The dean of Baptist University's School of Communications resigned over a scandal involving the early release of a poll on the chief executive race. But many key questions remained unanswered in a report by a review panel released yesterday.
These include why, before the survey was officially released, Henry Tang Ying-yen's campaign communications adviser contacted the school's research centre to ask about it. And why the pro-Tang Sing Tao Daily was able to report on it.
Zhao released data after 836 people had been surveyed showing Tang had narrowed the gap on Leung Chun-ying to 6.5 per cent. The final result of 1,005 people surveyed showed Leung to be 8.9 per cent more popular than Tang.
University president Professor Albert Chan Sun-chi said he and the university council accepted the report, which suggested the incident was the result of 'misjudgment' by the dean, Professor Zhao Xinshu. He said he did not know why the survey was leaked to Tang's camp, and would not say whether the university-appointed panel would continue to investigate the matter.
'I accept his resignation because I recognise that it is very difficult for him to continue to be a dean in the current situation,' Chan said.
The report did not say whether the university council's chairman, Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, who openly declared his support for Tang in September, had exerted political influence on the poll. Wong yesterday denied doing so.
Zhao also resigned as director of the HongCOMM Survey Lab - which conducted the poll - but he will remain on the teaching staff.
