Baptist University president threatens to quit over land use

The president of Baptist University said he would step down if he was unable to stop the government from building housing on neighbouring land previously reserved for education.

Albert Chan Sun-chi said he would resign if a vacated site in Kowloon Tong was turned over to luxury developers, RTHK reported on Sunday. The land, once the site of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, is currently under a two-month public consultation.

The university has proposed establishing a traditional Chinese medicine teaching hospital on the site, as well as more residence halls.

The government has said it was not necessary to have a teaching hospital close to the campus.

Students and academic staff are united in opposing the government’s plan to rezone the southern site for flats.

Last month, more than 500 Baptist University students protested outside a meeting of the Town Planning Board to oppose residential use of the land.