An investigation into the alleged leaking of exam questions to students by a senior professor of surgery at the University of Hong Kong has concluded that no personal favours were involved, but that both the students and the teacher involved should be held responsible.
The three-member inquiry panel found that the teacher had dropped hints to five final-year medical students about the contents of a coming examination paper when they pressed him for information.
But the panel, led by pro-vice-chancellor Joseph Lee Hun-wei, said 'the allegation that the teacher concerned leaked the questions to individual persons or students for personal favour is unfounded'.
It recommended that in future faculty mentors and counsellors should not be involved in selecting the questions for the final version of exam papers to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
The panel members also suggested a caution letter should be issued to the teacher involved, while the students should be lectured repeatedly on the correct attitude towards learning and examinations.
The panel also included Mr Justice Patrick Chan Siu-oi, a permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal, and Grace Tang Wai-king, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology.