Suspicions HKU posting was delayed to avoid uproar
Lawmaker believes withdrawn item in Government Gazette was the announcement of Arthur Li Kwok-cheung as chairman
A withdrawn item in the Government Gazette on Friday is fuelling suspicions that the government tried to avoid further uproar by rushing to announce the appointment of a controversial figure as chairman of the University of Hong Kong's governing body.
Executive Council member Professor Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, who was also appointed to the university council by the chief executive, had been tipped to take over its leadership post next month, when the term of Leong Che-hung is up.
Many HKU students and alumni voiced opposition to Li, criticising him as politically biased and fearing he might damage the university's academic freedom.
On the latest gazette, an item, numbered 8088, was shown as withdrawn. Education lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen, also convenes an alumni concern group, said he suspected the item involved Li's appointment and that the government struck it to avoid reviving anger and protests among students and alumni.
"I think the government knows very well that Li is really unpopular," said Ip. "Maybe it was hesitating over how it should announce his appointment."
Ip said the government should opt for someone less controversial to be chairman or else conflicts with the council might "only become more serious".