COMMUNICATION

The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) announced today (12 June) its appointment of Dr Hong Hing-cheung, Joe, as the new Executive Director with effect from 15 June 2026. Dr Hong will succeed Mr Albert Chow, whose service with HKCAAVQ will end on 14 June 2026.

Dr Hong is currently the Deputy Executive Director (Academic) of the HKCAAVQ, where he has served in senior leadership roles for more than a decade. In his present role, he provides strategic leadership over HKCAAVQ’s core statutory functions, including accreditation, assessment, regulatory monitoring, policy development, and organisational performance. He works closely with the incumbent Executive Director and Council to steer the Secretariat’s operations, uphold regulatory rigour, and sustain public confidence in Hong Kong’s qualifications system.

Dr Hong holds a PhD in Educational Psychology from The University of Hong Kong. He began his career in the higher education sector at the University of Hong Kong in the early 1990s, and over the past three decades he has cultivated a distinguished career across multiple universities in Hong Kong. Through these roles, he has acquired a substantial track record of leadership and sectoral insight. In 2009, he joined HKCAAVQ as Registrar and subsequently advanced through senior positions. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in shaping HKCAAVQ’s operational model, strengthening its regulatory monitoring framework, and reinforcing its role in quality assurance.

A global recruitment exercise in search of the next Executive Director was launched after the incumbent Executive Director Mr Albert Chow’s resignation was accepted. Hon Rock Chen Chung-nin, SBS, JP, Council Chairman of HKCAAVQ, remarked that Dr Hong demonstrated exemplary performance over the years in HKCAAVQ and has made remarkable contributions to the higher education sector. In the global recruitment process, he distinguished himself with extensive professional knowledge and solid experience in accreditation and this was highly recognised by the Search and Selection Committee (SSC). He achieved the highest overall scores among all candidates and the Committee concluded that Dr Hong was the best fit for the candidate profile. Accordingly, the Committee unanimously agreed that Dr Hong is the most suitable candidate to be appointed as the next Executive Director. Hon Chen believes that under Dr Hong’s leadership, HKCAAVQ will continue to seize new opportunities and drive sustainable development. On behalf of the Council, he extended his heartfelt congratulations on Dr Hong’s appointment.

Dr Hong will continue to collaborate actively and work closely with the HKCAAVQ Council towards the organisation’s strategic direction, advancing its vision and mission, and fostering even stronger partnerships with the dynamic post‑secondary and VPET sectors. Leveraging his extensive expertise and well‑established professional network, the Council is confident that, under his visionary and strategic leadership, HKCAAVQ will consolidate the robust foundation laid by the incumbent Executive Director, Mr Albert Chow, and his predecessors. The Council further believes that HKCAAVQ will reach new heights in safeguarding the integrity of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework and in elevating the quality of post‑secondary education and VPET in Hong Kong.

Media Contacts

[Press Release] Announcement from the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications – Appointment of New Executive Director