Professor Ma Lin is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Shaw College and former Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

　　Professor Ma obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from West China Union University in 1947 and his Ph.D. from the University of Leeds in 1955. In 1964, Professor Ma joined The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He was instrumental in the establishment of the University's new department of Biochemistry which he later became its Founding Professor and Chair in 1973. Professor Ma was appointed Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1978.

　　Under Professor Ma's able leadership, the University has gone from strength to strength. Academic exchange was extended to the mainland. In 1980, the first doctoral programme was launched in the University. The Faculty of Medicine was established, admitting its first batch of medical students in 1981; and in the same year part-time undergraduate programme was introduced. Provisional Acceptance Scheme for undergraduate programme was implemented in 1985. The undergraduate programme was also reviewed and overhauled to implement the credit unit system and give emphasis to general education in 1986.

　　After twenty-three years' of outstanding service, Professor Ma retired in 1987. But his long association with the University continued. He took up the Chairmanship of the Board of Trustees of Shaw College in 1986 and played an important role in the establishment of the fourth constituent college, the Shaw College, of the University. Professor Ma assisted Dr Run Run Shaw to finance the development of higher education, secondary and primary education, and medical services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. Last year, the well recognized Shaw Prize was launched with the dedicated assistance of Professor Ma, with the aim to promote scholarship and knowledge.

　　Professor Ma has also made remarkable contributions to the community. He has served as a Member of the Drafting Committee of the Basic Law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 1985-1990. He was also a Member of the 9th National Committee of People's Political Consultation Conference in 1993-1998.

　　An outstanding biochemist and a devoted educator, Professor Ma has received numerous honours and awards, including honorary doctorates from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Sussex, the University of East Asia, the State University of New York and Tianjin University. Professor Ma was appointed a Non-official Justice of the Peace in 1978 and was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1983. In recognition of the extended and remarkable contribution Professor Ma has made, the Chinese University honoured him as Emeritus Professor (Biochemistry) in 1987.