Veteran HSBC banker Peter Wong to head up the University of Hong Kong council

Wong, former head of Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, seen as experienced CEO able to balance different voices

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The government has announced the appointment of Peter Wong, 72, the non-executive Asia-Pacific chairman of Hong Kong’s largest bank HSBC, as HKU council chairman for a term of three years with effect from January 1 next year. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 5:50pm, 27 Nov 2024Updated: 10:49pm, 27 Nov 2024

The government has appointed veteran HSBC banker Peter Wong Tung-shun as head of the governing council of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), putting an experienced CEO praised for his ability to balance voices at the top of a management body after a rancorous year of infighting among the school’s leadership.

Wong, the non-executive Asia-Pacific chairman of Hong Kong’s largest bank HSBC, will take over from barrister Priscilla Wong Pui-sze, who locked horns with HKU president Xiang Zhang over how top positions at the university should be filled among other issues.

The disagreement prompted Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu to intervene by setting up a special committee to decide the way forward.

Chief Executive Lee, in his capacity as university chancellor, also appointed five new members to the council: president of the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy Simon Li Tin-chui; business chamber leader Irons Sze; lawmaker Rock Chen Chung-nin; HR consultant managing director Wilfred Wong Kam-pui; and former chairman of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority Samuel Yung Wing-ki.

The government said the chief executive was confident the new appointees would bring a fresh outlook to the university

“The newly appointed members are all elites in the community, possessing outstanding capabilities and rich experience,” a spokesman said.