Misleading quotes, calculated obfuscation and false pretences

In the article 'PhD dispute a quantum divide' (Education Post, 11 May) quotations by Professor Kvan, complicated by Professor Spinks, were misleading.

Professor Kvan's quote 'We still had nothing . . . after three years, so it was impossible for us to evaluate his approach' is imprecise. My 200-plus page PhD submission and 'organic' methodology were received by the Faculty of Architecture between December 7 and 17 1999, six months before the limit of what the University Grants Committee (UGC) calls the 'three-year minimum period' covered by its student subsidy. Reference to other time calibrations here is a calculated obfuscation.

My 'quantum-organic' approach, sourced to my Berkeley training under Dr Christopher Alexander (author of The Nature of Order, Oxford University Press), was cited seven times in writing to HKU staff between 1996 and 2001.

An architectural approach is a quantum approach; there is nothing for an architect to 'mention', unless perhaps if the faculty's Higher Architecture Degrees Committee (HADC) is chaired and co-chaired by non-architects who have no idea how architects think. Indeed, this has been the case for decades.

HADC did not understand my 1999 submission, rejected it and asked me to hold a seminar to explain. The fact is, I already held one in 1996, where invited staff failed to attend (including former HADC Chair, Dr Kvan himself). When I alerted HADC to this, and offered it not another seminar, but now a one-semester course, I found my submission approved. To this day staff ignored my invitation. Therefore Spinks' complaint of inability to 'evaluate' my work method with 'critical debate' is another calculated obfuscation.

Failure to understand my work process was proven in February 2001 when acting HADC Chair (my supervisor Professor Ganesan himself) made inappropriate requests of me which contradicted my written methods in his possession, thus confirming the Vice-Chancellor's investigation. With all other staff having been ruled out as supervisors, my programme died.