Hong Kong student blames professor for explosions in experiment and sues university for failing him
Engineering student files High Court writ claiming his original pass mark was later downgraded in a ‘draconian reduction’
An engineering student is suing the City University of Hong Kong after he was failed for an experiment marred by two explosions he claims were caused by his professor’s error.
In a High Court writ filed against City U, So Ching-yat said the university had not followed guidelines when he was marked for the experiment in 2013.
He received a score of 2.2 from one professor and 0.8 from Dr Henry Chung Shu-hung, who administered the experiment, the writ said. The passing score was 0.81.
But Chung initiated an “arbitration” process, So claimed, and his combined mark was brought down to 0.8 in a “draconian reduction”.
The final-year student, currently in voluntary suspension, wants the court to quash the university’s “unconstitutional” decision to fail him.
The saga began in 2012 when So was allegedly given the wrong electrical board for the experiment, according to the writ. The first explosion took place in November 2012, causing him a minor electric shock.