Address on the Naming Ceremony of Li Wei Bo Building, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute

Good morning, distinguished guests!

I am very delighted to get together here and witness with you the significant moment of the Naming Ceremony of Li Wei Bo Building, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute. I feel greatly honored and beholden to CUHK for naming the magnificent building after me. As a prestigious university in the globe, CUHK has fostered numerous talents for Hong Kong, mainland China, and other regions in the world since its inception over 50 years ago, and contributed massively to social progress and growth. I deem it meaningful to contribute my own share to the development of CUHK, which will largely benefit our nation and people. Here I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to CUHK for granting me this opportunity to give back to education and society.

I came to Shenzhen when the spring breeze of reform and opening-up swept to Shenzhen in 1981 and at that time lived at Yumin Village, Luohu District. Yumin Village, a demonstration area of the reform and opening-up policy, epitomizes the highlights of social changes at different periods, and has been inspected by all previous state leaders. Over three decades ago, I departed from Yumin Village—the cradle of my entrepreneurship, and walked all the way from self-employment through Yong Chuang Co., Ltd., Vision Grande Group, to Glory Harvest Group. Currently, Glory Harvest Group's major businesses span an array of segments including mining, real estate, hotel, tobacco, Internet anti-counterfeit system, wireless charging, cloud packaging, and investment. Today the whole nation is making arduous efforts to realize "China Dream", and I also have my "Glory Harvest Dream"—to become an international corporation boasting integrity, pragmatism, innovation, and transcendence, spearhead industries, and promote social progress.

I grew up in a poor farmer family, but my mother taught me that "Black gold is more valuable than gold." Black gold symbolizes cultural knowledge. Though I was too poor to go to school, I greatly respect knowledge, love study, and value talents. I always hold the belief that high-caliber talents and achievements in scientific research are inexhaustible driving forces behind national development. Hong Kong and mainland China depend on constant R&D innovation and educational investment to cement their international competitiveness in the coming years. In 2007, introduced by Ms. Ji Wenfeng from Hong Kong New World Development Co., Ltd., I forged an indissoluble bond with CUHK. I invested HK$ 1.5 million in launching "Li Weibo Scholarship", and helped to raise HK$ 6.5 million in total. Subsequently, the Hong Kong Government added an investment of HK$ 4 million, helping 48 top students in poverty from mainland China and all over the world to continue their studies at CUHK. After that, Prof. Liu Zunyi, the former principal of CUHK, invited me to his family banquet. He said, "Weibo, we intend to establish CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute. I sincerely hope you can continue your support of us." I asked him how much they need, and he said HK$ 30 million. Then I promised him I will continue to fund them without hesitation.

"Helping others is helping ourselves." In October 2013, I set up Li Weibo Charitable Foundation and established three purposes for it, namely, education, graduate entrepreneurship, and orphan relief. Here I wish to pledge to all of you that I will donate half of my personal assets to Li Weibo Charitable Foundation to promote its development. In 2013, I wrote a letter to my hometown Liao Village, Dianbai Mountain, and promised to invest hundreds of millions of yuan in constructing new countryside. In October 2014, Li Weibo Charitable Foundation sent letters to Luohu District Committee and Government expressing its intent on fully funding the establishment of the International Institute of Art and Design in Hetao Area, Yumin Village, Luohu District.

Before I finish, I would like to appreciate CUHK again for giving me the glory, courteous reception, and opportunity to contribute to the growth of educational cause, and appreciate all the distinguished guests for your presence. I hope all the entrepreneurs present here can contribute your own share in promoting the development of educational cause and CUHK. Wish you all good health and good luck with everything!

Thank you!