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Hong KongEducation

HKU chief’s resignation slammed as ‘unacceptable’ and premature amid concerns over institute’s future

Ex-student leader questions Mathieson decision so soon after ‘10-year vision’ was unveiled

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HKU vice-chancellor Peter Mathieson cites personal reasons behind his departure. Photo: David Wong
Christy Leung
A former University of Hong Kong student union leader said vice-chancellor Peter Mathieson’s sudden resignation was unacceptable as concerns were expressed yesterday about the future of the city’s premier higher learning institute.

Billy Fung Jing-en said he was shocked and disappointed by ­Mathieson’s decision as the ­university had established a new “10-year vision” only last year, with the aim of becoming “Asia’s global university”.

He accused Mathieson of ­already harbouring an intention to quit while drafting the vision.

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“The vision was established only a few months ago and I was hoping that he could exercise the idea with action,” Fung said on a radio show. “For someone who drafted this to suddenly leave … This is unacceptable.”

Former student leader Billy Fung Jing-en expressed scepticism over Mathieson’s decision to leave. Photo: Franke Tsang
Former student leader Billy Fung Jing-en expressed scepticism over Mathieson’s decision to leave. Photo: Franke Tsang
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The university laid out its vision for 2016 to 2025 last August. One of the goals included giving opportunities to 50 per cent of its undergraduates to study outside of Hong Kong by 2019, and to extend this to all students by 2022.

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