Professor LEUNG Wing-Cheung William, GBS, JP
Since commencing retirement in June 2022, Professor William Leung ceased to be engaged in any formal employment but is still active in public services. Before retirement, Professor Leung has had a successful career of over 40 years in the banking and finance sector. He has served Hang Seng Bank as Executive Director, Sun Hung Kai Financial as CEO, and WeLab Bank as CE. Before that he has also held key positions in major financial institutions in Hong Kong and Australia, which include American Express, Standard Chartered Bank, Visa International and Mastercard International.
As an expert in payment and banking, Professor Leung invented the e-cert based digital cheque in 2015 and is thus nicknamed “father of digital cheques”. He is most renowned for his abilities to solve problems with innovative ideas and to lead the future with strategic visions. An example of such is his invention of the “Hang Seng credit card cash dollars”, which is widely regarded as the most successful credit card loyalty program in Hong Kong. His reputation extends to his modus operandi, which includes his astute leadership and management skills, strong business ethics, and empathetic care for staff and customers alike.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Professor Leung graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist College in 1978 and received a Diploma in English Language and Literature. Professor Leung was elected Honorary Certified Financial Management Planner of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers in 2006.
Professor Leung serves a spectrum of community and public organizations. He is Chairman of Legal Aid Services Council, Advisor of Our Hong Kong Foundation, Emeritus Chairman of Hong Kong Dance Company, and Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Heart Foundation. Besides his current appointments, Professor Leung used to serve as Chairman of the Task Force for the Study on Tenancy Control of Sub-divided Units, the Employees Retraining Board, the Estate Agent Authority, Hong Kong Creative Arts Centre, as a member of Investor Education Advisory Committee, under the Security and Futures Commission, and the Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee.
Professor Leung is a staunch supporter of the tertiary education sector. He is currently Chairman of HKUSPACE Foundation Committee. Before that, he was former Council Chairman of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and Treasurer of the Hong Kong Baptist University Council and Court. In Vocational and professional education, Professor Leung was a member of the Task Force on Promotion of Vocational education, and was previously a member of the Banking Industry Training Advisory Committee. In view of his distinguished services, Hong Kong Baptist University conferred him Honorary University Fellowship in 2013 and again Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013/14. For the same reason, HKUSPACE conferred him Distinguished Alumni Fellowship in 2010 and VTC conferred him Honorary Fellowship in 2016. In October 2017, he was conferred Honorary Doctorate by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and Honorary Fellowship by HKUSPACE. Starting from 2019, Professor Leung has been serving the Hong Kong Baptist University and Hang Seng University as Honorary Professor and Adjunct Professor respectively.
In recognition of Professor Leung's contributions to Hong Kong, the Government of the HKSAR appointed him Justice of the Peace in 2005 and honored him with a Bronze Bauhinia Star, a Silver Bauhinia Star, and a Gold Bauhinia Star respectively in 2009, 2016 and 2022 respectively.