Prof. Ling Kar-kan is a professional town planner. He is currently the Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Society, Senior Advisor to the President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and a Non-official Director of the San Tin Technopole Company Limited. Prof. Ling was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government and is a recipient of the InnoStars Award 2021.
With a distinguished career in town planning and public service, Prof. Ling served as the Director of Planning of the HKSAR Government (2012–2016). Between June 2021 and February 2022, he was appointed as the Strategic Planning Advisor for Hong Kong/Shenzhen Cooperation to formulate the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy. Additionally, he served as the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (2007–2009), Director of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (2017–2023), and Chairman of the Country and Marine Parks Board (2019–2025).
In the fields of academia and social innovation, Prof. Ling was the Director of the PolyU Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (J.C.DISI) (2017–2025). He is currently an Adjunct Professor at The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and PolyU, as well as an Associate Fellow of the University of the Built Environment, UK. He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Chung Chi College of CUHK and a member of the Historic Buildings Assessment Panel of the Development Bureau.
Furthermore, Prof. Ling is an expert member of various planning- and development-related consultation committees for Shenzhen, Nansha, Hengqin, and Qianhai in the Chinese Mainland.
