Emotions run high as HKU alumni speak out against political interference in school's council

University of Hong Kong alumni made emotional speeches lambasting political interference in their alma mater's governing council as more than 3,000 gathered on Tuesday to debate the controversially delayed appointment of a pro-vice-chancellor.

Dubbed the "biggest reunion of HKU alumni", it was an extraordinary general meeting of the HKU Convocation, a statutory body comprising 162,000 graduates and lecturers.

Results of the votes on six non-binding motions, relating both to the appointment and the role of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying as ultimate head of the university, will be announced on Wednesday morning. More than 9,000 votes were cast, either in person or by proxy.

"It is a historic occasion," said Tai Keen-man, a member of the Convocation's standing committee, before the meeting at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. Some 3,200 attended it.

Alumni old and young turned up, including high-profile figures such as former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, Democratic Party veteran Martin Lee Chu-ming, radio host Stephen Chan Chi-wan and former pro-establishment lawmaker Choy So-yuk.

Most of those selected by lot to speak expressed anger and disappointment at the deferred appointment as pro-vice-chancellor of Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun, a former law dean lambasted by Beijing-loyalist media over his ties to an Occupy Central co-founder.