Karl C. Kwok ’71 serves as Chairman of the Board of the Wing On group, which owns one of Hong Kong’s largest department store chains as well as interests in car dealerships, real estate and financial services.
Kwok earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government at Carleton and a Master of Business Administration degree from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Beyond his business success, Kwok is well known for his passion for open-ocean yacht racing, something he has participated in since 1979. Having won races around the world, he is on a mission to race in all the world’s biggest sailing races and to promote the sport in Hong Kong. Interestingly, although he had lived near the sea all his life, the first time he ever sailed was as a Carleton student with his Northfield host family at their cabin on French Lake, outside Faribault.
Kwok also serves as vice-president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong. He was conferred Honorary Fellowship by City University of Hong Kong in 2008 and The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2017 for services rendered to both universities. He also received a Medal of Honor from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in 2011 for his contribution to sports development in Hong Kong.
It is with great pleasure that Carleton College confer on Karl Kwok the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.