At the 60th Anniversary Celebration Banquet of Chung Chi College, Dr. Chan delivered a speech as the Chairman of the Celebration Banquet Organising Committee.

Dr. Chan Tak Lam Norman studied at Queen’s College during his early years and then enrolled at Chung Chi College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where he majored in Sociology. After graduating in 1976, Dr. Chan joined the Hong Kong Government as an Administrative Officer. He was promoted to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade C in 1986 and was appointed Deputy Director of the Office of the Exchange Fund in 1991.

In 1993, he was further promoted to Administrative Officer Staff Grade B and joined the newly established Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), where he served as Executive Director and subsequently as Deputy Chief Executive. In 2005, Dr. Chan joined Standard Chartered Bank as Vice Chairman (Asia). In 2007, he was invited by Dr. Donald Tsang, the then-Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China, to serve as Director of the Chief Executive’s Office. In 2009, he was appointed Chief Executive of the HKMA.

Dr. Chan was at the forefront of resolving critical financial incidents throughout his career at the HKMA. In 1998, during the Asian Financial Crisis, he played a key role in leading the Government’s intervention in the stock market, successfully countering international speculators targeting Hong Kong. In response to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in 2008 and its consequences, he strengthened the supervision of banks and investment products. He also spearheaded efforts to establish Hong Kong as an offshore RMB business hub, further consolidating its position as an international financial center.

After his retirement, Dr. Chan shifted his focus to promoting innovation and technology in Hong Kong. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of RD Technologies Group, Chairman of the Board of CUHK Innovation, a Director of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Chairman of the Institute of Web 3.0 Hong Kong.

Dr. Chan has a deep connection with Chung Chi. He has served as a mentor in the College’s Mentor Programme and as Chairman of the Organising Committee for the College’s 60th Anniversary Celebration Banquet. In 2020, he was appointed as a member of the College Board of Trustees and became a member of the CUHK Council in the following year. Dr. Chan now serves as Chairman of both the College Board and the Development Committee of the College Board, and as Vice-Chairperson of the CUHK Council. Dr. Chan upholds Chung Chi’s motto by establishing the educational philosophy of “Excellence in Academics and Sports”, “Cultivation of Virtue and Talents”, and “Enhancement of Spirituality”. He also spearheaded the planning of Project E and dedicated himself to fundraising to provide students and staff with enhanced campus facilities and environments.

In recognition of Dr. Chan’s extraordinary contributions, the HKSAR Government awarded him the Gold Bauhinia Star, while CUHK conferred on him the Honorary Fellowship and Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa. He has also been conferred with honorary degrees of Doctor of Business Administration by the City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, and Lingnan University.