Dr Kan Lai-bing graduated with a B.Sc. from the Science Faculty of the University of Hong Kong, studied at the University of California (Berkeley) as a Carnegie Scholar and obtained two Master’s degrees (M.A., M.L.S.) in 1959. After her studies in the States, she returned to Hong Kong and joined the University of Hong Kong Libraries as a young professional, thus commencing her successful career in the Library and Information Science field. During the 1960s, 1970s and in later years, she continued her studies and research and earned a PhD degree at the University of Hong Kong as well as professional qualifications from different countries. 

During the period of 1972-1983, Dr Kan was the University Librarian and Director of the University Library System of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Between 1983-1999, she occupied the position of the University Librarian of the University of Hong Kong.

From the 1960s to 1980s, she was several times elected as the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Library Association. In 1990-1993, she was elected President of the International Association of Orientalist Librarians. In 1994, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (HonDLitt) by the Charles Sturt University, Australia. In 1998, she was elected Honorary University Fellow by the University of Hong Kong. She was also elected by the Charles Sturt University to be their Honorary Fellow. 

Upon retirement from the University Librarian position in mid 1999, Dr Kan continued as the Senior Consultant of the University of Hong Kong Libraries until the end of 2000. 

In 2001, Dr Kan was appointed as Senior Consultant, HKU SPACE and since then she has planned and led all the Library and Information Science (LIS) programmes up to the end of August 2008.  More recently, she has taken up the role of Senior Advisor at HKU SPACE. 

For several decades, Dr Kan put continuous efforts to the development of libraries and librarianship as well as to promote the LIS profession in Hong Kong. Over the years, she spared no effort in the development and expansion of programmes for education and training of local library and information professionals in collaboration with EMS/HKU SPACE.  In 1964, she planned the first Certificate Course for Library Assistants. In 1980, she organized the first Diploma in Librarianship (graduate level), then cooperated with Charles Sturt University to introduce the Graduate Diploma in Librarianship in 1990 and afterwards the Bachelor and Master programmes in Hong Kong.  The majority of the local LIS practitioners had first benefited from such education and professional training, then took advanced studies for higher degrees and obtained promotion to senior administration. Credit should really go to Dr Kan who has served lifelong learning in Librarianship in HKU SPACE for so many years and whose service is well deserving of the Honorary Fellow award.