Top job at the University of Hong Kong proves too hot for most
The tenure of every head since 1997 has been tumultuous and life promises to be no easier for Zhang Xiang, the Chinese-American waiting to take over
As the city’s oldest university is about to appoint a new chief, everyone is wondering how he will fare. My thoughts, however, turn to Wang Gungwu, the distinguished historian, and perfect combination of scholar and gentleman.
Professor Wang may be the last “legitimate” vice-chancellor the University of Hong Kong had. Up to his departure in 1995, his office was functioning the way it was supposed to. He enjoyed the affections of students and the respect of professors. He was not a politician, because there was no need for someone in his position to be one. Now you have to be a political animal to ward off the Red Guards inside the school and the China loyalists outside. Ever since the 1997 handover, the tenure of every HKU head has been tumultuous.
At the time, I was chasing Wang to find out who his successor would be. Ever the gentleman, he would not be so discourteous as to refuse to comment flat out. Instead, knowing I had an interest in philosophy and history, he sidetracked me into a fascinating lesson on Ibn Khaldun, the 14th century Islamic historical philosopher.
As it turned out, Wang’s successor was the pugnacious Cheng Yiu-chung, whose alleged interference in the work of HKU public opinion pollster Robert Chung Ting-yiu resulted in Cheng’s resignation and foreshadowed the political struggles ahead.