According to the news of the Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao on October 3, the University Council of the University of Hong Kong issued a statement on the 3rd, saying that after consultation with the Academic Affairs Committee, it was unanimously decided that the current president, Zhang Xiang, would continue to serve as the president for a period of 5 years, effective from July 2023. The statement mentioned that the Council believes that the continuity of the university's leadership is very important in consideration of the challenges and developments ahead, and at the same time has confidence in Zhang Xiang and believes that he can continue to play his leadership role and elevate HKU to a higher level.
Zhang Xiang Photo丨The official website of the University of Hong Kong
The statement mentioned that HKU has been able to cope with the crisis in the past three years under the leadership of Zhang Xiang, and that under the COVID-19 pandemic, although the epidemic has been challenging for faculty, staff and students, the University has performed well in its research and teaching.
According to public information, Zhang Xiang obtained a bachelor's and master's degree in physics from Nanjing University, and a doctorate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and is an academician of the National Academy of Engineering and a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, mainly researching micro and nano engineering, photonics, rapid prototyping technology, biomechanical technology, etc. The nano invisible material developed by it was listed by Time magazine as one of the "Top Ten Scientific Discoveries in 2008".
In July 2018, Zhang Xiang was appointed as the 16th President of the University of Hong Kong. His predecessor, Ma Feisen, visited students during the "Illegal Occupy Central" period before abruptly resigning in February 2017. During the storm over the 2019 legislative amendment, Zhang Xiang, as the president of HKU, issued a statement condemning the destructive actions, feeling sad about the violence that occurred in the Legislative Council building, and calling on all parties to be rational and strive to resolve disputes, and not to resort to confrontation.
In April 2019, HKU President Cheung Cheung made a clear statement at the HKU Graduate Council's "My Department Zhang Xiang You Ask Me and Answer" event