Professor Hu Shiu-ying is an eminent scholar in plant taxonomy. She is currently Honorary Professor of Chinese Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Senior College Tutor of Chung Chi College and Emeritus Senior Research Fellow of Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University.

Professor Hu graduated from Ginling College in Nanking in 1933 and received her Master of Science degree from Lingnan University in 1937. In 1946, she became the first Chinese female to pursue doctoral education in Harvard University under a scholarship from Radcliffe College. Since obtaining her doctoral degree in 1949, Professor Hu has devoted over half a century to the research of plants in Harvard. In 1968, Professor Hu took up the position as Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology of Chung Chi College and continued her research work in the diversity of Hong Kong vegetation. She was appointed Advisor to the Sunyatsen Botanical Garden in Nanjing, Honorary Professor of South China Agriculture University in Guangzhou, Advisor to the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden in Shenzhen, and Honorary Professor of Chinese Medicine at the Chinese University in 1999. 

Professor Hu is a great authority on Ilex, Hemerocaulis, Paulonnia, Compositae and Orchidaceae. Although she is reaching 100 of age, Professor Hu still enjoys her plant studies and is a prolific researcher. Devoted wholeheartedly to the research of plant taxonomy throughout her working life, Professor Hu has produced and identified as many as 185,000 plant specimens, and published over 160 papers. She even published the new book “Food Plants of China” recently.

Professor Hu has made tremendous contributions to the promotion of botany and Chinese medicinal research at The Chinese University since 1960s. She has travelled over the hilltops, valleys and seashores in Hong Kong, and collected over 185,000 plant specimens. A herbarium has been organized by the Professor Hu at the Biology Department of the University, which also benefits a number of universities and research institutes in the territory and on the mainland. Her active participation in the development of Chinese medicinal research at the Chinese University has contributed to the establishment of the former Chinese Medicinal Material Research Centre in 1970s. She was also instrumental in the establishment of the School of Chinese Medicine in the University. Professor Hu participated in the research on Trilex, which involves primarily staff members of the School of Chinese Medicine in the University. The project attracted a grant of HK$8 million from the Innovation and Technology Fund and the end product of the research, Trilex, is now available for sale in the market.