From a lost student to a committed mentor, William Du shows how connection can reshape a life and many others.
Born and raised in the Chinese Mainland, William grew up fascinated by Hong Kong long before he ever arrived. As a child, he watched the 1997 handover on television and devoured Hong Kong dramas and detective series. The city on screen seemed fast, modern, full of possibility.
His first visit finally came in 2008, during the Beijing Olympics, for a Model United Nations conference at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “Hong Kong felt like the future,” he reflects. Years later, he became a university student, and the city became his second home.
Small Act, Big Beginning
That first day in Hong Kong was anything but glamorous. “I was standing at Hung Hom Station with two big suitcases, completely lost,” William laughs. “There were so many footbridges, and I had no idea where the student hall was.” He didn’t speak Cantonese and resorted to bits of English, hoping someone would understand. Then a stranger approached, spoke to him in Putonghua, and helped carry his bags to the student hall. “That moment stayed with me,” William says. “It made me realise that language is the first step to belonging.”
Determined to integrate, William promised himself to learn Cantonese no matter how hard it was. “Even if I sounded awkward, I insisted on using it with classmates,” he recalls. “I didn’t want to hide behind English or Putonghua.” Those early efforts were more than linguistic; they helped him to step out of his comfort zone and embrace the unfamiliar. “When you learn a language, you learn a culture,” he says. “And for me, that was the beginning of truly understanding Hong Kong.”
From Hong Kong to Global
With Cantonese now a bridge, William became more curious. At the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), he studied Social Policy and Administration, eager to understand Hong Kong society, politics and people. The mindset to learn more than just through textbooks pushed him to join conferences, volunteer at events, and actively seek every opportunity to broaden his horizons.
Soon, exploration went global. William joined an exchange programme and internship in Canada and the United States, respectively, attended summer school in the United Kingdom, and participated in a study programme organised by Mercedes-Benz in Germany. Each experience added a new layer to his perspective. “The more I saw the world abroad, the more I appreciated Hong Kong’s connectivity and opportunities,” he reflects. Seeing other cities made him value Hong Kong’s unique position as a hub — a place where East meets West and possibilities converge.
Alongside these ventures, William was also searching for a sense of belonging closer to home. “I didn’t attend a local secondary school, so I was looking for a community,” he recalls. It led him to the Federation, where he found peers and mentors who shared his passion for growth. “It felt like a place where ideas and friendships could thrive,” he says. From Dragon 100, where he forged lasting friendships, to Youth I.D.E.A.S., which taught him how to communicate with media and engage policymakers, the Federation became a quiet companion and an alma mater in his journey as he explored both the world and himself.
Taking the Initiative and Giving Back
A pivotal moment arrived at a gala during an international conference at PolyU. Spotting Ronnie Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties, William summoned his nerve, walked up and introduced himself in Cantonese. He recalls with a faint smile, “He instantly knew I wasn’t local.” That brief exchange led to an invitation from Ronnie to become a mentor and for William to volunteer at one of his Hang Lung events. “From this encounter, I learnt about the power of initiative,” says William.
Mentorship became a defining theme in William’s life. From Ronnie Chan to Bernard Chan, Chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board, and other leaders, each offered guidance that shaped his outlook. “I believe in mentorship — passing on what was once given to me,” he says. That belief drives his commitment to giving back to young people and to his “alma mater,” the Federation, which accompanied him through his formative years.
Today, William mentors students at The University of Hong Kong and PolyU, often pairing a mainland student with a local one to foster mutual understanding. He also helped launch initiatives like Time Auction and the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community in Hong Kong, encouraging young people to exchange volunteer hours for learning opportunities with mentors. Beyond these, he serves as a mentor in various programmes organised by the HKFYG Leadership Institute, sharing his journey and insights with aspiring leaders. “I want them to learn from each other, just like I did,” he says. “It’s about building bridges—and creating opportunities for the next generation.”
Giving back didn’t stop at youth. Inspired by another mentor, George Yeo, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs in Singapore, and George’s wife, whose youngest son is a cancer survivor, as well as his mother, a paediatric doctor, William began supporting children with cancer through fundraising initiatives at Viva China Foundation for Children with Cancer. He also champions mental health for young people, exploring ways to ease stress and strengthen resilience. “Belonging is not just physical, but emotional,” he says. “If we can help young people feel supported, we help them thrive.”
Managing these initiatives wasn’t easy. “Honestly, it was hard to juggle everything,” he admits. “I had to prioritise what mattered most and sacrifice some leisure time. But when you know your purpose, those trade-offs feel worthwhile.”
Be a Generalist, Stay Curious
William describes his career as “T-shaped”: broad exposure across policy, culture, and community, anchored by deep expertise in real estate leasing and marketing. “Soft skills, like communication, critical thinking, and curiosity, help you cross divides,” he says. His advice to young people is simple yet profound: “You’ll never know what you’ll become until you keep trying, keep learning.”
Not every step leads straight to the destination, he adds. “Sometimes you circle around, explore the ‘nearby,’ and discover what matters.” For William, that journey began with a single act of kindness at Hung Hom Station and continues today as he helps others find their own path. “Belonging leads to responsibility, and responsibility shapes the next generation,” he says. ■
William Du is a seasoned business executive who has gained greatly from HKFYG activities through programmes such as Dragon 100, Youth I.D.E.A.S., and he fully championed the idea of youth mentorship through his experience with the HKFYG Leadership Institute.