Local scholar Alexander Wai gets top job at Hong Kong’s Baptist University after beating 200 candidates in global search

Professor Alexander Wai will leave his current role as deputy president of Polytechnic University, where he has worked for more than two decades

At a forum ahead of his appointment, Wai pledges to uphold academic freedom and freedom of expression to the best of his ability

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Alexander Wai helps to cleans a kitchen at PolyU, which was the centre of chaotic scenes during the city’s social unrest last year. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 10:27pm, 22 Jul 2020Updated: 2:23am, 23 Jul 2020

A local engineering scholar will head Hong Kong’s Baptist University from next February and has pledged to uphold academic freedom and freedom of expression to the best of his ability within the law.

Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong, deputy president and provost at Polytechnic University, was formally appointed as the institution’s next president and vice-chancellor for a five-year term on Wednesday.

Wai, an optical fibre communications expert who beat 200 candidates after a worldwide search to fill the post, also said he would take a “wait-and-see” attitude towards the sweeping new national security law, dismissing many of the debates and discussions about the legislation’s implications on Hong Kong as “speculation”.

He made the comments ahead of his appointment during a 90-minute consultation forum on Wednesday for Baptist University alumni. The session was one of four held for Wai to present his vision for the Kowloon Tong-based university to academic and administrative staff, students and alumni.

Baptist University is located in Kowloon Tong. Photo: Winson Wong

In a statement, Baptist University confirmed its governing council had approved its search committee’s recommendation on the appointment of Wai as the sole finalist for the top job.

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