Academics have right to take sides: university boss
HKUST president won't rule out taking political position on mainland, and defends Beijing loyalists at other institutions
Controversy over the recent appointment of establishment-friendly figures to head local universities will not deter Professor Tony Chan Fan-cheong, president of the University of Science and Technology, from taking up a mainland political job if one is offered.
"University presidents, like anyone else, have their own positions on societal things," said Chan, who was just reappointed for a second term. "They have their religious and political inclinations. That's not the issue. The issue is how it is related to the university. Personal views of the president should not affect the university's direction."
His reappointment went more smoothly than the appointment of his former colleague, Professor Leonard Cheng Kwok-hon, as president of Lingnan University, and that of Professor Wong Yuk-shan as Open University head.
Cheng, a former adviser to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's election campaign, faced strong opposition from students after being named as the university's president in July.
At the Open University, students staged a sit-in on campus to oppose the appointment of Wong, a local deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC).
Asked if he would take a position in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference or the NPC, Chan said: "My commitment - my job - is with this university. If opportunities come along - if it helps with this - I would probably consider them seriously."