Caritas institute of Higher Education (CIHE) has received a donation of HK$ 80 million today from L & T Charitable Foundation (L & T), subsidiary of Gale Well Group Limited (Gale Well). The School of Business and Hospitality Management and the School of Social Sciences were named.
In appreciation of the generous support of Mrs Rita Tong Liu, Founder and Chairman of both L & T and Gale Well, and of her family for their contribution to the education services of the Catholic Diocese in Hong Kong, CIHE has named the two schools Rita Tong Liu School of Business and Hospitality Management and Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, the latter in honour of Mrs Liu's late mother.
Attending the naming ceremony are Mrs Rita Tong Liu, Founder and Chairman of L & T, Vice-chairmen Dr Jacinto Tong, Dato Luis Tong, Director Mrs Lucia Tong Leong, Vice-chairmen Ms Jennifer Liu and Mr Jeffrey Liu; his Excellency the Most Reverend Michael Yeung, Bishop of Hong Kong, Bishop Emeritus His Eminence Cardinal John Tong, Representative of the Holy See in Hong Kong Monsignor Ante Jozic, Chief Executive of Caritas Hong Kong Rev Joseph Yim, Council Chair of CIHE Mr Denis Chang and President of CIHE Dr Kim Mak.
"With an objective to give back to society, the Foundation was established in 2004 by Gale Well Group in memory of my mother Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong and my late husband Liu Lit Ching," said Mrs Liu in her remarks. She recalls that her mother, a Peruvian returning emigrant, prioritises education and insisted to send all her four children to study abroad, which was not easy back then, particularly in Macau. She wishes that her donation can set an example and influence others to help make CIHE on her way to becoming a reputable Catholic university.
Liu chose to name the School of Social Sciences after her mother in the hope of passing on the love and care of Mrs Tong, who, said Liu, was devout Catholic for generations. She would like her children to continue the tradition of supporting the Diocese.
Dr Jacinto Tong, Vice-chairman of L & T, described his sister Mrs Liu as successful in both work and family, making today's Gale Well Group. She was recognised by international media including Forbes, ranking 25th on Hong Kong's Richest 2018. Her support of countless charitable causes is also unsurpassed. Naming the School of Business and Hospitality Management after her represents Hong Kong as a finance and tourism metropolitan.
Dr Tong added that, in honour of Mrs Liu's 70th birthday, which falls on the day of the ceremony, he and his brother Dato Luis Tong will each donate another HK$ 10 million, bringing the total donation from HK$ 60 million to HK$ 80 million.
Hong Kong's Bishop Most Rev Michael Yeung thanks L & T, Mrs Liu and her family. He distinguished today's ceremony as an important milestone of CIHE's journey towards becoming a Catholic university, bringing the Institute one step forward in education and academic. The school will need a lot of support from society in order to build a Catholic university that nurtures not only academics but also the hope of life, the spirit of giving and love, and one that helps youngsters move upwards.
CIHE President Dr Kim Mak is grateful for L & T's support in adding to the Schools' teaching and research capabilities. "This will bring to students better education and help us nurture graduates with ethics needed by the society and industries," Mak added.