Rosanna Wong

Dame Rosanna Wong Yick-ming’s distinguished career as a top-level administrator in Hong Kong included positions on the island’s executive council, where she played a prominent role during Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997.

That same year, Wong was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, becoming only the second Chinese woman, after Baroness Dunn, to be awarded this honour. Wong also holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of California, Davis and has been the recipient of numerous honorary doctorates. Wong is currently the executive director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the largest youth service organisation in Hong Kong.

Wong began her career with the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups after graduating with a degree of social work from the University of Hong Kong in 1975. In 1977, she became a student at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1979 with a Masters of Social Work.

Wong credits U of T with broadening her world view and exposing her to new cultures. “The strongest point of U of T is its multiculturalism,” Wong said. The University is “a community of different nationalities and traditions” which she considers a crucial aspect of education.

"I was able to meet friends from different parts of the world [at U of T]” Wong recalled “This University always gives the impression that it [is] open, considerate and committed to service, thus helping lay the foundation of my lifelong professional and personal commitment to public service.”

Published Nov. 28, 2013