CU departure unrelated to academic freedom in HK: Joseph Sung

The decision to step down from the Chinese University of Hong Kong is unrelated to the academic freedom in Hong Kong, said former Chinese University president and gastroenterologist Joseph Sung Jao-yiu.

Sung told reporters today that he will start his new position in Singapore in March next year after taking up a new role at the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore as Dean of Medicine and Senior Vice President.

He revealed that taking the job was never his intention, but while helping the university searching for a suitable candidate, he ended up being the one with the job.

Sung said he is impressed by the university’s state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence and Robotics technologies, claiming he is thrilled to have the opportunity to work in this field.

Sung also said he sees opportunities to increase collaboration between academic institutions in the two cities.

When being asked about recent events on experts being criticized for expressing their scientific views on the epidemic, Sung did not respond to the question.