

To acknowledge the donors’ enthusiastic support, HKBU held a genealogy donation cum cheque presentation ceremony at the University Library on 18 December 2024. Mrs. Ellen Lam, the spouse of the late Mr. Timothy Lam See Yiu and their sons, Mr. Timothy Lam and Mr. Marcus Lam, along with Professor Alex Wai, JP, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, signed the donation agreement and participated in the presentation ceremony for the genealogy book The Lam Family Tree Book. The book documents the family members and remarkable deeds of the Lam family. It will be kept as a precious collection in the University Library. Other HKBU representatives in attendance included Mrs. Lily Chan, Director of University Advancement and Secretary-General of the HKBU Foundation and Mr. Christopher Chan, University Librarian.

In his speech, Professor Wai conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the Lam family for their substantial support of HKBU, “The third generation of the Lam family upholds the virtues of Dr. Lam Chi Fung’s philanthropy and commitment to benefitting society, perpetuating his spirit of actively promoting education and serving the community, which is a great honour for the HKBU community.”

Members of the Lam family expressed their appreciation to HKBU for providing them with the opportunity to contribute to the community, remarking, “The Dr. Lam Chi Fung Strategic Development Fund is very special to us as it honours our grandfather’s legacy, inspired by his deep belief in the transformative power of education and the integration of faith and learning. It also aligns with the University’s focus on technological progress paired with a commitment to human dimensions—and to us, that means making a meaningful impact through compassion and values. We hope that the Fund will inspire future generations to make a meaningful difference with purpose and innovation.”

The University Library featured an exhibition about the life of Dr. Lam Chi Fung, including video footage, photographs, speech manuscripts, books, newspaper clippings and a replica of the Order of the British Empire certificate conferred by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. The Lam family appreciated HKBU for the meticulous preservation of the displays, which enhanced the public’s understanding of Dr. Lam’s life and achievements.

Following the ceremony, guests toured the David C. Lam Building at the Shaw Campus and the Dr. Lam Chi Fung Memorial Building at the Ho Sin Hang Campus to delve deeper into the connection between the Lam family and HKBU.

Dr. Lam Chi Fung founded Hong Kong Baptist College in 1956. During his 15-year tenure as Founding President, he left an indelible legacy through his significant contributions to the institution. One of his notable achievements was securing land allocation from the Government, which enabled the College to build its campus. This success paved the way for the Government’s approval in 1970 for the College to register as Hong Kong's first non-profit tertiary institution.

Dr. Lam’s descendants also maintain a close relationship with HKBU. His eldest son, Dr. Daniel Lam See Hin, CBE, JP, served as Chairman and Treasurer of the Council and Chairman of the Finance Committee of Hong Kong Baptist College. In 1991, the College honoured Dr. Daniel Lam with its first Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences degree. The following year, Dr. Lam’s second son, Dr. David Lam See Chai, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

Several buildings and initiatives of the University are named after the Lam family, including the Dr. Lam Chi Fung Memorial Building, the Dr. Lam Chi Fung Memorial Cup, the David C. Lam Building, and the David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, reflecting the exceptional contributions of the Lam family to HKBU.