Chinese University of Hong Kong approves scientist Dennis Lo as new head
Hong Kong Free Press
The Chinese University of Hong Kong has approved renowned molecular biologist Dennis Lo as its new vice-chancellor and president.
The university council on Friday unanimously approved the appointment of Lo, currently the associate research dean of the institution’s medical faculty. The decision came after a search committee recommended Lo as the sole candidate.
Lo, a member of a leading Chinese political advisory body, will succeed outgoing president Rocky Tuan in January 2025, when his five-year term begins. Tuan came in for strong criticism for his perceived sympathy for students involved in the 2019 protests and unrest.
During a press conference on Friday, council chairperson John Chai said Lo had “extensive administrative experience and networks” after performing multiple roles in the school as well as in the public domain, making him a perfect candidate to lead the university.
Speaking at the same event, Lo pledged to strengthen the university’s academic achievements internationally while continuing the “humanistic spirit” of CUHK, where he has worked since 1997.
“My feelings for CUHK are profound,” he said in Cantonese, adding that he expected to work closely with the council in the future.
Incumbent president Tuan announced his departure in January, saying at the time it was an “opportune moment” for him to step down following an overhaul of the CUHK governance structure.
Tuan, a biomedical scientist, was appointed as head of the university in 2018 but was soon embroiled in controversies over his leadership during the pro-democracy protests and unrest in 2019.
In a response to reporters on Friday, Lo called what happened in 2019 “unprecedented” but said the university had since got “back on track.”
“I believe we are at a new chapter, where we can focus on our duty to advance knowledge and education,” he said, also thanking his predecessor for raising CUHK’s profile internationally over his seven-year tenure.
A report published by international NGOs Human Rights Watch and Hong Kong Democracy Council this week said academic freedom in Kong Kong had been in “severe decline” since Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 to quell dissent – claims that the government slammed as “fabricated.”
When asked about the report, Lo called academic freedoms “a cornerstone” of the university, but he also said academic research must be law-abiding.
“I have deep respect for academic freedoms, but it has to comply with the law,” he said, adding normal academic studies would be unlikely to cross the “red line.”
He declined to comment on CUHK journalism teacher Allan Au, who was on “personal leave” after a judge in a landmark case ruled at least four of Au’s opinion pieces published on now-shuttered outlet Stand News were seditious.
“In principle we do not comment on individual cases,” he said.
He also said his political affiliation in China would bring “[CUHK’s] voice into decision-making organs in the mainland” but not affect academic freedom.
Lo is a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body. He also serves in the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, an advisory body to city leader John Lee.
Lo is known for pioneering the development of non-invasive prenatal testing, a widely-adopted technique that uses blood tests from the mother to diagnose genetic diseases in the foetus.
He is also a pioneer of non-invasive approaches for early cancer detection.
Student union
Separately, Chai and Lo were asked by reporters whether the university had plans to restore its defunct student union, which has been left vacant since 2021.
In February that year, CUHK severed ties with the student union, demanding it register as an independent body under the city’s Societies Ordinance and assume legal responsibility for itself. The elected student union cabinet at the time resigned collectively shortly afterwards.
Lo said the student union was an “important element in the process of university education,” adding that CUHK would assist prospective union to register according to the regulations.
Chai said in order for the student union to register as an independent society, the council had to pass a modified constitution for it.
“As of this moment I have not seen a modified [student union] constitution presented to the council,” he said. “If it’s possible, I would like to see this matter in the council in the coming year.”
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