Interim Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities)

Professor Kar-kan Ling is Interim Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) and Director of the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).

A professional town planner, Professor Ling has gained extensive experience in town planning across his career, including the planning for the new airport and Tung Chung New Town, review of the Town Planning Ordinance, harbour-front planning and development, planning enforcement and prosecution, cross-boundary planning, planning for new development areas, and strategic planning for the long-term development of Hong Kong.

Prior to joining PolyU, Professor Ling was Director of Planning (2012–2016), heading the Planning Department of the HKSAR Government. He previously served as President of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (2007–2009) and Director of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (2017–2023). He was engaged as Strategic Planning Advisor for Hong Kong/Shenzhen Cooperation of the HKSAR Government (June 2021 – February 2022), assisting the Chief Executive in the formulation of the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy. More recently, he has completed his service as Chairman of the Country and Marine Parks Board (2019–2025).

Professor Ling serves the community as Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Society and Member of the Research Council under Our Hong Kong Foundation. He also serves as Advisor to the Institute of Community Making launched by Social Venture Hong Kong, and Honorary Consultant to the Service Innovation and Development Committee of the Hong Kong Christian Service. He has been appointed as Member of the Historic Buildings Assessment Panel of the Development Bureau, and Member of the Board of Trustees of Chung Chi College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Professor Ling is currently Adjunct Professor at both The University of Hong Kong and CUHK, Professor of Practice (Planning) at PolyU, and Associate Fellow of the University of the Built Environment, UK.

Professor Ling was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2017 by the HKSAR Government and the InnoStars Award 2021.