HKU Alumni Concern Group makes allegation ahead of Convocation meeting tomorrow to discuss delay to appointment of new pro-vice-chancellor
JEFFIE LAMjeffie.lam@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Monday, 31 August, 2015, 12:02am
UPDATED : Monday, 31 August, 2015, 12:02am
Lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen expresses concern over proxy voting. Photo: David Wong
A University of Hong Kong alumni group has alleged that some graduates are being forced to submit proxy votes against their will ahead of a special meeting tomorrow to vote on non-binding motions relating to the delayed appointment of a scholar to a top administrative post.
This emerged as last-ditch efforts were made across the political spectrum to mobilise people to attend the HKU Convocation's extraordinary general meeting. All HKU graduates can vote on the motions, either in person or through proxies.
The meeting will discuss several motions, including one tabled by education sector lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen calling on the university's council to appoint sole candidate Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun as pro-vice-chancellor in 30 days in accordance with established procedures. The former HKU law dean has come under fire from pro-establishment media over his ties to a key figure in last year's Occupy protests.
The HKU Alumni Concern Group, led by Ip, revealed yesterday that some graduates had been forced to send their proxy votes to pro-establishment bosses unwillingly.
"A friend of mine had hoped to pass me his proxy vote, but he eventually failed to do so as it was taken by the boss," said concern group deputy convenor Mak Tung-wing, adding his friend was working in a small law firm.
Another group member, solicitor David Hui Tin-fook, revealed a graduate was bombarded by calls from a pro-Beijing chamber of commerce seeking his proxy vote.
It is impossible for the council to ignore such voices
IP KIN-YUEN
The concern group worried that the voting result might not reflect the genuine voices of graduates and urged them to attend the meeting tomorrow, as that was the only way they could void the proxies they had given out against their will.
The city's top academic institution became embroiled in a political row after its council chose to postpone the appointment of Chan until a new provost was in place.
The result of tomorrow's meeting is regarded as a significant test of public opinion as it could show how much support the council has from some 162,000 HKU graduates in town.
The other two motions to be discussed include one put forward by former HKU student union chairwoman Gloria Chang Wan-ki, which called for the post of council chairman to be filled only by candidates deemed acceptable by staff and students.
Meanwhile, a separate group of alumni - some of whom are pro-establishment - tabled a resolution in support of a joint statement issued by the 10 HKU faculty deans last month.
The deans had reiterated the importance of institutional autonomy while condemning the storming of an earlier council meeting by protesters.
"The unprecedented meeting is going to consolidate the voices of the alumni and it is impossible for the council to ignore such voices," said Ip.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1853973/graduates-forced-submit-proxies-against-their-will-alleges
