A SELECTION committee at the Hong Kong University dropped a decision to recommend an American scholar as its next vice-chancellor following doubts about his judgment, university sources said.
It was alleged that because Professor Woo Shien-biau had thought he would get the job he had approached senior staff, whose contracts expire in November, to stay on and assist him.
Meanwhile, Professor Woo, from the University of Delaware in the United States, issued a statement in Hong Kong regarding allegations about his integrity in a press report.
It said: 'If a future candidate for the vice-chancellor of HKU is interested, I can . . . provide a map showing where the land mines are. Free of charge, of course.
'Having one's integrity attacked, even by an anonymous accuser, is however not a laughing matter. I categorically deny that I offered to extend the contract of any staff member of HKU in exchange for a vote . . .,' it said.
Professor Woo has said the headhunter had told him that he would be recommended. He then approached some council members on the understanding that their views would be crucial to retaining deputy vice-chancellor Professor Tim Biscoe.