Scientist Dennis Lo secures appointment as next head of CUHK

The only candidate recommended by the Chinese University of Hong Kong's principal selection committee, Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, was approved as the next head of the institution on Friday.

The university’s governing council voted unanimously for Lo, endorsing him to succeed Rocky Tuan Sung-chi as president and vice-chancellor on January 8 for a five-year term.

Lo has worked for the university for 27 years. He is currently the associate dean (research) of the CUHK medical school, chairman of the Department of Chemical Pathology and Li Ka Shing professor of medicine at CUHK.

He is also the director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology of CUHK.

When asked to comment on his appointment, Lo said he was grateful and honored, and also thanked the Council for the support and trust.

He hopes to build on the foundation laid by his predecessors to further enhance the university's strength in research and innovation, enabling CUHK's academic achievements to have a greater impact internationally.

Simultaneously, he aims to promote humanistic values and cultivate students to become talented individuals with both virtue and ability. He also told reporters that he looks forward to working closely with the Council and the university management to lead CUHK to new heights.

When asked about the 2019 social arrest, he said it was an unprecedented event for the university at that time. However, CUHK is now back on the right track and he plans to focus on essential tasks in this new beginning, including promoting academics and education.

He expressed gratitude to Tuan for his efforts in leading the university to improvements in international rankings and academic reputation, noting that Tuan had to handle issues related to the social unrest and the pandemic during his tenure.

Lo also emphasized that academic freedom is the cornerstone of the university and he will maintain dialogue with different faculties.

He said he intends to communicate more with students after taking office, also acknowledging that the student union is an important element of students' education at the university, voicing his support towards its reconstruction, one that will comply with the Societies Ordinance and relevant procedures, with the university assisting students in this process.