PolyU doctorate for 96-year-old who helped to build city

A 96-year-old former engineer who over 60 years helped to build and maintain much of Hong Kong's key infrastructure, including a military airfield, will become the city's oldest recipient of an honorary doctorate when he receives the degree from Polytechnic University.

Ng Wing-hong, who graduated in 1939 with a diploma from the Government Trade School, will receive his honorary degree alongside US mathematician John Nash, a Nobel laureate in economics, and three others on October 29.

One of the first alumni of the trade school, which later became Polytechnic University, he devoted the next 60 years to developing his business in construction. He built and maintained the Shek Kong airfield, a railway network, the University of Hong Kong main campus, many schools, and numerous housing projects.

The military airfield had to be built in three months, and his company had to employ 200 workers to work around the clock to make the deadline. It turned out to be one of his most successful projects.

'Everything went smoothly and it was nicely done,' Ng said. 'Everything went my way.'

He retired in 1997 and has donated money and time to his alma mater since then. Polytechnic University has already named a building and a tree after him and made him a fellow to recognise his achievement. The latest honour will be another feather in his cap from the university.