HKU 'satisfied' over Occupy donations from Benny Tai Yiu-ting

Donations of HK$1.45 million that Occupy Central co-founder Benny Tai Yiu-ting passed to his employer, the University of Hong Kong, complied with the institution's procedures, an internal document shows.

The document, attached to a letter by HKU president and vice chancellor Professor Peter Mathieson, appears to back the pro-democracy movement's claim its donations are above board.

HKU received the sum to cover some of the expenses it incurred in activities like a "civil referendum" on electoral reform that Occupy organised in the summer. On October 29, leaked emails suggested Tai, who is also an HKU professor, got the sum over several months from at least one anonymous donor.

Later that day the Occupy movement clarified that the money was actually obtained through another of its co-founders, the Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, mostly from "a member of the public" to support his "efforts in promoting democracy".

The internal document responds to HKU council members' queries, saying senior management had examined the contributions and found no violation of university policies.

"We [HKU senior management] are satisfied that the correct procedures have been followed in the acquisition and disposition of … the donations being queried," the document, seen by the Post, says.