Putting legislators on university councils might not increase openness and could politicise academic development, a university head warned yesterday.
Professor Woo Chia-wei, president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said he was worried universities would be used by political parties, interfering with teaching and research.
'I don't know of a university in the United States that allows political party members, senators or lower-house representatives to join their councils. The concern is their participation could affect academic freedom,' he said.
'What impact will it have if a Hong Kong university today has a Democratic Party member, tomorrow a Liberal Party member and later a Communist Party member joining?' Some legislators have said they should be appointed to councils in order to improve openness and monitoring.
The demands came after complaints of under-the-table deals, with the latest in a series of allegations involving the promotions of Professor Woo's son and daughter-in-law.
Dekai Wu joined the university six years ago as assistant professor and was recently promoted to associate professor in the department of computer science.
