Dr Adrian CHENG Honoured with Insignia of “Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite” [fr]
Dr. Adrian Cheng, Executive Vice-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of New World Development Company Limited, was bestowed with the distinction of “Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite” by Consul General of France Mrs. Christile Drulhe at a private ceremony at K11 Atelier King’s Road on 30 September 2022.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Drulhe said: “France wishes to express its gratitude to a true friend who has been working tirelessly to foster stronger relations between France and Hong Kong, as well as the rest of China. I am honoured to confer this distinction on Adrian Cheng on behalf of the President of the French Republic.”
Dr. Cheng said: “The French Community in Hong Kong have made invaluable contributions to Hong Kong, over many years, in the arts, culture and lifestyle, and in economics and finance. The Consuls-General and the Consulate have been leading these contributions. I feel very privileged to have been able to contribute to Hong Kong’s status as “Asia’s World City” to bridge Mainland China, Hong Kong and the world”.
A visionary entrepreneur with a deep commitment to social impact, cultural engagement and sustainable development, Dr. Cheng has made distinguished contributions to relations between France and Hong Kong. In 2017, he was appointed “Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” by the Republic of France in recognition of his efforts to promote French culture in Asia and across the world.
A long-serving member of Le French May Arts Festival’s board of directors, Dr. Cheng is also the founder of the K11 Group and the K11 Art Foundation which has forged partnerships with the Palais de Tokyo and the Centre Pompidou museums in Paris. To share his passion for French culture, he organised major events such as the exhibition “Master of Impressionism – Claude Monet” in Shanghai in 2014, the Festival de Cannes Film Week in Hong Kong in 2019, or the George Mathieu exhibition last year.
Dr. Cheng has shown a long-term dedication to bridging East and West through French art, culture and social impact, during the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, Dr. Cheng launched the #LoveWithoutBorders initiative to provide essential support to those affected by the pandemic. In response to the global shortage of medical supplies, his company New World Development set up surgical masks production lines and generously donated 200,000 pieces to French hospitals in a remarkable show of solidarity.
About the “Ordre national du Mérite”
The “Ordre national du Mérite” (National Order of Merit) was created in 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. This Presidential award recognizes distinguished service to France, in the military as well as in the public and private sectors. It has three ranks —Chevalier, Officier, and Commandeur— and two high offices (“dignités”) — Grand Officier and Grand Croix.