The Foundation records with deepest sorrow the passing of Sir Run Run Shaw, GBM, CBE, Honorary Trustee of the HKBU Foundation and an Honorary Doctor of Letters (1990) of HKBU, on 7 January 2014.  He was 107 years old.

Sir Run Run was an acclaimed movie magnate, humanitarian, philanthropist and business mogul.  He was one of the most influential figures in the Asian entertainment industry.  Sir Run Run began his career in the film industry in Mainland China in the 1920s.  During the 1950s, he founded Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong) Limited, one of the largest film production companies in the world.  He was one of the founding members of Television Broadcasts Limited, which was launched in 1967 and is recognised as a world leader in the Chinese-language television industry.
 
Sir Run Run was a philanthropist.  He founded The Sir Run Run Shaw Charitable Trust and The Shaw Foundation Hong Kong dedicated to the promotion of education, scientific and technological research, medical and welfare services, as well as culture and the arts.  His philanthropy in the field of education was particularly outstanding.  HKBU has been one of the beneficiaries.

The University received HK$1 million from the Shaw Foundation in 1985 for specialised teaching in film and television; HK$10 million in 1986 and HK$12.5 million in 1990 for the establishment of the Sir Run Run Shaw Endowment Fund in support of research and academic activities in general; HK$50 million in 1990 for overall development purposes and HK$1 million in 1993 to support the construction of the David C. Lam Building.  In recognition of Sir Run Run's steadfast support and generous donations to the University, HKBU named a new building on the Ho Sin Hang Campus the Sir Run Run Shaw Building in 1989, the new campus on Renfrew Road the Shaw Campus and an administration building on the Shaw Campus the Shaw Tower in 1995.

In 2002, the Shaw Prize, which is widely regarded as the "Nobel of the East", was established under the auspices of Sir Run Run.  This international award honours outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences.

Over the years, Sir Run Run had received many honours.  He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1974, was knighted in 1977 and received the Grand Bauhinia Medal from the HKSAR Government in 1998.  In addition, the title of Order of the Crown was conferred on him by the Government of Belgium and he was awarded the Légion d'honneur by the French Government.  Sir Run Run had also received honorary doctoral degrees from local and overseas universities.

The Foundation conveys its heartfelt condolences to the Shaw family at this time of bereavement.  Sir Run Run will always be remembered for his distinguished contribution to the cultural, educational and social development of Hong Kong and the world as well as his unswerving support for the development of the University.