Honorary degree citation - William Shue Lam Yip
By: Mohsen Anvari, June 1998
Mr. Chancellor, I have the honour to present to you William Shue Lam Yip. Mr. Yip is a distinguished entrepreneur who came to Canada 37 years ago to study at one of Concordia's founding institutions, and returned home, to Hong Kong, to make a difference.
Mr. Yip was born in Hong Kong, but spent the 1960s in Montreal - attending Sir George Williams University where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967, while developing his skills as a community leader and entrepreneur.
He was a founding committee member of the Corporation of the Montreal Chinese Hospital. As a member from 1964 to 1969, he devoted time and energy to the original hospital which today is a topnotch, fully equipped facility serving primarily the Chinese community in Montreal as well as the city's larger community.
Peu après son retour à Hong Kong dans les années 70, il a fondé la compagnie Canada Land Limited, et l'a dirigée pour qu'elle prédomine et s'impose comme la principale agence immobilière. Aujourd'hui, il est président de plusieurs filiales de la compagnie mère Canada Land.
Canada Land projects in the city of Guangzhou, a transportation hub in the People's Republic of China, have made it one of the city's largest developers.
Mr. Yip has been ardent supporter of Canadian universities. From 1978 to 1984, he was President of the Canadian University Association in Hong Kong, building greater awareness of the opportunities for young people from Hong Kong to study abroad in Canadian universities and schools. Today, some 15,000 students from Hong Kong study in Canada.
In 1984, Mr. Yip was Chairman of the CanadExpo '84 Committee, one of the largest Canadian trade fairs ever held outside Canada. He has been Foreign Trade Advisor to the Province of Quebec since 1988 and a member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce since 1994. He is the newly elected President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong to serve in 1998-99. It is the largest Chamber outside Canada.
En 1996-97, M. le Chancelier, il a été honoré par la Chambre de commerce du Canada en recevant le prix du Voyageur, honneur décerné au chef d'entreprise en reconnaissance à sa contribution dans la société, non seulement à titre individuel mais également à titre d'homme d'affaires et d'humaniste.
Mr. Yip writes extensively on the subject of real estate development in Canada, the United States and southern China. He contributes to major newspapers in Hong Kong and he is a co-author of the book titled Doing Business in China, published in 1995 by McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Through his enthusiasm, his dedication and his example for a generation, Mr. Yip has linked Canada, Hong Kong and China. By participating in the culture, entrepreneurial and community spirit of each of these places, and by promoting the educational opportunities each one presents, Mr. Yip has shown that we can live in a truly global village.
Mr. Chancellor, it is my privilege and an honour to present to you, on behalf of Senate and the Board of Governors, William Shue Lam Yip, so that you may confer upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
