LOUIS HSIAO-YUN CHEN: EPITOME OF RARE EVENTS

When Louis Chen Hsiao Yun turned 60 in 2000, Lee Seng Luan, who succeeded him as head of the Department of Mathematics of the National University of Singapore (NUS) in July 2000, discussed with some colleagues and friends in the department and in the Singapore Mathematical Society how they could intellectually honor a local mathematician who has established an international mathematical reputation and made significant educational contributions to the nation. We succeeded an eminent line of expatriate mathematicians without inheriting a tradition of formally or routinely cherishing the scholarship of our predecessors. There was no local precedent since Louis was among the first batch of local scholars who returned home to carve a niche for himself soon after his doctorate in the United States. This deficiency in tradition and Louis’ modesty made it a non-trivial effort for us to go ahead with even a simple symposium of celebration — something which was also mooted at that time by his friends, Bai Zhidong, He Xuming, Hu Feifang and Hwang Chii-Ruey. Eventually, with Louis’ blessings and on the condition that it be a low-key event and a small gathering confined to a few close friends, it was organised with the kind efforts of Cheng Kai Nah, Choi Kwok Pui, Hsing Tailen, Bai Zhidong, Manjeet Kaur and Stella Pang. So was that it a one-day symposium was held on 15 December 2000, within a neighbourhood of the auspicious day. The symposium was mathematically