King Arthur hits back: Li says he accepted University of Hong Kong post ‘to avert anarchy and mob rule’
Controversial professor appointed as head of HKU governing body hits back at critics in TV interview
Professor Arthur Li Kwok-cheung says he has decided to accept his controversial appointment as head of the University of Hong Kong’s governing body after two months’ consideration because he does not want to see “anarchy” and “mob rule” in Hong Kong.
In a combative mood, the executive councillor also accused some academics in the university of hiding “behind [the] slogan of academic freedom in order not to do their work”.
He promised he would “put the strategic direction of the university on its right track” in six months.
READ MORE: University challenge: Arthur Li and his detractors must restore confidence in Hong Kong’s most prestigious tertiary institution
Li was made chairman of the university council on January 1 for a three-year term, despite opposition from the pan-democrats, university staff and students, who claimed his appointment was a government bid to tighten the control over the university.
Benny Tai Yiu-ting of the university’s law faculty is a co-founder of the 2014 Occupy Central protests, and student leaders from the university were prominent in the movement.
Meanwhile, the head of the student union is seeking a judicial review to challenge the university’s decision not to appoint a liberal law scholar Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun as a pro-vice-chancellor.
Appearing at TVB Pearl current affairs programme Straight Talk on Tuesday, Li said he was approached by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to take on the post in October – weeks before the term of his predecessor Dr Edward Leong expired.
“All my good friends, and relatives tell me not to do it. They said it’s unpaid … you get smeared, you get scolded,” said Li.
READ MORE: More than 3,000 march against Arthur Li’s appointment as chairman of HKU governing council
“But if in Hong Kong a small group of people could, by dint of their voice, shout loudest, could decide who could or could not take on whatever post, then we have anarchy in Hong Kong.
“If just because you shout loudest and just because you have banners, you could influence that, this is very bad for Hong Kong ... we don’t want mob rule in Hong Kong,” added Li, who rejected his critics’ attacks as “invalid” and “absolutely ludicrous”.
He also criticised the opposition launched by alumni and pan-democrats towards him saying: “That is what I mean by mob rule. There has been a campaign, even before I was offered the post, to say that I was unsuitable ... that is political interference and we have to draw a line to say no. This is one of the main reasons I decided to take on this post.”
Asked about the protests led by some scholars and students, Li called on them to reflect on their responsibilities and get their priorities right.
“The important thing to me is that the students are there to get a good education … that means studying,” said Li.
Referring to Tai, he added: “I think there are some people who hide behind the slogan of academic freedom in order not to do their work.
“The moment you say why are you not working, why are you not researching? Oh, you are interfering with academic freedom. I am free to do whatever I want.”
