Professor Leung Nai-kong, an internationally renowned paediatrician, is known for his devotion and contribution to child health and welfare, education, and arts. He graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1966, started the paediatric services in Princess Margaret Hospital in 1975 and subsequently became Chief Executive of the hospital. He has been teaching in the medical schools of the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong for over 30 years. A founder of the Hong Kong College of Paediatricians in 1991 and subsequently its President from 1997 to 2003, Professor Leung has trained many paediatricians to serve the children of Hong Kong. He received the Outstanding Paediatrician of Asia Award in 2000, and was conferred Honorary Fellowship of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2002, of the University of Hong Kong in 2003, and of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2004.

Professor Leung is an enthusiast in Chinese arts and culture. He served on the Advisory Committee of the Cantonese Opera Development Fund from 2005 to 2009. He was appointed a Member of Council of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2005 and the Chairman of Council from 2006 to 2009. Under his skillful leadership, a visionary Council witnessed significant growth and development of the Academy. During his tenure, the Academy gained university-sector self-accreditation status. Master programmes were established in all the five schools. The Performing Arts Education Centre was established to enable arts outreach to local schools and community at large. The Cantonese Opera Programme received approval for recurrent funding, and a timely Strategic Position Review of the Academy was commissioned after 25 years of the Academy’s development. The Academy has fostered strategic alliances with over 20 leading arts institutions around the world. Professor Leung was pivotal in securing funding support for enclosure of the Jockey Club Amphitheatre and in securing a site adjacent to the Academy now earmarked for the future expansion of the Academy.

Professor Leung’s rich experience in governance and management has accrued through his participation across an array of public and community services. He was Chairman of Council of the Aids Trust Fund and of several committees on the prevention of infectious diseases, and an advisor to the World Health Organisation. He has been a Member of the Hospital Authority, Town Planning Board, Dental Council, and Nursing Council of Hong Kong. Currently he chairs the Supplementary Medical Professions Council. In the field of child welfare he chairs the Child Fatality Review Panel of the Social Welfare Department and serves in the Steering Committee of the Child Development Fund. In addition, he is actively involved with the work of many voluntary organisations such as SAHK, Hong Kong Red Cross, Children’s Cancer Foundation and We Care Education Fund providing services to the sick, disabled and disadvantaged.

Professor Leung was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1994, was awarded a MBE in 1995, and a Bronze Bauhinia Star in 2000.