The first Chinese female graduate from the University of Hong Kong

Dr. Irene Cheng, daughter of Sir Robert and Lady Clara, is a wise and passionate educator who has made profound contribution to secular and Buddhist education in Hong Kong. Dr. Irene Cheng was the first Chinese female graduate from the University of Hong Kong in 1925. She studied abroad for a teaching diploma and doctorate in education.

After the war, Dr. Irene Cheng returned to Hong Kong and taught English in the Buddhist Studies class at Po Kok School. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors at Tung Lin Kok Yuen. In 1948, she was invited by the Hong Kong Government to become a school inspector and senior education officer in the Education Bureau. Thanks to the efforts of Sir Man-kam Lo and her own advocacy, Buddhism Studies was eventually included as an elective subject in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination during the colonial period, marking a significant advancement for Buddhism in Hong Kong.