University of Hong Kong chief quits early after two years of turmoil

University of Hong Kong vice-chancellor Peter Mathieson shocked the city’s academic and political circles on Thursday by announcing his resignation, two years before his contract expires, to take the helm at Scotland’s prestigious Edinburgh University.

His premature departure follows recent years of tension and clashes between the university’s governing body and students amid allegations of political interference in academic freedom at Hong Kong’s premier higher learning institute.

In an email to colleagues, students and alumni, Mathieson said he was leaving for “personal reasons”, but stressed there would be “no loss of momentum at HKU” in the year ahead.

Mathieson, who once described the vice-chancellorship of the city’s oldest university as the “best job” he had ever held, will leave his post by January next year – his contract with HKU is due to expire in 2019.

The former dean of the University of Bristol’s medicine and dentistry faculty took the helm at HKU in April 2014, five months before the outbreak of the 79-day pro-democracy Occupy protests.