Chinese University sets precedent for Taiwan politicians
Former Kuomintang chairman Lien Chan yesterday became the first Taiwanese political figure to receive an honorary degree from a Hong Kong university.
Mr Lien, who was defeated twice in Taiwanese presidential elections, received an honorary doctor of law degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
He was one of six recipients yesterday. Also honoured was Wang Daohan , chairman of the Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, which deals with Taiwan issues in the absence of formal relations. Mr Wang was unable to come to Hong Kong and sent his daughter, Wang Qingxiang, on his behalf.
Mr Lien last visited Hong Kong in 1967 when he graduated from Cornell University in the US. He said he was excited by the changes the city had experienced in the past four decades. '[Hong Kong] looks completely different to me,' he said.
The former KMT chairman yesterday held a brief meeting with Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and is scheduled to meet Mr Tsang's predecessor, Tung Chee-hwa, today.
