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Rayson Huang

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Rayson Huang
Life Member of the Court of HKU
In office
9 January 1987 – 8 April 2015
Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong
In office
1972–1986
Preceded byKenneth E. Robinson
Succeeded byWang Gungwu
Vice-Chancellor of the Nanyang University
In office
1969–1972
Preceded byHuang Ying-jung
Succeeded byShou-sheng Hsueh
Personal details
Born(1920-09-01)1 September 1920
Died8 April 2015(2015-04-08) (aged 94)
United Kingdom
SpouseGrace Li
Alma materBSc (HK)
DPhil, DSc (Oxon)
DSc (UM)
Rayson Lisung Huang
Traditional Chinese黃麗松
Simplified Chinese黄丽松
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHuáng Lìsōng
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingwong4 lai6 cung4

Rayson Lisung Huang, CBE (Chinese: 黃麗松; pinyin: Huáng Lìsōng; 1 September 1920 − 8 April 2015), was a Hong Kong chemist,[1] who was an expert on radicals. He was the first Chinese Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong, a position in which he served from 1972 until 1986.[2]

Early years

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Huang's family came from Shantou, Guangdong. He completed his primary and secondary education at Munsang College, where his father was the founding principal.[3][4] He later attended St. John's University in Shanghai in 1937, but his studies were interrupted by the Japanese invasion. After 1938 he continued his studies as a scholarship student at The University of Hong Kong. In Hong Kong Huang majored in chemistry at St. John's Hall (now called St. John's College). In addition to his academic studies, Huang was an accomplished violinist. Following the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in 1941, Huang briefly worked with British auxiliary forces and was responsible for detecting chemical weapons. In 1942 his studies at the University were interrupted when the school was forced to close. Huang returned to China in 1942 and arrived in Guangxi. By 1945 Huang had followed other members of The University of Hong Kong chemistry department to Britain and received a scholarship to study at the University of Oxford's Institute of Chemistry. He received at doctorate in chemistry and subsequently pursued his post-doctoral research at the University of Chicago. During his study in Chicago, he met his future wife Grace Wei Huang.

Academic career

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In 1951, Huang taught chemistry at the University of Malaya in Singapore (now National University of Singapore) and later he was transferred to University of Malaya's Kuala Lumpur campus. He became a tenured professor of chemistry and then acting Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Science.

University administrator

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In 1969 Huang was appointed as Vice-Chancellor at Nanyang University in Singapore.

In 1972 Huang became the first Chinese Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong and quelled a student demonstration during a royal visit to Hong Kong. In addition, he served in various capacities including becoming a member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee in drafting Hong Kong's post handover constitution. Rayson Huang and his wife retired in 1994 and lived with their son.

Retirement and post-academic life

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By 1999 the Huang's returned to Hong Kong. His wife Grace who was suffering from senile dementia then died in Hong Kong.

To commemorate his wife's life, Rayson Huang established the Grace Wei Huang Memorial Fund.[5] and authored a memoir, A Lifetime in Academia: An autobiography by Rayson Huang ,[6] the proceeds from which will be set aside for the fund.

Huang had a wide range of hobbies, one of the most special having been the study of violin making. He returned to Hong Kong on a regular basis. Huang also established the Progress of Hong Kong's Rayson Huang and the "Rayson Huang Foundation." in Malaysia.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Rayson Lisung Huang 1969-1972". Our Vice-Chancellors: A Biographical Sketch. National University of Singapore. "Our Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors : A biographical sketch : Our Vice-Chancellors.Rayson Huang". Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2007.
  2. ^ "A Lifetime of Memories: Dr Rayson Huang Book Launch". Convocation Newsletter. The University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Munsang College's Renowned Alumni".
  4. ^ "Sculpture unveiled at HKU: Dr Rayson Huang: A study in bronze". Press Release. The University of Hong Kong. 27 September 2005. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Grace Wei Huang Memorial Fund". The University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  6. ^ Rayson Huang (2011). A Lifetime in Academia: An Autobiography by Rayson Huang, Expanded Second Edition. Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 9789888083275. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  7. ^ MOSTA Rayson Huang Foundation. "MOSTA". Archived from the original on 3 January 2004. Retrieved 9 March 2007.
Academic offices
Preceded by Vice-chancellor of The University of Hong Kong
1972–1986
Succeeded by
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