The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has told a top economist to be mindful of his words and other people’s feelings after he faced a backlash over his discussion of the costs and benefits of women marrying for money in a campus talk.
The controversy erupted shortly after Terence Chong Tai-leung, an associate professor of economics, spoke about investing in one’s life at an assembly held every two weeks at New Asia College on Tuesday.
Chong is also the executive director of the Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance at CUHK.
He ranks 37th worldwide in theoretical econometrics and is among the top 1 per cent for the number of distinct works and journal pages, according to the university’s website. He is also considered to be among the top 5 per cent of economists globally.
CUHK said on Wednesday that the college had asked the speaker to be mindful of his speech and to take into consideration the feelings of stakeholders at the university and in the wider community.
It added that the college would continue to foster an inclusive campus environment based on mutual respect and diversity.
According to posts on social media platform Threads, slides presented by Chong included one titled “Economics of partner choice”, which contained the heading, “The Cost-Benefit Analysis of Women Marrying for Money”.
He also allegedly told the audience that “it’s pointless for women to get high GPAs; they need to marry rich in the end anyway” and that “women better not pursue a PhD because their youth is precious”.
Chong reportedly said that women instead had “to invest in their looks, but for men, as long as they look OK, it’s fine”.
Other remarks on the slides included: “I do not recommend finding a girl of the same age, nor a girl living far away from your home.”
Another slide stated: “Boys try their best to show girls their study ability, academic grades or future ambitions. In fact, these things hold zero attraction for girls who are mature in their thinking.”
The content sparked outrage among students, who accused Chong of reducing women’s criteria for choosing partners to material gain. Critics described the framing as gender-biased, objectifying and unfair.
“I thought I was back in the Qing dynasty,” wrote one social media user who attended the assembly.
“Listening to this is disturbing,” another wrote.
Students also called on the university to launch a formal investigation into the talk, demanding a public apology from Chong alongside his removal or resignation as associate college head.
Some online users, however, defended Chong’s remarks.
“That’s how the real world works, and reality is always uncomfortable,” one wrote.
When reached by the South China Morning Post on Tuesday night, Chong admitted that his presentation was poorly phrased and offered an apology.
“I did not express it very well ... It was definitely not what I meant. Men and women are equal. If anyone might feel uncomfortable, I am really sorry,” he said.
When asked whether any university officials or attendees had raised concerns with him during or after the event, Chong said no one had done so as of Tuesday night.
Chong holds various public service positions, including roles on the Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation, the Competition Commission and the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, among other bodies.
In 2022, he was awarded Hong Kong’s Medal of Honour in recognition of his contributions to the development of trade and industry.
Sisi Liu Pui-shan, director of the Hong Kong Federation of Women’s Centres, said the comment that women should invest in their looks rather than their education created the impression of female objectification.
“As we step into a knowledge-based society, we must remember that women fought long and hard across the globe for their right to education,” she said.
“Suggesting that women don’t need a PhD and should instead focus on their appearance implies that depth and intellect don’t matter for women – a remark that is especially inappropriate coming from a professor in front of students.”
Liu said she believed the incident had raised public awareness of women’s rights and social standing, while underscoring the need for greater efforts in equality education.
“What we’ve been striving for all along is an equal society – one where people are defined by their capabilities rather than gender stereotypes, and where everyone has the freedom to choose,” she said.
“While this started as an economics discussion, the world isn’t defined strictly by numbers and money – it also encompasses sociology, gender studies and diverse ideologies. Ultimately, it comes down to the kind of society we want to build.”
Lawmaker Nixie Lam Lam said CUHK’s handling of the incident was appropriate, although she personally found the remarks out of touch.
“The whole thing makes people uncomfortable because the ideas do not align with Hong Kong’s own values – whether for our younger generation or otherwise. When it comes to opportunities, women aren’t measured by this kind of thing,” she said.
“Given that he has already apologised, I believe it’s appropriate to stop here.”
Lam said she believed resignation from his leadership position was unnecessary as Chong was likely to have learned his lessons, adding, “after all, this isn’t something that deeply harmed society”. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
