The new vice-chancellor of Chinese University has pledged to heal the institution's 'tense' relations with students and heed their views, among others, in deciding who should be awarded honorary doctorates. In an interview with the South China Morning Post yesterday, Professor Joseph Sung Jao-yiu said he would communicate with students and staff through his new online blog after he starts a five-year term tomorrow, succeeding Professor Lawrence Lau Juen-yee. One item at the top of his agenda is handling the political aftermath of the row that erupted after the university on June 2 rejected the student union's request to install the Goddess of Democracy statue on its Sha Tin campus, saying it had to 'reaffirm the principle of political neutrality'. The decision was criticised by some students, staff and alumni as vetoing freedom of speech. Bowing to pressure, the university later allowed the statute to remain pending a decision on its long-term future. Sung said relations with students had since been 'tense' and he was keen to rebuild trust. 'Chinese University always respects academic and speech freedom,' he said. 'We have to stay politically neutral to allow different voices. In the latest incident, we have communication problems. At the same time, we see how our students care about society. This is a tradition of Chinese University. I hope we can build a relationship of trust and mutual respect.' The vice-chancellor's blog on the university's website would be a new channel of communication. 'It is our aspiration to provide quality medical services with reasonable prices, and help cut the waiting time for services, such as cataracts, at public hospitals,' Sung said. 'However, some people may think we are just trying to make profits by planning a private hospital. Good communication can avoid misunderstanding.' Regarding increasing protests by the 'post-80s generation', Sung said it was good that young people cared about society. He appealed to students to always respect others while expressing their views or frustration. The past few years have seen controversy over the university's annual conferring of honorary doctorates. Last December, four activists stormed the stage during the conferral ceremony for Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen. In 2007, about 20 students shouting 'the shame of Chinese University' repeatedly tried to force their way onto the stage when former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa was honoured. 'I don't want to see radical behaviour at such ceremonies, also graduation ceremonies,' Sung said. 'This is not good for the people awarded the honour. The ceremonies are also a very important moment for parents and their children.' He said a special committee decided who would receive honorary doctorates. 'In future, we will consider the views of our stakeholders in making this decision,' he said. The university was also criticised last month for a delay in putting on display a statute of Dr Sun Yat-sen, the father of modern China. Sun's granddaughter, Lily Sun Sui-fong, openly expressed her disappointment at the 'disrespectful' delay. Sung said yesterday Sun's statute would be erected on the campus 'very soon'. Asked what would happen if other statutes were sent to the university, he said: 'It is difficult to draw a line on what statute will be accepted... We can only hold a broad principle. If someone wants to hold some specific activities or send us a statute, we have to consider how it will affect the whole university.' Concerns have been expressed about Lau's close relations with the government and Beijing. He is an executive councillor and member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Sung said earlier that he would not take any political appointment. 'I don't want to compare myself with Professor Lau... I don't know if I will be a popular vice-chancellor, what I will do my best according to my beliefs and let people judge,' Sung said. The university wants to reform its staff appraisal system to encourage teachers to spend more effort on teaching as opposed to research. A gastroenterologist, Sung is head of the department of medicine and therapeutics. In 2003, he was named a Sars hero after treating the first batch of patients, including some of his colleagues, at Prince of Wales Hospital. He will continue to teach general education courses and treat patients at a clinic on Saturdays.