The University of Hong Kong officially appointed its first expatriate chief in a decade yesterday despite reservations expressed by students, alumni and at least four senior academics, one of whom called him "ignorant and incapable".
Professor Peter Mathieson of Britain, the only candidate shortlisted, received the "unanimous" blessing of HKU's governing council. Council chairman Dr Leong Che-hung acknowledged there were dissenting voices and said: "No one can be perfect." He said Mathieson admitted lacking understanding of China and Hong Kong but would "try his best to make up for that".
Leong said Mathieson was a suitable candidate since he met the five selection criteria: a track record of excellent academic standing, integrity, vision, management capability and communication skills. Both men thanked the outgoing vice chancellor, Professor Tsui Lap-chee, for his 11 years of service. Tsui's term expires in February; it is not clear when Mathieson will take office.
Mathieson's day started with separate meetings with about 300 members of the university's staff, students and alumni, who had dozens of questions for the British scholar, previously dean of the University of Bristol's medicine and dentistry faculty.
In a session with the alumni, Mathieson suggested that his vision for HKU was that the 102-year-old institution should seek to maximise its potential research achievements.
"I think the excellence of the staff, the students and the alumni can lead the university to even greater heights," Mathieson said.
Responding to criticism about his lack of experience in Hong Kong and China, Mathieson said he saw this as an advantage because he would be able to "start afresh with no predefined standpoint or baggage".
