An associate dean in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai, has stepped down from his position after the university found that a paper he co-authored contained fake AI-generated references.
HKU is ranked 11th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026. The university confirmed on Wednesday, December 17, that “certain citations” in a paper by Yip and his doctoral student, Bai Yiming, included non-existent publications generated by AI.
Prof. Yip apologised on behalf of himself and Bai, saying the lead author had used AI to assist with referencing but failed to verify the citations. He added that he only learned of the issue after the allegations began circulating online.
According to reports, Prof. Yip has also withdrawn from research committees at both the faculty and university levels.
It emerged last month that at least 20 of the 61 references in the paper titled “Forty Years of Fertility Transition in Hong Kong,” published on October 17 with Yip listed as the corresponding author, appeared to cite non-existent publications, prompting HKU to launch a formal inquiry.
Springer Nature, the journal’s publisher, issued an online retraction note earlier this week, acknowledging that the editorial office had failed to verify the references.
“HKU reiterates its commitment to rigorous academic and research standards,” the university said. “All researchers at HKU are required to ensure their work meets internationally recognised benchmarks for quality and ethical conduct.”
Yip is a prominent academic in Hong Kong and has held influential advisory and leadership roles within government and semi-government bodies, particularly in public health, suicide prevention, and education.
Currently serving on the Advisory Committee on Mental Health under the Health Bureau, Prof. Yip previously chaired the Committee on Prevention of Student Suicides, established by the Education Bureau in 2016.
