Appointment of Research Grants Council Chairman

     The Government announced today (February 25) that the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, has appointed Professor Wong Yuk-shan as Chairman of the Research Grants Council (RGC) for a term of three years with effect from March 1, 2021.

     Professor Wong is an expert in environmental biotechnology, plant biochemistry and mangrove conservation/utilisation. He is the President of the Open University of Hong Kong and has extensive experience in teaching, research and administrative work at a number of universities. He has a distinguished public service record, notably as the current Chairman of the New Energy Transport Fund Steering Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service. He was also a member of the University Grants Committee (UGC) between 2005 and 2011. 

     "Professor Wong is a dedicated educator who has devoted himself to public service and contributed significantly to the development of the post-secondary education sector. With his ample experience in university administration and academic research, I am confident that Professor Wong will continue to strengthen the vibrant research culture in academia and foster closer collaboration between the RGC and other research bodies on the Mainland and overseas, leading the RGC to scale new heights," Mr Yeung said.

     Mr Yeung thanked Professor Joseph Lee Hun-wei, the outgoing RGC Chairman, for his support and contributions, and wished him every success in his new position as the President of the Macau University of Science and Technology.

     The RGC advises the Government, through the UGC, on the needs of Hong Kong's higher education institutions in the field of academic research and on the distribution of funding for academic research projects undertaken by academic staff of higher education institutions. The RGC manages a variety of research funding programmes, including the General Research Fund, the Early Career Scheme, the Collaborative Research Fund, the Research Impact Fund, the Theme-based Research Scheme, the Areas of Excellence Scheme and various Joint Research Schemes. It has set up committees and subject panels to assess research bids in various disciplines, such as biology and medicine, business studies, engineering, humanities and social sciences, and physical sciences. It also manages a number of fellowship schemes, including the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme and the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme.