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HKU council controversy
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Protesters gather outside the meeting at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. Photo: Sam Tsang

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

Thousands gather for special meeting of the Convocation to debate row over managerial job

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.

Minus 30 points to the council, whose members acted as drama queens
Law graduate Sean Leonard

The chief executive's role at HKU should merely be to "hand out diplomas" said law graduate Sean Leonard. "Minus 30 points to the council, whose members acted as drama queens," he added, in apparent reference to an incident in July when council member Lo Chung-mau collapsed on the floor as students stormed a meeting.

Another member said the council should "show love and care for students instead of calling them 'red guards'." Council member Professor Arthur Li Kwok-cheung had used the term to describe students who stormed the July meeting.

Writer Dominic Tsim Tak-lung said universities should be universal: "There should be no discrimination in terms of sex, age … or political beliefs".

The few who argued HKU was not subject to political interference , including Beijing loyalist Chang Ka-mun, were greeted with catcalls.

The motions included calls for Chan to be appointed, for the chief executive to be removed as chancellor and for structural reform. Another supported a statement by 10 HKU faculty deans, which called for institutional autonomy but condemned the storming of the meeting.

The Education Bureau later issued a statement. “We appeal to the community not to impose pressure on the council, and not to hinder the normal functioning of the university and the council,” it said.

The bureau also said the chief executive - as chancellor - did not interfere with academic freedom and institutional autonomy, nor did he participate in the selection of staff. The bureau went on to defend the existing system, saying it was effective and appealed to different stakeholders to respect and comply with the law.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Emotions run high as HKU alumni speak out
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