Critics, allies line up as Arthur Li appointed Hong Kong University’s governing council chairman
Student union, staff and alumni groups complain former education minister is ‘worst choice’ for key post
Former education minister Arthur Li Kwok-cheung has been appointed as the new chairman of the University of Hong Kong’s governing council, despite strong opposition from the student union, some staff and alumni groups.
Li, a divisive figure dubbed “King Arthur” by critics who find him abrasive and high handed, will start a three-year term from January 1.
HKU student union president Billy Fung Jing-en expressed anger and disappointment, and vowed to be uncooperative with the council as a member himself.
But he stressed he had no plan to organise a class boycott at the moment.
“At this moment of disadvantage, what we need is a wise step, not a quick step,” he wrote on Facebook. “So, the students’ union and I will do the appropriate thing at the appropriate time.”