Head of controversy-hit Hong Kong university pledges to equip students with ‘broad mind, long-term vision’
- Professor Xiang Zhang says institution will seek tighter connections with Shenzhen and tap into expansion of Qianhai economic zone with new campus
- Renowned physicist makes comment in rare media appearance following string of political controversies that engulfed university
The head of Hong Kong’s oldest university has pledged to equip students with a “long-term vision and broad mind” to meet challenges faced by the city and the country while stressing it has been a vision of the institution “from day one” to make contributions to China.
Professor Xiang Zhang, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, also said his institution would seek tighter connections with Shenzhen and tap into the expansion of the Qianhai economic zone with its plan to set up a new campus across the border.
The renowned Chinese-American physicist, who has led the university since 2018, made the comments during a recent interview with Shenzhen TV, marking a rare media appearance after a string of political controversies engulfed the university.
Four undergraduates among more than 30 members of the university’s student union council were arrested and charged with advocating terrorism over a controversial resolution mourning the death of a man who stabbed a police officer in the back before killing himself in July.
State media also accused the student union of “discrediting” national security education in the city.