Students angered by appointment of ex-CY adviser as Lingnan University president

Lingnan University students say they may boycott classes after a former adviser to Leung Chun-ying's election campaign was named as the university's new president without the students having a say in the selection.

Leonard Cheng Kwok-hon, dean of the University of Science and Technology's school of business and economics, and recognised front runner for the post, pledged to safeguard academic freedom and said he had not had any contact with Leung since the latter became chief executive.

But student union president Vivian Yip Wing-lam said the union would discuss what to do in response to the appointment and that it might vote on class boycotts.

Cheng said he hoped to communicate with students and that "there's no need to stage a class strike". His appointment was announced last night by university council chairman Bernard Chan after the council had voted 19 to 2 in favour, with two abstentions.

Earlier, Cheng told a consultation session with about 300 Lingnan staff and students: "I was one of Leung's economic advisers for his election campaign. But I didn't have further contact with him after [he] was elected."

Cheng rejected claims that he might have a political mission to discipline outspoken academics at the university, such as autonomy advocate Dr Horace Chin Wan-kan. "If anyone damages academic freedom, please tell me right away, as I'll be the guardian of academic freedom," he said.

He also denied reports that he had supported the Article 23 national security legislation in 2003 and the national education curriculum last year.