World news story

Celebration the award of a British honour to Dr Winston Wen-Young Wong OBE

UK recognises outstanding Taiwanese philanthropic contribution to research and education: Dr. Winston Wen-Young Wong OBE

Dr Winston Wong OBE

On 7 January, the British Representative, Mr Chris Wood, hosted a reception to celebrate the award of a British honour to Dr Winston Wen-Young WONG OBE (王文洋), Chairman of the Grace THW Group.

In being made an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), Dr Wong has been recognised for his services to education and research in the UK, and to UK/Taiwan education relations.

The British honours system recognises people who have made notable achievements in public life and/or who have committed themselves to serving and helping Britain. Awards are recommended by the British Government’s Honours Committee through the Prime Minister, and are approved by Her Majesty The Queen.

In presenting Dr Wong with the OBE insignia and the official Warrant for the award, Chris Wood said:

“Dr Wong is a longstanding friend of the United Kingdom. Since his studies in the UK, where he holds degrees in physics, applied optics and chemical engineering from Imperial College, London, Dr Wong has been a strong supporter of research and education in the UK, in particular at Imperial College. He has also supported the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Chevening Scholarship programme, which supports potential future leaders in their fields to study for a Master’s degree in the UK.

I warmly congratulate Dr Wong on this official recognition by the UK of his outstanding contributions.”

In addition to his distinguished international career in business, Dr Wong has also provided considerable philanthropic support for interdisciplinary and translational research, most particularly in the application of new technologies in healthcare. Amongst other contributions, Dr Wong is a long-term sponsor of the Winston Wong Chair in Biomedical Circuits at Imperial College; and in 2009

he funded the establishment of the College’s Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology within the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. He has also co-funded scholarship awards to Taiwanese students under the British Foreign & Commonwealth Chevening Scholarship programme.

More information

  1. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was established in June 1917 by King George V, to reward contributions to the arts & sciences, work with charitable & welfare organisations, and public service outside the Civil Service. See The British Monarch website.

  2. In addition to awards to British Citizens which are announced twice each year (at New Year and on The Queen’s Official Birthday in June), a number of honorary awards are made around the world each year to foreign nationals. In 2015, 77 such awards were made, including 21 at the level of OBE. More information, click here

  3. British awards to Taiwan residents are relatively infrequent. Other Taiwan recipients include a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) to Mr CHANG Yung-fa, Chairman of the Evergreen Group, in 2006 for services to shipping and to UK/Taiwan trade; and in 2008 an OBE to Mr Leslie KOO, Chairman of the Taiwan Cement Corporation and Co-Chair of the Taiwan British Business Council, for services to UK/Taiwan trade.

  4. Imperial College is the only university in the UK to focus exclusively on science, medicine, engineering and business. The Institute of Biomedical Engineering includes the Winston Wong Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology.

  5. Chevening is the British government’s international award scheme aimed at developing future leaders. It is funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and by partner organisations or individuals.

  6. Dr. Winston Wong’s website has additional information on the celebration of this award.

Published 8 January 2016