Former students promise to use "whatever action needed" to stop ex-minister 'King' Arthur Li taking over as chair of HKU Council
Controversial figure has a poor track record in protecting university autonomy, says pan-democrat who is leading concern group
The controversial Li, an executive councillor and former education minister, was appointed to the HKU council in March and it is rumoured that he will take over as chairman when Dr Leong Che-hung's term expires on November 6.
The HKU Alumni Concern Group, headed by pan-democrat lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen, claims Li has a bad track record for respecting the autonomy of universities.
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A poll released on Sunday by the Professional Teachers Union showed that almost three-quarters of its 670 tertiary sector members opposed Li's appointment.
Nicknamed "King Arthur" for his perceived high-handed manner, Li is no stranger to controversy. More than a decade ago he pressed for a merger between Chinese University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and later between Chinese University and the Hong Kong Institute of Education.
His critical remarks about student activists during last year's Occupy protests, and against HKU lecturers, also did him no favours in winning friends.