Professor Douglas SO

Professor Douglas So Cheung-tak BBS JP is a solicitor of Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.  After obtaining his law degree from The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Douglas specialised in commercial law at Baker McKenzie, a leading international law firm.  He advised the successful IPO of China Eastern Airlines in 1997 and PetroChina in 2000, amongst others, on the stock exchanges of Hong Kong and New York.

Douglas later became General Counsel, Company Secretary and Executive Director, Charities of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, where he served for nearly 15 years.  Thereafter, Douglas was appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor & Vice-President of HKU, his Alma Mater, in charge of institutional advancement.  In 2023, he joined the HKU Arts Faculty as a Professor of Practice to pursue his passion in teaching, learning and research.

In 2014, Douglas founded F11 Foto Museum inside an elegant 1930s art-deco style building in Happy Valley to promote photography, heritage conservation and private museums.  Subsequently, he established f22 foto space, an award-winning gallery, with a focus on photo art and fine vintage cameras. In 2019, Douglas opened Hong Kong’s first Leica flagship store in Causeway Bay as a joint venture with the renowned German camera manufacturer.  

Douglas is devoted to serving the community.  Currently, he is the Chairman of the following:

1. Museum Advisory Committee;

2. Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation;

3. M Plus Collections Trust; 

4. Board of Trustees, The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust; and

5. Audit and Risk Committee, HKBU Chinese Medicine Hospital (HKBUCMH)
    

In addition, Douglas is a Member of the Education Commission, Advisory Committee on Arts Development, and Chinese Medicine Development Committee; a Board Member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Foundation, Food Angel, and HKBUCMH; as well as an Advisor to Our Hong Kong Foundation, Dashun Foundation, and Hong Kong Architecture Centre.  

Douglas is the immediate past Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, and Advisory Committee on Chinese Medicine Development Fund.  Previously, he also chaired the Corporate Governance Committee of UNICEF HK, the Human Resources Committee and Development Committee of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, cum its Deputy Chairman.   Douglas is also a former Board Member of the Community Chest, HK Phil, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital, and HK Cyberport.

Over the years, Douglas has delightfully contributed his time and expertise serving as Juror for a number of professional competitions, including those organised by the HK Institute of Architects; HK Institute of Surveyors; Chartered Institute of Building and Leica Oskar Barnack Award in Germany.  Recently, he served as Head Juror of the Design Competition 1 + 1 for the expansion of HK Science Museum and HK Museum of History.

Douglas is a frequent speaker and moderator at conferences, such as talks hosted by the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China; GBA Heritage Summit; GBA Cultural Heritage Forum; HK Museum Summit; Our HK Foundation; HK Rotary Club; HKU Museum; French Consulate of HK & Macau; Fine Art Asia; Phillips Auction; Digital Art Fair, to name a few.  He has also given dozens of media interviews on a wide range of topics of public interest.  

In recognition of his excellent public service and contributions to arts, culture and heritage conservation, Douglas was appointed a Justice of the Peace and awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government, as well as the honour of Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government.

Douglas has also appeared on the Asia’s Most Influential List of HK Tatler and Gafencu’s Power 300.  In 2022, Douglas was elected an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects (HK) “in recognition of his distinguished achievement in promoting heritage conservation and education, and his personal efforts at preserving a diverse range of Hong Kong’s cultural treasures for future generations to appreciate.”