Controversy Over He Jiankui Creating 'HIV-Immune Baby'
Attempted Gene Research Using AI but Visa Revoked
The Hong Kong trip of the Chinese scientist who sparked ethical debates by creating the world's first 'gene-edited baby' has ultimately been canceled. This comes amid criticisms that Hong Kong's qualification verification system failed to properly function regarding his criminal record and research ethics.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 22nd (local time), the Hong Kong Immigration Department revoked the work visa issued to He Jiankui, a biophysicist and former professor at Southern University of Science and Technology in China. The reason was that he had falsely stated his criminal record on the work visa application.
Chinese scientist He Jiankui, who created the world's first 'gene-edited baby.' [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
Hong Kong introduced the Talent Visa program, a professional work visa, last December to increase the inflow of skilled personnel, and He Jiankui reportedly applied under this program. However, controversy arose over the verification system when authorities approved his Talent Visa issuance on the 11th.
The Talent Visa program allows individuals with an annual income of 2.5 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 400 million KRW) or holders of bachelor's degrees from the world's top 100 universities to work or conduct business in Hong Kong for 24 months. Applicants are advised to have no security vulnerabilities or serious criminal records.
However, in 2018, while working at Southern University of Science and Technology, He Jiankui created twin babies immune to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) through gene editing, drawing worldwide condemnation. Nicknamed the 'China Frankenstein,' he was imprisoned for three years in mainland China for forging ethics committee approval documents and was released in April last year.
After his release, he reportedly participated in research at an institution in Beijing on gene editing-based treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This time, he planned to start new gene editing research using AI in Hong Kong.
He previously told SCMP, "By utilizing AI tools to evolve adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids, we aim to enhance the efficiency of gene therapy and promote gene therapy for rare diseases."
Regarding this, a researcher at the University of Hong Kong said, "I was surprised to hear that he came to Hong Kong," adding, "It is hard to imagine anyone at the university collaborating with a person who has a criminal record in the mainland." Alexa Chow Yiping, Executive Director of the recruiting firm ACST Consulting, pointed out, "The government may have overlooked the verification process due to excessive enthusiasm in securing talent."
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