Decision to sack law lecturers 'should be declared void'

Academics and students at City University's School of Law yesterday criticised its decision to sack six Chinese and South Asian lecturers, saying it violated procedural justice and involved conflict of interest.

Speaking at a forum organised by the students, associate professor Dr Priscilla Leung Mei-fun said the school's staffing committee's decision in November should be declared void because one of the four committee members had her own contract reviewed along with the other 13 lecturers.

Dean of Law Professor Mike McConville declined to spell out the reasons why the contracts of those lecturers were not renewed, citing the principle of confidentiality.

Third-year student Joy Luk Yiu-fai, who organised the forum, said they were dissatisfied with Professor McConville's attitude. They would call for his resignation if student representatives found his explanation unsatisfactory during a meeting today.

The committee recommended the contracts of eight lecturers not be renewed when they expired in June. The contracts of two others were extended for one more year.

The 10 scholars - eight Chinese and two South Asians - appealed to the university's Approval Committee for the Appointment of Academic Staff. The committee agreed with the original decision except for granting two of the lecturers facing the axe a one-year extension.