Advertisement
HKU council controversy
Hong KongEducation

University of Hong Kong vice-chancellor defends decision not to release governance report

Peter Mathieson thinks governing council needs time to decide what to do with contentious report and which suggestions to implement

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Joseph Sung (left) and Peter Mathieson attend the annual soccer match. Chinese University beat the University of Hong Kong 2-0. Photo: David Wong
Sarah Zhengin Beijing

The University of Hong Kong’s outgoing vice-chancellor has defended the decision not to release a report reviewing the chief executive’s role in university affairs.

While the long-awaited report has not been made public, sources say it recommends removing the chief executive’s role in appointing the chairman and some members of the institution’s governing council.

The city’s leader is chancellor of all eight publicly funded universities – posts inherited from British colonial rule.

Advertisement

A new working group made up of members of the council is looking at the report’s suggestions, amid criticism from students, alumni and staff that the university is dragging its feet on the issue.

Advertisement

HKU vice-chancellor Peter Mathieson said at an annual soccer match between HKU and host Chinese University that the report had “parts that are very straightforward and other parts that are not so straightforward”, with some elements requiring further debate.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x