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HKU president Xiang Zhang to step down in 2028 at end of second 5-year term

The University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) president and vice-chancellor Xiang Zhang has announced that he will be stepping down in 2028 after completing a second…

By Samantha Johnson / July 27, 2026
The University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) president and vice-chancellor Xiang Zhang has announced that he will be stepping down in 2028 after completing a second five-year term, according to an email seen by the South China Morning Post.

In the email, sent to the university community in the early hours of Monday, Zhang described the past eight years spent working to elevate HKU’s academic standing as “a defining honour” of his life.

Two members of the university’s council told the SCMP that Zhang’s departure would be discussed at a meeting held on Tuesday.

In his email, Zhang also reflected on the university’s future in “a complicated, rapidly changing world marked by polarised views and conflicts”, saying the institution would have to meet the challenges brought about by artificial intelligence.

“I have realised that it is time for HKU to embrace fresh ideas and for a new leader to guide this great transformation,” Zhang said.

“I remain a scientist and a professor at heart. I yearn to return to my laboratory, to answer profound scientific questions, and to make a societal impact.

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