Notices
In memory of Ir CHAN Sou Tung Richard
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers is deeply saddened by the passing away of Ir Chan Sou Tung Richard on 7 April 2021 at the age of 94.
Ir Chan graduated from the Northeastern University (China) (then called the Northern Institute of Technology) in 1955 studying heating, ventilation and air conditioning, which was then first offered in China. Amongst the earliest students in China and in the whole of Asia that studying in this discipline, Ir Chan was assigned to start a technical training school in Beijing to help train engineering talents in heating, ventilation and air conditioning. In view of the lack of relevant teaching materials, Ir Chan co-authored with three other colleagues in writing a set of guidelines for heating and ventilation to allow a more systematic training to students in this area.
In 1962, Ir Chan moved to Hong Kong and joined a British engineering consulting firm. In 1968, he joined the Institute of Heating and Ventilation Engineers (IHVE). With his educational qualification and extensive working experience, he was granted exemption from entry examination and became the first Hong Kong Chinese engineer with an academic qualification awarded by a university in China.
In 1976, Ir Chan founded his consulting firm, Richard Chan & Associate Limited. During his five decades of career, he had provided mechanical and electrical aspects of building services to Hong Kong, China, Macau and in South East Asia. Amongst his approximately 350 projects, there were major projects in Hong Kong such as the electrical and mechanical centre of the former Kai Tak Airport, the World Trade Centre, Hung Hom Railway Station and the design and planning of the Hong Kong Coliseum. His projects also included the Opera House in Wuhan which houses 500 seats and the Palácio de Pelota Basca in Macau that could once house 5,000 audiences.
In 1980, he co-founded the Hong Kong Association of Energy Engineers and became the President of the Association in 1981. During his presidency, he promoted energy saving and new energy development. He was the President of the Association of Energy Engineers Hong Kong Chapter between 2009 and 2011 and a Panel Member of the HKSAR Air Pollution Control Appeal Board from 2007 to 2013.
Ir Chan loved his mother country dearly. To enable students at the Northeastern University (China), his alma mater, have a better study environment, he organised and took the lead to set up the Northeast University Technology Education and Development Fund in the 1980s. To dedicate himself further in nurturing the engineering talents in China, starting from 1990, he became a member of the Board of Directors and an Adjunct Professor of the Northeastern University (China). He was awarded Honorary Citizenship of Shenyang in 1990 and was elected a Committee Member of The National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and a Committee Member of the Liaoning Committee until 2008.
Ir Chan had served the Institution in various positions such as the Ex-officio Member of the Learned Society Board, and Chairman to the Environmental Division Committee, and Environmental Division Representative to the Community Service Committee, just to name a few.
The Institution is deeply grateful for Ir Chan’s contribution and service to the country and also the Institution and would like to offer our deepest condolences to his family.
