An international city starts with a global university.

The year 2022 began with the fifth wave of the current pandemic as classrooms, workplaces, and businesses closed their doors, and once again tested our resolve as a city and community. Now, as Hong Kong writes its comeback story, we are reconnecting with the world, hosting global events, and finding our place in a rapidly changing world.

As we have for over a century, the University of Hong Kong is part of this movement, both as a reflection of these shifting trends and as a leader that is driving hope, peace, and progress. Throughout HKU’s history, our people have responded to the needs of their times. Today, we have a chance to serve and lead again. I am grateful to all members of the HKU family, especially those who have worked on the frontlines to protect and enhance our lives. My deep thanks to each and every one of you.

Above all else, this has been a year for active legacy-building. Our faculty, staff, and students honoured HKU’s 111th Anniversary, a celebration that continues into 2023, by working on the future we want for our children and grandchildren. A spectacular illumination on Foundation Day that bathed our historic buildings in a dynamic sea of light was followed in the summer with the groundbreaking of Tech Landmark, a complex of institutes that positions us on the forefront of future breakthrough discoveries.

More importantly, Tech Landmark ignites a roadmap of special projects that secures our capacity to resolve global challenges and deliver for social good. Already, we have established the D. H. Chen College, a student residential space that draws on the values and philosophy of Buddhist beliefs, and coming up we will unveil the Pokfield Campus, among many other initiatives you can read about in this annual report.

Indeed, it has been a personal joy for me to welcome back local and non-local students to the HKU campus after lengthy pandemic restrictions. Nothing can replace the value of collaboration that human emotions and interactions bring. In that same spirit, I believe it is critical for exchange programmes to return to a state of vibrancy because HKU – officially the world’s most international university – has always been committed to drawing the best students from afar, while offering local students the chance to broaden and be exposed to international horizons. With that in mind, we are actively moving forward with an expanded array of learning modes, using the knowledge we gained during the pandemic on how technology can help bridge gaps in education.

The international research landscape has transformed and HKU will adopt a big vision approach. As a world-leading university, HKU shall aim high to respond effectively in a global landscape that is being re-shaped by sustainability goals, environmental emergencies, and geopolitical concerns. We are helping our community navigate these complexities as they emerge, while working to nurture innovation. HKU is in position to lead and support Hong Kong, with partnerships across the border including the Greater Bay Area very much geared towards these ambitions.

In the long term, our aim is to cut across sectors. For example, our growth plans include biotechnology and life-related technology, where science, engineering, medicine, and dentistry can make initially large contributions: using robotic engineering and artificial intelligence to achieve healthy populations, and looking deeper into the role of biomedical engineering as a cross-point for health and medicine. We are also exploring our leadership in research and expertise in areas such as climate, built environments, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to propel Hong Kong towards a sustainable future – while applying innovation to the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Of course, our greatest assets are our people. I continue to commit to bringing the finest global talent to HKU, who accelerate a culture and mindset where everyone thrives and achieves. We have already welcomed scholars and students from top international universities.

On my part, that also means providing a level of environment where these talents are not only drawn to HKU, but are willing and happy to stay in our community. This task is made harder in a pandemic where family and other personal commitments understandably take priority, but we are sensitive to individual needs and will find a way through together.

The global battle for talent is fiercer than ever. The most resilient economies are those which establish a clear lead in talent development. Talent is the key to innovation and competitiveness and the University no doubt is the major source of that. In the post-pandemic world, it is not the most intelligent that will survive, but the ones that are the most adaptable. HKU is leading the change to achieve academic excellence and in grooming talents not only for the city, but also for the country and the world.

HKU is proof that there are no limits on our possibilities. Yes, the world is deeply divided, and inward thinking has diminished trust and openness. But here in Hong Kong, we have come a long way not only in these few years, but over the 111 years our University has served humanity. Once again, we stand on the precipice of meaningful change and now is the time to climb up the mountain, look bravely beyond – and advance boldly in front.

Wang Anshi (王安石), the Chinese poet, philosopher and politician during the Song dynasty, once said, “We have no fear of the floating clouds that block our vision, as we are already on the summit (不畏浮雲遮望眼，只緣身在最高層).”