Economist formally apologises for ‘sexist’ campus talk as students urge suspension

Terence Chong Tai-leung, an associate professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, publicly apologized on Tuesday for remarks he made during a college assembly on September 22 that were deemed "sexist." The economist and head of New Asia College received nearly 100 signatures from students and alumni on an online petition urging his suspension from college duties.

Chong acknowledged that his comments, which included the notion that women should marry wealthy partners and should not pursue a PhD, had caused public discontent and offense. He expressed regret for any misunderstandings and discomfort that his remarks may have caused. The controversy arose when Chong presented a talk titled "How to invest in your life?", which included a slide with the heading "The Cost-Benefit Analysis of Women Marrying for Money".

The presentation sparked outrage among students, who accused him of reducing women's choices to financial considerations and objectifying them. Two students who attended the assembly expressed their discomfort and disappointment with Chong's views and the college's handling of the incident. New Asia College had previously warned Chong about the potential impact of his comments and the need to consider the feelings of the university community.