Pandemic adviser named as interim head of medical school at Hong Kong university as global search begins for new dean
- Government pandemic adviser Professor Wallace Lau Chak-sing to serve as interim head at University of Hong Kong’s medical school from August 1
- Lau recommended for role by Professor Xiang Zhang, HKU’s president, citing his current work as convenor of advisory panel on Covid-19 vaccines
Government pandemic adviser Professor Wallace Lau Chak-sing will take over as interim dean of the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) medical school from August, as a global hunt for a permanent successor gets under way.
In an email obtained by the Post, Professor Xiang Zhang, HKU’s president and vice-chancellor, told the faculty’s staff and students he had recommended Lau to the university’s council, with the new interim dean to take up his duties from August 1.
He added that Lau would remain as dean until a new head of faculty had been appointed, with an international search already under way for candidates.
Lau, who is also chair professor of HKU’s rheumatology and clinical immunology division and chief of service at Queen Mary Hospital’s department of medicine, previously served as the faculty’s associate dean from 2013 to 2018 and currently chairs the university’s department of medicine.