Hong Kong lawmakers pass controversial bill reforming Chinese University’s governing council
- Changes include cutting council from 55 members to 34, lowering its proportion of academic councillors and increasing voting threshold for approving president
- Proposal had divided alumni, prompting some council members to launch online petition calling for it to be scrapped
Edward Lau Kwok-fan, who introduced the private bill last December along with fellow legislators Bill Tang Ka-piu and Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, on Wednesday said the restructuring would not weaken the university’s autonomy, but rather strengthen it through increased public scrutiny.
“Many of the external council members, such as alumni like myself and supervisors recommended by some other institutes … all hope Chinese University can develop well, so I don’t think this reorganisation will weaken its autonomy,” he said in a televised interview.
The bill to amend the Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance passed on its third reading with 76 votes in favour, no objections and three abstentions.
Some of the biggest changes included cutting the size of the council from 55 members to 34, lowering its proportion of academic councillors and increasing the voting threshold for approving the appointment of the president who also serves as vice-chancellor.
The council called the revamp an “important step” to improve governance.
“The council thanks all members for their support, advice and contributions to the council and the university community more broadly,” it said.