Controversial Hong Kong University external relations director takes up post away from press

A University of Hong Kong spin doctor, who ordered a reporter to leave a press conference during the Robert Chung polling controversy last July, is to transfer to the faculty of dentistry.

The South China Morning Post understands that Rupert Chan Kwan-yun, the university's spokesman and director of the External Relations Office, will take up the post of secretary of the faculty of dentistry on Monday.

Mr Chan told the Post the new post would involve less contact with the press. Herbert Huey, now the assistant registrar at the university, will take over his job in an acting capacity.

At a press conference in July last year, Mr Chan told reporters then vice-chancellor Professor Cheng Yiu-chung would answer questions for only 15 minutes on the controversy, then outlined at length the rules to be followed when raising a question.

Professor Cheng had been accused of exerting pressure on Dr Robert Chung Ting-yiu, director of the Public Opinion Programme under the university's journalism and media studies centre, to stop opinion polls that reflected criticism of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and his Government.

Mr Chan ordered a reporter to leave because he had tried to speak when another question was already being asked. The reporter did not comply with his order.