Prof Lee Shiu Hung, a long-time member of The Union and the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association, died on 9 January 2014, at the age of 81.
Prof Lee Shiu Hung, a long-time member of The Union and the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association, died on 9 January 2014, at the age of 81.
Prof Lee had extensive experience in public health at both local and international levels. He joined the Hong Kong Government in 1960 as a Medical and Health Officer and served as Director of Health from 1989 to 1994.
After retiring from government service in 1994, Prof Lee joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong as Professor and Chairman of Department of Community and Family Medicine. He was responsible for building the University’s first School of Public Health and served as its Director from 1999 to 2001. He was then appointed Emeritus Professor of Community Medicine and continued to be involved as Honorary Advisor of the School of Public Health and Primary Care, Advisor for External Affairs of the Institute of Chinese Medicine and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Health Promotion and Protection.
Prof Lee was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) by the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 and received a medal from the World Health Organization in recognition of his contributions to public health. The Asia-Pacific Consortium of Public Health honoured Prof Lee for his outstanding contribution to public health in the Asia–Pacific Region; and in 2010 he received the award for Pioneers in Healthy Cities Research at the 4th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Seoul, Korea, in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of healthy cities in Hong Kong. He also received awards for his work on behalf of tobacco control in the region.
As a Union member, Prof Lee was a strong supporter and an excellent advisor when it came to planning The Union Asia-Pacific Region conferences, which are very well attended.
Dr E Jane Carter, President of The Union, said"Professor Lee was a long-standing leader in public health and tuberculosis control. His personal commitment to the cause, the quiet grace of his leadership style and his presence at The Union meetings will be missed. All of us from The Union express our condolences to both his family and his community on this loss”.
Prof Lee is survived by his wife Lee Wong Wai Kuen, four children and five grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all of his colleagues around the world. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association.