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. 'I haven't actually done much other than building in my life,' he said. 'I wasn't born into a rich family so I had to work seven days a week, hoping that one day I could own a home and raise a family - that was the biggest satisfaction I ever had.' He put his success down to three factors: upon graduation, the school gave the first job of maintaining the University of Hong Kong to his newly founded company; the HK$50,000 his then girlfriend - who would soon become his wife and mother of their six children - lent him to sustain his business after 1945; and his own efforts. 'Money, fame or power are not the most important things in life. What makes you happy is a grateful heart, and healthy, fruitful relationships,' he said. All his children have been educated overseas and Ng is thankful that they all received a 'better education' than he did. One of his children is Ng Tze-chuen, the dentist and designer of precision instruments who has taken part in international space and other scientific projects.
