On a joyful and bittersweet evening of 9 July, the Federation for Self-financing Tertiary Education (FSTE) had the privilege of hosting a thanksgiving gathering to bid farewell to Ms Michelle LI, GBS, Former Permanent Secretary for Education. The event paid tribute not only to her longstanding unwavering support to FSTE, but also to the enduring inspiration she has given to all who care deeply about higher education.

Ms LI’s vision and belief in education has elevated the higher education sector in Hong Kong.  In her speech, Ms LI fondly recalled working with several FSTE Chairmen during her tenure in the former Education and Manpower Bureau and the Education Bureau.  Being a champion of lifelong learning, Ms LI walks her talk by wittily giving us a heads-up that we may be running into her in one of the programs offered by FSTE Member Institutions in the future.  Her words resonated with the spirit of the evening: optimistic, heartfelt, and forward-looking.

The gathering was attended by a roomful of current/former colleagues of FSTE Member Institutions and FSTE Past Chairmen, despite invitations sent in the last minute, displaying our sincere gratitude towards Ms LI as well as reflected the magnitude of her profound influence.  As we bid her farewell, we also celebrated her legacy that continues to inspire us — thoughtfulness, fairness, and an enduring love for learning — remain woven into the fabric of FSTE and the self-financing tertiary education community.  The FSTE Community extended our deepest gratefulness and best wishes to Ms LI as she embarks on her next chapter.

Filled with warm reminiscence, sincere gratitude, and catch-up conversations, that evening also allowed us (especially for members and friends who were not at the AGM back in March) to demonstrate our appreciation to the Immediate Past Chairman, Prof. Ronald CHUNG, who had passed the Chairmanship torch to Prof Reggie Kwan effective July 2025.  Prof. CHUNG will continue to contribute to FSTE in other capacity and/or meaningful ways.

Please click here for more pictures of the party/gathering.