Rocky Tuan Sung-chi, the vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said that despite criticism of his reappointment, he would focus on the future and lead the institution into a new chapter.
Due to some of the actions taken during the extradition turmoil, Tuan has been subject to controversy.
Former Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said Tuan's re-election "means that he and those around him deserve recognition, encouragement and praise for their actions during the riots, and these can be repeated", showing his opposition.
The reappointment was announced a year and a half before Tuan's current six-year term expires at the end of 2023.
Tuan said that if the views of others could not be changed, then he would change the way he viewed events. He added that he was focusing on the future and that he would lead the university into a new chapter, with next year marking its 60th anniversary.
After the unrest, Tuan again faced controversy involving national security-related matters at the university and severed ties with the student union.
Asked if he was concerned about the university's difficulties in getting funding approval from the Legislative Council, Tuan said people would understand as long as they "do a good job".
On any plans after 2026, Tuan said he had not yet decided, adding, "Let's get that out of the way first." But he said he was an optimistic man and never wondered if he regretted being vice-chancellor because he believed he was "doing the right thing".
"Everything we do in life is a challenge. If you're going down a really easy path, then you must be going down the wrong path," he said.
As a renowned biomedical scientist, Tuan said instructing and researching local universities could secure their place in the world. However, the future of the university should be in line with the city's knowledge economy direction, and the university should prepare for a "one-stop" pipeline of talent, he added.
Tuan said the influx of immigrants had taken away some of the best talent and the government should either plug the loopholes or speed up the recruitment of talent.
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