The HKBU Foundation records with deepest sorrow the passing of Dr. the Hon. Hari N. Harilela, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP, Honorary Permanent President of the HKBU Foundation and an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration (2008) of HKBU, on 29 December 2014. He was 92 years old.

Dr. Harilela was a distinguished Indian entrepreneur with his home based in Hong Kong. He was the Honorary Chairman of the Harilela Group and Harilela Hotels Limited. Founded with his three brothers in 1959, the Harilela Group has developed into a global conglomerate with businesses in a range of sectors, from hospitality and real estate investment to import and export trading.
 
Dr. Harilela had an impressive public record and contributed greatly to the overall improvement of education, health, trade and commerce, music and arts, and social welfare for the Indian and local communities. Founder of the Harilela Foundation, he participated enthusiastically in the work of many charitable bodies. Dr. Harilela had also spared no effort in fostering friendly and fruitful ties between India and Hong Kong and in raising the profile of the Indian community in Hong Kong.

A staunch and much valued supporter of HKBU, Dr. Harilela had generously donated HK$10 million to support the development of the University and set up a scholarship fund for outstanding students. He had also given unstinting support to the University's activities and programmes, including the International Writers' Workshop and the Consul-General-in-Residence programme. In recognition of Dr. Harilela's generous support to the University, HKBU named two lecture theatres in The Wing Lung Bank Building for Business Studies the "Padma & Hari Harilela Lecture Theatres" in 2005.

Over the years, Dr. Harilela had received many honours, including Britain's OBE and the Grand Bauhinia Medal and the Gold Bauhinia Star from the HKSAR Government. He had also been conferred with honorary doctoral degrees by Pepperdine University and St. John's University in the US as well as Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. Dr. Harilela was a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the Indian Government.

The Foundation conveys its heartfelt condolences to the Harilela family at this time of bereavement. Dr. Harilela will always be remembered for his tremendous contributions to Hong Kong and his unswerving support for the development of the University.