The School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) held the sixth “Cheung On Tak International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Medicine” presentation ceremony virtually on 13 July, in which Professor Chen Lidian and Professor Chen Shilin were recognised for their achievements in academic and scientific research on Chinese medicine and their remarkable contributions to the modernisation and internationalisation of traditional Chinese medicine.

Officiating at the ceremony were Mr. Gavin Cheung, Director of the Cheung On Tak Charity Foundation, Honorary Permanent President of the HKBU Foundation; Professor Alexander Wai, JP, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU; Professor Chen Kaixian, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chairperson of the Panel of Adjudicators for the Award; and Professor Lyu Aiping, Dean of Chinese Medicine at HKBU. Also in attendance were adjudicators Professor Chen Keji, Professor Leung Ping Chung, SBS, OBE, JP and Professor So Kwok Fai; Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, MH, Associate Vice-President (Chinese Medicine Development); Professor Li Min, Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning) of Chinese Medicine; and Mrs. Lily Chan, Director of University Advancement and Secretary-General of the HKBU Foundation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Alexander Wai expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Cheung On Tak for his generous donations; as well as to Chinese medicine experts and scholars from around the world for their support. He said the international accolade will be a driver in the modernisation of Chinese medicine. Right after the ceremony, the two award recipients delivered online lectures, which drew an audience of nearly 400, including Chinese medicine professionals as well as staff and students of SCM.

Established in 2011 by the SCM with the donation from Cheung On Tak Charity Foundation, the biennial Cheung On Tak International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Medicine aims to recognise scientists and scholars who have advanced the internationalisation of Chinese medicine or Chinese medicine research with their groundbreaking and internationally-recognised achievements. Since its inception, the award has received over HK$16 million in donation from the Cheung On Tak Charity Foundation.