Exclusive | University of Hong Kong head urged to explain extensive board meeting absences, business trips
- HKU president Xiang Zhang attended only one of 18 academic board meetings since taking office in 2018, failed to offer details of 16 business trips, the Post learns
The governing body of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has urged the school head to explain his nearly complete absence from academic board meetings over the past six years and failure to offer details of 16 business trips spanning almost 147 days, the Post has learned.
Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also said on Saturday the government was expected to “make a decision” on a dispute between the university’s president, Xiang Zhang, and its council that erupted after he was allegedly kept in the dark about a surprise senior management reshuffle.
“We are trying to contact different parties to know more about the matter. All these efforts are ongoing and we believe there will be a decision soon,” Choi said, giving no further details.
“It is normal for a university, of such scale, to have different views. It is of utmost importance for different parties to be sincere in their communications.”
A series of internal communications between Zhang and the school council led by Priscilla Wong Pui-sze seen by the Post has shown that tensions are running high, on top of the recent drama which prompted some HKU alumni to ask city leader John Lee Ka-chiu to step in.
According to the documents, the council secretary asked Zhang in March and April to explain or provide more information on issues ranging from his meeting attendance and business trips to the organisational charts of his private office, senior management team and HKU-Shenzhen campus. HKU and Zhang’s office did not respond to inquiries from the Post on Friday.