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Elizabeth Cheung

A top scientist named as the sole candidate to lead the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has pledged to defend the varsity’s academic freedoms amid concerns from students and staff arising from the city’s national security legislation.
Molecular geneticist Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming also expressed a wish for the institution to focus more on the field of artificial intelligence (AI), as well as guide students hoping to launch start-ups.
Lo met students, staff and alumni on Thursday to lay out his vision for the university if he secures the top job, a day before its governing council holds a special meeting to consider his appointment.
The academic was the only candidate recommended by the university’s search committee to become the new head of the institution.
Lo’s engagement sessions were held at CUHK’s Sha Tin campus and covered topics such as academic freedom, communication between management and staff, students and the government, as well as talent recruitment and retention.
Each session lasted about 1½ hours. More than 30 questions were asked at the one for students, while the event for staff appeared more lukewarm and ended 15 minutes earlier.
Lo, best known for his invention of non-invasive prenatal testing, which has been adopted globally, said he hoped to expand the university’s focus on AI and teach students more about intellectual property rights and entrepreneurial skills.
“If I become the president, students’ knowledge of how to protect intellectual property will need to be enhanced,” he said. “Alongside patent rights, we also hope to teach them some skills on how to open start-up companies.”


He also pointed to the success of some university academics and alumni as entrepreneurs, such as those behind the AI company SenseTime.
Lo, currently the associate dean of the university’s medical school, was repeatedly asked by students what he would do to protect academic freedom amid concerns that restrictions had tightened in recent years.
“Academic freedom is something holy to a university,” he said. “On the premise of complying with the law, we will definitely safeguard academic freedom. You can count on me to defend this.”
Lo also expressed confidence that ordinary academic research would not fall foul of the law.
“For normal academic discussion, I believe the chance of touching legal red lines is low,” he said.
US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch published a report on Tuesday warning of a “severe decline in academic freedom and the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly” at the city’s eight publicly funded universities since the Beijing national security law was enacted in 2020.
Last year, history scholar Rowena He Xiaoqing, whose research included the history of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, was sacked by CUHK after her visa extension request was denied by immigration authorities.
Earlier this month, veteran journalist Allan Au Ka-lun also took a break from his role as a consultant at the university’s journalism and communication school, after four of his articles published on a now-defunct online news service were ruled seditious by a court.
A student at Thursday’s session with Lo asked: “What measures would you take to protect students from external political pressure and intervention?”
The academic replied that he attached great importance to the university’s college system and academic freedom, but stopped short of elaborating.
He also declined to comment on individual cases when the students mentioned the incidents involving He and Au.

Lo also discussed his views on recruiting and retaining talent, calling for a more “proactive” and long-term approach when it came to keeping staff.
“When we nurture talent, perhaps we need to be more visionary and plan the career development in the next five to 10 years for some people,” he said.
He also pledged to communicate more with students and staff, as well as with lawmakers and the government.
He pointed to Kenneth Chen Wei-on, a former Legislative Council secretary general, selection as a vice-president, with Lo saying he hoped to draw on Chen’s experience to “reset and redevelop relationships”.
Lo also noted that the development of the CUHK Medical Centre, a private hospital in Sha Tin affiliated with the institution, would be one of his top priorities.
The hospital revealed in March that it had lost HK$734 million (US$94 million) in the past financial year, about 30 per cent more than initially estimated, under a renegotiation plan for the HK$4 billion government loan.
Cynthia Chan, a fourth-year journalism and communication student, said that Lo gave general responses during his session with students.
“I have reservations about Lo’s views on developments for humanities and social science. I hope to observe him further,” she said.
Benson Cheng, an IT service employee at the university who attended another session, said Lo was the ideal candidate for the top job.
“Lo was friendly and showed clear thinking,” he said. “I hope he can help CUHK achieve more … in terms of academic development.”
Lawmaker Lau Kwok-fan, who sits on the council, said Lo had also met members of the body on Thursday.
The legislator said Lo was familiar with the university’s development and knew clearly about its existing problems, expressing confidence the academic could help the institution to “start again and reform”.


Contender to lead Chinese University of Hong Kong vows to protect academic freedoms

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Education in Hong Kong

Professor Dennis Lo (second from right) held three sessions with CUHK students, staff and alumni. Photo: Edmond So

CUHK should spend more attention on the field of AI, Dennis Lo has said. Photo: Eugene Lee

Who is Hong Kong scientist Dennis Lo and what is sole candidate for top CUHK job best known for?

Professor Dennis Lo has been at Chinese University since returning from Britain in 1997. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Dennis Lo is also a founding member of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences. Photo: Yik Yeung-man 

Hong Kong journalist on leave from university duties after ruling on seditious articles

Allan Au, a veteran journalist who previously worked at TVB and RTHK, wrote articles ruled to be seditious by a Hong Kong court. Photo: Handout

Allan Au has also written books on media ethics that were deemed objectionable by authorities. One of his travel books, pictured here, was also flagged for removal at a book fair in July. Photo: May Tse

News

Hong Kong

Education

Professor Dennis Lo also calls for more focus on AI field during sit-down sessions with students, staff and alumni ahead of council’s decision


Professor Dennis Lo also calls for more focus on AI field during sit-down sessions with students, staff and alumni ahead of council’s decision.
