Update | Politician James Tien accuses CY Leung, Beijing of meddling with HKU council appointment
Lawmaker claims government and liaison office both have people lobbying council members
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong have both interfered in the appointment of a liberal scholar to a key managerial post at the city's top university, pro-business lawmaker James Tien Pei-chun says.
Tien, the honorary chairman of the Liberal Party who is regarded as the "naughty boy" in the pro-Beijing camp, is the second high-profile figure to make such a claim after Kevin Lau Chun-to, former chief editor of Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao.
Tien spoke about the delayed appointment of Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun, who has been recommended for the job of HKU pro-vice-chancellor, after attending a radio programme yesterday.
A government spokesman said in a statement on Sunday that Tien’s accusation was “totally unfounded” and it “deeply regretted” his remarks.
The council has voted twice since June to defer discussing his appointment, with pro-government members saying they wanted to wait for the supervising role of provost to be filled first. Pan-democrats dismiss the excuse as ridiculous.
Tien said he knew many members of the council.