Business studies chief punched lecturer in stomach, writ says

A law lecturer complained that his boss at the former Hong Kong Polytechnic was incompetent, only to be punched in the stomach, a writ says.

Sze Ping-fat, who lives in Australia, is suing the institute, now called Hong Kong Polytechnic University, for $734,250 in loss of income and gratuity, alleging breach of contract.

He had filed a complaint to the institute accusing Lau Pui-king, the associate head of the business studies department, of 'incompetence and abuse of power'.

Ms Lau, a deputy to the National People's Congress, allegedly warned Mr Sze in June 1993 to withdraw his complaint against her or his contract would not be renewed. She also allegedly punched him in the stomach. He withdrew the complaint.

The confrontation with Ms Lau left Mr Sze 'very anxious and depressed', he alleges in the High Court writ.

On August 27, 1993, Mr Sze learned in a letter from the institute that his contract would only be renewed for one year, not two, and that he 'had behaved offensively and insolently'.