A City University employee plans to challenge its most recent provost appointment.
Hans Mahncke says university president Way Kuo did not have the authority to make the appointment, and he is requesting leave to apply for a judicial review. Mahncke is relying on the City University of Hong Kong Ordinance and case law to challenge the appointment, which he claims needed to be approved by the university council.
In his High Court application, Mahncke said the university president appointed Professor Richard Ho Yan-ki as provost in October 2008. Upon Ho's resignation, the president appointed Professor Chan Chi-hou as acting provost. Around June 2010, the president appointed Professor Arthur Ellis as provost. These appointments were made without proper authority, he said.
In the notice filed yesterday, Mahncke is seeking the court's guidance on whether the university was in breach of statutory requirements and constraints.
City University did not want to comment because it was now a legal matter.
In August, the South China Morning Post reported that Mahncke, a senior co-ordinator, was evicted from his quarters for quarrelling with neighbours.