Editorial | Chinese University’s new leader poised to write a new chapter

The search for a new leader has been challenging for the Chinese University of Hong Kong as it struggled to move beyond turbulent times. It also came at a time when the city has embarked on a new journey of transformation into an innovation and talent hub that is pivotal to development and growth at the regional and national level. The tasks ahead are daunting.

After a long and careful process, renowned scientist Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, the sole candidate recommended for the top job, was endorsed by the university council in a special meeting on Friday. Lo will succeed Rocky Tuan Sung-chi as the new president and vice-chancellor in January.

The current associate dean of the university’s medical school, and chairman of the department of chemical pathology, is no stranger in the world of science. From non-invasive prenatal testing technology to blood tests for detecting cancer, the molecular scientist’s academic credentials are among the finest. He has won more than 50 awards for his discoveries and inventions. They include the Future Science Prize in Life Science in 2016, the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in 2021 and the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award in 2022.

Lo’s rich mainland connections also make him an ideal choice. He was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and also received the mainland’s inaugural Tengchong Science Prize. He is one of the champions for closer integration and research within the Greater Bay Area.

Coming after the turbulent tenure of his predecessor, Lo carries high hopes of writing a new chapter in the university’s 60-year history. Tuan resigned just a week into a new three-year term in January, citing personal reasons. He was embroiled in political controversies in the wake of the 2019 social unrest, during which he was criticised for supporting student protesters.

Unlike Tuan, who faced tough grilling on his political views during his get-together with students, staff and alumni in 2017, Lo’s sessions with stakeholders on Thursday appeared less politically charged. Lo pledged to uphold academic freedom and engage with the students and other stakeholders. He also said he was not worried about a loss of confidence in the wake of the 2019 turmoil. The university was now “back on track for greater things”, he said.