29th November 2003

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British Consul-General to Hong Kong, Sir James Hodge, is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Ulster, in recognition of his distinguished contribution to public life.

Sir James is to be conferred with the degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt), at a special graduation ceremony to be held at the Holiday Inn, Kowloon on Saturday 29th November at 3pm. His encomium will be presented by Professor Roy Spence, Pro-Chancellor of the University.

Sixty-four Hong Kong students will also receive degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level at the ceremony. Biomedical science student Kwok Hang-fai, from Hong Kon, will receive his PhD for pioneering research in develop new life-saving drugs from the venom of a rare American lizard, the Gila monster.

The ceremony takes place in association with the University's Hong Kong partner institutions, the Hong Kong College of Technology International and the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong.

The students, from the University's Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, will receive their degrees from the Chancellor of the University, Sir Richard Nichols.

In his address to the congregation, the Chancellor told students: "With the parchment you receive today each graduating student will be joining the University of Ulster's extended family of over 100,000 alumni. You have brought credit to yourselves and to your families, the silent partners in higher education, by your success."

The congregation was also addressed by Mr Chan Cheuk Hay, Principal of Hong Kong College of Technology, and Professor Enoch Young, Director of the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong.

The ceremony marks the high point of a ten-day visit to northern China and Hong Kong by a high powered delegation from the University. During their visit, University of Ulster representatives held a series of top-level briefings with Invest Hong Kong, the British Council, plus exploratory meetings with a range of universities and educational institutions in the region.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk