Former top Hong Kong officials among 1,500 HKU alumni demanding end to delay of liberal scholar's appointment

More than 1,500 University of Hong Kong alumni – including several ex-government officials – have signed a full-page petition in newspapers today, urging the institution’s governing body to stop deferring the appointment of a liberal scholar to a senior managerial post.

The petition, signed by some 2,400 people, came to light ahead of the HKU council’s meeting at 5pm – which students have threatened to storm in protest at the delay in the appointment of former law dean Johannes Chan Man-mun as pro-vice-chancellor until a supervisory provost was hired.

HKU council chairman Dr Leong Che-hung yesterday said the council would today revisit its decision to delay Chan’s appointment.

Other than pan-democrats, among the some 1,500 alumni and 900 members of the public who signed the petition were former government officials such as former director of legal aid Lady Pauline Cheung Cheng Po-lin, and former secretary for civil services Joseph Wong Wing-ping. Former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang and ex-president of the Legislative Council Andrew Wong Wang-fat also put their names on.

Professionals, including senior counsel Edward Chan King-sang, psychologist Ip Kim-ching and surgeon Dr Au Yiu-kai also signed.

READ MORE: Students threaten to lay siege to HKU meeting over delayed appointment of pro-democracy scholar

Describing the council’s decision to “wait for the provost” as “extremely ridiculous”, the petition urged the governing body to confirm the candidate recommended by the search committee – understood to be Chan – as pro-vice-chancellor in accordance to the procedures as soon as possible.