Exclusive | John Lee met ‘more than once’ with University of Hong Kong head, council chairwoman: source
- Task force to look into row between HKU president Xiang Zhang, council chairwoman Priscilla Wong under consideration as leaks do not reflect full picture, insiders reveal
Hong Kong’s leader has personally stepped in to help end infighting at the city’s oldest university over a surprise management reshuffle, meeting separately with the institution’s head and council chairwoman at the centre of the dispute “more than once”, the Post has learned.
A government source familiar with the matter revealed on Monday that “setting up a task force” was being considered to look thoroughly into the conflict between HKU president Xiang Zhang and council chairwoman Priscilla Wong Pui-sze. It would also work to resolve governance issues and improve communications among university executives in the long run.
“Regardless of the eventual task force composition, the message is clear: the escalating infighting has to stop. It must not snowball to harm the university’s reputation,” the insider said.
The source added that private exchanges initiated by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who also serves as the university’s chancellor, were part of the ongoing government efforts to “put an end to the infighting” among the university’s senior management.
Another source said that Lee’s meetings with Zhang and Wong were held in a bid to reduce recent tensions, which could potentially harm the university’s reputation.
“Lee met them separately more than once recently,” the source said. “What has been leaked out recently does not reflect the full picture.”