Chinese University of Hong Kong’s task force takes middle ground in making recommendations for reforming council
- Consultation shows lawmakers plan to reduce percentage of staff on governing body unpopular with stakeholders
- Task force concludes milder proposal floated in 2016, downsizing the council to 29, with internal members taking up 11 seats, remained ‘fit for purpose’
A task force set up by a leading university in Hong Kong has opted for a middle ground in reforming its council after a contentious proposal that would drastically reduce the percentage of staff members was met with overwhelming opposition in a consultation exercise.
The council on Monday endorsed the findings of the task force, which had concluded that a milder proposal floated in 2016 remained “fit for purpose”.
The task force was formed to consult stakeholders on both that proposal and the recent bill spearheaded by lawmakers which suggested raising the threshold for the council to appoint the university’s president and increasing the number of members chosen by the chief executive.
The task force, led by ex-Hong Kong central banker Norman Chan Tak-lam, also suggested the current arrangement of having three lawmakers sitting on the board should be reviewed “in the interest of achieving a more optimal downsizing”.
“Looking across the city’s eight universities, some may not have mandated the inclusion of legislators on their councils, but many have invited lawmakers as members,” said Professor John Chai Yat-chiu, chairman of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) council, when asked if the task force’s suggestion was floated to minimise political intervention.