Hong Kong professor apologises for comments on marriage and women in academia, but maintains he ‘did not discriminate’

A university professor named Terence Chong at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has expressed regret after his remarks on gender and marriage during a college-wide presentation sparked controversy on social media. According to the alleged comments, Chong suggested that academic achievements are "useless" for women, as they would have to "fish for a golden tortoise," a Chinese euphemism for a rich husband.

He also allegedly discouraged female students from pursuing PhD programs, stating that a woman's youth is "very precious."

The presentation, titled "How to invest in your life?," took place on a Tuesday evening and had a registration limit of 1,420 students. Following the assembly, students took to social media, specifically Threads, to express their dissatisfaction with Chong's speech. One user posted a screenshot of their feedback form, criticizing Chong for espousing "old-fashioned social norms of gender roles," which they perceived as demeaning women's integrity and limiting their roles to sexual relations.

In response to the backlash, Chong released a statement apologizing for his comments, but he maintained that he "did not discriminate." The professor claimed that he believed both men and women could find partners of good status, yet he did not clarify the reason behind his focus on women in the presentation. Hong Kong's French-language newspaper, HKFP, has reached out to Chong and CUHK for further comment.