Hong Kong university a study in politics of academia amid disputed appointment of Johannes Chan

Rarely is the appointment of a pro-vice-chancellor at a university as controversial and politicised as that of former law dean Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun's.

Either way, the University of Hong Kong was trapped in a lose-lose situation: if the institution's top decision-makers endorsed Chan, they would be accused of bowing to political pressure from pan-democrats; if his candidature was not approved, they would still be seen as yielding to pressure - from Beijing.

"Outside forces are trying to pressure the university," political analyst Dr Chung Kim-wah, of Polytechnic University, said.

"No matter which side wins, the only result is that the reputation of the university is hurt as institutional autonomy comes under threat."

In the end, HKU's governing council last night rejected Chan's appointment by 12 votes to eight.

Apparent political leanings within the council were exposed soon afterwards by Billy Fung Jing-en, president of HKU's student union who, as a council member, was privy to the comments of pro-government members at the closed-door talks.