Students threaten to escalate action after pro-Beijing professor set to be reappointed at Hong Kong university
Large majority on Lingnan University governing council supported decision to reappoint Professor Leonard Cheng
The governing council at a liberal arts university in Hong Kong has agreed to reappoint a pro-Beijing professor as vice chancellor despite strong opposition from students, the Post understands.
A large majority of Lingnan University’s governing body supported the decision to renew the contract of Professor Leonard Cheng Kwok-hon, a source said on Monday.
The council was still discussing the length of the new contract, the source added. The existing contract had been due to expire in August 2018.
The decision has infuriated students, whose union president Ryan Lee did not rule out storming the next council meeting if their voices were not heard.
Lee said that while he was a student representative to the council, according to the body’s rules, he was not allowed to attend meetings regarding the appointment of personnel and was therefore unable to ensure students’ voices were heard.
After the meeting, council chairman Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen said: “We have some details to discuss, if we have anything to announce, we will issue a press release.”